Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The crib's size is a hit with moms - it's bigger than the Moses basket, but smaller than a cot bed. It can also fold down to a quarter of its original size and can be put into a convenient bag for traveling.
Make sure that the crib is only for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can suffocate a child.
Safety
When you are looking for a travel crib, you'll want to make sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. One good starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can let you know whether or not a particular crib is being removed from the market. You should also select the correct size for the crib of your baby to ensure it doesn't slide into gaps in the crib sides or cause suffocation hazards.
Find bassinets or cribs that are in line with the latest safety standards for 2022. Avoid cribs with older designs and designed for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs haven't been tested, and could pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib needs to be built well and strong. Check for missing, loose or broken screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have a secure wall and mesh windows to ensure adequate air flow. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Also, never put blankets, pillows toys, stuffed animals or other items in the crib. These objects can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed when they are able to stand on their own, or before the age of five months.
Make sure you check often for broken or loose screws and other hardware. This is particularly important when traveling with a child. Make sure you remove all plastic from the crib before use, as well.
If you are using a portable crib, make sure it's not placed under a large window. A window can be an injury from falling and your baby could get hurt when they fall into it. It's recommended to keep your baby's sleeping space away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. It is important to wake your baby when they begin to sleep on their backs.
Portability
Whether you're going on holiday, have family staying over, or just want a safe crib for sleepovers or with friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is a good option. These foldable contraptions come with a comfortable mattress that can accommodate babies up to 15kg. They are simple to assemble and compact when closed.
MFM home testers are awestruck by the BabyBjorn travel crib because it's easy to fold and put away. Its simple one-handed drop down panels are also easy for parents with a bleary eye. It's not the lightest backpack on our list, but it's a good weight at just a little over 15 pounds, and it features standard carry handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some prefer to haul around.
Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet in one compact unit that's ideal for both holidays and overnight visits to family and friends. It's not the least expensive one, but it does come with an abundance of dancing and all-singing features such as a storage basket as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and sleep. Its bassinet sits up higher than most to make it easier to use during the early days when mom is still recovering.
It's also easy to keep clean with machine-washable and wipeable fabrics. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when it's open), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and fits neatly into a compact, practical travel bag included - perfect for trips away from home. It has six different height settings, as well as a tummy-tilt for reflux/colic baby. It can fit all sizes of beds. It's also extremely easy to set up, with our MFM tester able to get it set up in only 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase an additional mattress however.
bedside cot used that your baby is safe and secure when you travel, whether on pleasure or business. While some families may be inclined to use a bassinet or a crib that they already own but it's better to purchase one specially made for travel. They are smaller and come with mesh sides, which allows parents to check on their baby without causing any disturbance to them. They're also light to make it easy to transport between locations. These also comply with the safety standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you have to use a crib next to your bed it is recommended you place your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of pillows, blankets, and stuffed toys. Sharing sleeping in a bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby, regardless of age, and this kind of sleeping with a partner is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you must co-sleep occasionally, ensure that you do it only while your baby is asleep and you're at all times dressed and awake.
The kinds of cribs for infants and young children include:
Some are designed as a mini-crib or Moses basket, while others have sides which can be lowered into the parents' bed. This allows parents to reach their child in the middle of the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP cautions against this due to the danger of the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, an infant bed that is attached to the sides of a parent's mattress. This can also be a safer option for older babies since the sides can be easily raised to let you reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. Another option is the travel cot, which has an integrated bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib, making it easier to lift an infant who is sleeping for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you sleep peacefully with your baby. They are placed near your bed so you can easily reach them for night feedings and check on their sleep without disrupting them. Some cribs have an opening on the side that can be lower to make it easier, and some have an adjustable height adjustment to ensure they are able to fit your bed at home or away.
It was previously recommended that infants be in their own room. However parents are increasingly opting to sleep in a co-sleep. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents but remain safe and separate from their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers that are available, including the iCrib which is designed to be a portable crib that fits on the top of your bed or a regular crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a mattress that is removable and folds up for easy storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens to the edge of a bed and includes 7 adjustable height positions and a tummy tilt for reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers highly praised the crib for its compact folding and easy to use. It is also available in different colours.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain that you can put on top of an existing bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that can slide down to allow you to pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is fully enclosed and your baby will sleep soundly throughout this period. These models also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which require that 120mm high barriers must be present between your mattress and the cot of your child.
Additionally, there are cribs for travel that are specially designed to be used on the road. They are usually smaller and lighter than standard cribs which makes them more convenient to take into and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and packed down in under one minute, and weighs just 3 pounds, so it is easy to lift and carry.