Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The dimensions of this crib are ideal for mothers. It's larger than a Moses Basket but smaller than a Cot Bed. It's also foldable down to one-quarter of its original size, and fit into a handy bag for travel.
Remember that the crib is intended for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can cause a child to be suffocated.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot, make sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. A good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will inform you whether or not a certain portable crib has been recall. Choose a mattress that fits the crib of your baby so it doesn't slide through the gaps or pose a suffocation risk.
When selecting a crib or bassinet make sure it conforms to the latest safety standards, which were updated in 2022. It is also recommended to avoid older cribs, modified cribs or drop side cribs that were used for travel as they have not been evaluated and could pose dangers to your baby's health.
A travel crib needs to be well-constructed and sturdy. Make sure you check for broken, missing or loose screws, as well as other hardware. If you are using a playard it should have mesh windows and secure walls to allow air circulation. The slats on the crib should not be more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to keep baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any toys, blankets or toys that are stuffed with animals in the crib. These objects can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed when they can stand on their own, or before the age of five months.
It's also important to look frequently for loose or broken screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your infant. Make sure you take out all crib furniture before use, as well.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it is not located directly under a window. Windows pose an injury risk for falls and if your child rolls into it, they may be injured. It is recommended to keep your baby's sleeping space away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. It's crucial to wake your baby if they begin to roll over during sleep.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards which is what they're sometimes referred to as) are a great option for anyone traveling on vacation, having a family members over, or simply needing a safe crib for use for a sleepover with friends. These playards fold up easily to assemble, compact when they're closed, and feature an incredibly comfortable mattress that can hold newborns up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favorite among MFM home testers who appreciate the fact that it can be folded and stored in one or two minutes, and its easy-to-use drop-down panels are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack on our list, but it's a good weight at just a little over 15 pounds. It comes with standard carry handles rather than a backpack-style strap which some prefer to haul around.
Another great option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which incorporates a bedside crib and bassinet in one compact unit that's ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to relatives and friends. It's not the most affordable, but it has many all-singing and all-dancing features such as a storage basket, soothing colour-changing night lights, lullabies and white noise to aid your baby to fall asleep and its bassinet is higher than other models to make it easier to use during the early days when mom is still recovering.
The fabrics are machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. In spite of its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when it's open) it's light at just under 12kg and can easily fit into a compact, practical travel bag that comes with it - perfect for trips away from home. It has six height settings and a tummy tilt to help with reflux or colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also very easy to install, with our MFM tester being able to have it up and running in a mere 10 minutes. It will require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
If you're traveling for business or pleasure, it's important to keep your baby happy and safe when traveling. It's better to purchase a crib or bassinet designed for travel rather than using one you already have. They are smaller and come with mesh sides that allow parents to check on their baby without disturbing them. They're also light to make it easy to transport between locations. These also conform to the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been subject to recalls.
If you are required 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 co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times, make sure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
There are a variety of cribs for newborns and babies.
Some are shaped as a mini-crib or Moses basket, while others have sides which can be lowered into the parent's beds. This allows access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping, which the AAP cautions against due dangers of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper which attaches to the mattress of a parent. It can also be an option for older children because the sides are easily raised to allow you to reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting the mattress out. foldable bedside crib with a built-in crib that can be removed enables you to lift a sleeping baby for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are an excellent way to safely co-sleep with your baby. They are placed near your bed at night, so that you can reach over easily for night feeds and monitor them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have drop-sides that you can lower to make it easier for you to do this, while others have a height adjustment to ensure they will fit in your bed at home and when you go away.
While it was once advised that infants sleep in their own separate bedroom, there is a growing preference for parents to co-sleep with their infants. Also known as rooming-in, this arrangement allows babies to be close to their parents, but remain in a safe space on their own bassinet or crib. There are a variety of co-sleepers available, including the iCrib which is designed to be an easy-to-move crib that can be placed on the top of your bed or a standard crib. This model includes a light frame, a mattress that can be removed and is able to be folded up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It is attached to the bed's edge and comes with seven height positions as well as a tummy-tilt for reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers loved this crib for its compact folding and easy to use. It is also available in a variety of colors.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs, such as our Lilly and Alain, that can be placed alongside the traditional bed frame. The cribs come with the side barrier that can be lowered to allow you to pick up your child for feedings at night. However the cribs are completely self-contained, allowing your baby to rest comfortably. These cribs meet the latest BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and child's crib.
There are also cribs for travel available. They are specifically designed to be taken along on the road. They are usually smaller and less bulky than standard cribs and are therefore easy to transport into and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and put down in less than an hour and weighs just three pounds, making it easy to move and carry.