Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size It's larger than the size of a Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It also folds down to a third of its original size and fits into a handy travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Keep in mind that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can make a child suffocate.
Safety
As you shop for a crib for travel you'll want to be sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. One good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can let you know whether or not a particular portable crib has been removed from the market. Pick a mattress that's suitable for the crib of your child so that it won't slip through the gaps or cause a suffocation risk.
When you are choosing a bassinet or crib choose one that conforms to the latest safety standards that were updated in 2022. Avoid cribs with older designs and that have been modified 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 must be built well and strong. Examine for loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have a secure wall and mesh windows for adequate air circulation. The crib's slats should be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to keep baby's head and legs from getting trapped. Also, never put pillows, blankets or toys with stuffed animals in the crib. These can cause suffocation or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib at the time your child is able to push up on their hands and knees or prior to 5 months old or 5 months, whichever is first.
It is also essential to check regularly for broken or loose screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your child. Make sure to remove all plastic from the crib before use, as well.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it is not located right under windows. A window can be an accident hazard for your baby could be injured if they roll into it. Even if your baby is old enough to be able to roll over, it's best to keep their sleeping space away from windows. It's important to wake up your baby when they begin to roll over while sleeping.
Portability
Whether you're going on vacation, have family staying over, or just want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers with your friends, a portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is an excellent option. These playards fold up easily to put together and are compact when closed, and feature the most comfortable padded mattress that can support newborns up to 15kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded down and stored in just several minutes and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but with just under 15 pounds it's still a good weight. It also comes with normal handles instead of a backpack-style strap that some people find more comfortable.
Another great option 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 most affordable, but it has an abundance of all-singing and all-dancing features like a basket for storage as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night, lullabies and white noise to help your baby fall asleep and its bassinet is higher than other models for easier access during the early days when mom is still recovering.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, making it easy to clean. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when open) it's light at just 12kg and slots neatly into a small, handy 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's able to fit any size bed. It's also very easy to install and has our MFM tester able to get it up and running in a mere 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase a separate mattress for it however.
Feeding
It's important that your baby is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether on business or pleasure. While some families may be attracted to use a crib or bassinet that they already own but it's better to purchase one specially made for travel. These are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can monitor their child without causing any disturbance to them. They're also light and can be easily transported between places. These also comply with the safety standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you are required to use a crib that is placed at your bedside, it's recommended that your child be laid on their backs and that the sleeping surface be free of blankets, pillows, and toys. This type of co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. If you must co-sleep occasionally, ensure that you only do this when your baby is asleep, and that you're both awake and fully dressed.
The kinds of cribs for infants and young children include:
Some are shaped like an oversized crib or Moses basket, and others have sides that can be set down into the parent's bed. This gives parents access to the baby for feeding and comforting without exposing the risk of true co-sleeping which the AAP advises against due to the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, an infant bed that is attached to the parent's mattress. This is a good option for older children since the sides can be raised so that you can reach the infant without lifting them out of the bed. Another option is a travel cot with a built-in bassinet which can be removed from the top of the crib, which makes it easier to raise the sleeping infant to feed or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They sit next to your bed during the night, allowing you to reach out easily for night feeds and observe them without disrupting their sleep. bedside co sleeper have an opening on the side that can be lowered to make it easier, and others have an adjustable height setting to ensure they are able to be able to fit in your bed at home or on the go.
Previously, it was recommended that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However parents are increasingly opting to sleep in a co-sleep. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement allows babies to be close to their parents, but remain safely separated on their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers available such as the iCrib, which is an inflatable crib that is designed to be able to sit on the top of a bed or a crib. It has a light frame and a removable mattress and it folds up for easy storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of a bed. It includes 7 adjustable height positions and a tummy tilt to help with reflux and colic. This crib was praised by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding, and it's also available in a range of colours.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain that you can place next to a standard bed frame. They have a movable side barrier that slides down to allow you to pick your baby up for night feeding, but the crib is self-contained and your baby will be sleeping comfortably throughout this time. These cribs meet the latest BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm separation between your mattress and child's crib.
Travel cribs are also available. They are designed specifically to be carried on the road. see this website are typically much smaller and less bulky than a standard crib and are therefore more convenient to take into and out of cars and hotels. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example, can be set up and put down in less than one minute, and weighs just 3 pounds, making it easy to carry and lift.