Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size It's larger than a Moses basket but smaller than a cot bed. It's also foldable down to just a quarter of its size and fit into a handy bag for travel.
Just remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets are dangers to suffocate.
Safety
When you're looking for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer adheres to all safety standards. The best place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will inform you whether or not a specific crib is being recalled. Pick a mattress that's suitable for the crib of your child so that it won't slip through the gaps or pose a suffocation risk.
Look for cribs or bassinets that meet the current safety standards for 2022. You should also avoid older cribs, modified cribs or drop side cribs that were used for travel as they aren't evaluated and could pose dangers to your baby's safety.
baby bedside crib needs to be built well and strong. Make sure you check for broken, missing or loose screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have a secure wall and mesh windows for adequate air circulation. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Never put toys, blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. These can cause suffocation or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib as soon as your child is able to pull up on their hands and knees or prior to 5 months old or 5 months, whichever is first.
It is also essential to check often for loose or broken screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your child. Take all plastic out of the crib, too.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure that it's not close to a window. Windows pose an injury risk for falls and if your baby rolls into it, they may get injured. It's 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 when they begin to roll over during sleep.
Portability
Whether you're going on vacation, 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 children up to 15 kg. They are simple to put together and compact when closed.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact that it can be folded down and stored in several minutes and its easy-to-use drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest pack-and-play on our list, but it's a good weight at just a little over 15 pounds. It features standard carry handles instead of a backpack-style strap which some find more comfortable to carry around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another excellent option. It combines a bedside bassinet and crib into one compact unit. This is ideal for overnight stays during holidays and with family and friends. It's not the cheapest however it comes with many all-singing and all-dancing features like a basket for storage, soothing colour-changing night lights as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and sleep. Its bassinet sits up higher than most for easier access in the early hours when mom is still recovering.
It's also easy to keep clean, with wipeable and machine-washable fabrics. And, despite its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when opened), it's relatively lightweight at less than 12kg. It slots neatly into a small, handy travel bag that comes with it ideal for trips away from home. It has six different height settings as well as an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It's suitable for all bed sizes. It's also very easy to install and our MFM tester able to get it ready in just 10 minutes. You'll need to buy an additional mattress for it however.
Feeding
Whether traveling for pleasure or business, it's important to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe on the road. It is better to buy a bassinet or crib designed for travel than to use one that you already own. These are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can monitor their child without disturbing them. They are also lightweight for easy transportation between destinations. They also meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you are required to utilize a crib for your bed it is recommended that your baby be positioned on their backs and that the sleeping surface be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Sharing a bed with parents isn't advisable for any baby, regardless of age, and this form of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you have to occasionally co-sleep ensure that your baby is sleeping and that you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
The bedside cribs that are available for babies and infants include:
Some are designed to look like a mini-crib or Moses basket, while others have sides which can be lowered into the parent's beds. This gives parents access to the baby to feed and comfort while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping, which the AAP advises against due to the risk of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper which attaches to a parent's mattress. This is a good option for older children, as the sides can be raised to allow you to reach the baby without lifting them out of bed. Another option is the travel cot, which has a built-in bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib which makes it easier to lift up the sleeping infant to feed or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They are placed near your bed at night, so that you can reach over easily to feed them and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have drop sides that can be lower to make this easier and others have an adjustable height setting so that they will be able to fit in your bed at home or on the go.
In the past, it was suggested that infants be in their own room. However parents are increasingly choosing to sleep in a co-sleep. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents, but remain in a safe space on their own bassinet or crib. There are several types of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib that is designed to be portable and can be placed on the top of your bed, or a regular crib. This model includes a light frame, a removable mattress and is foldable into a compact size for storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It is attached to the bed edge and comes with seven height positions, as well as a tummy-tilt to help with colic and reflux. The crib was well-received by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding. it is also available in a variety of colors.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs, like our Lilly and Alain cribs, that can be positioned next to an existing bed frame. The cribs feature a side barrier that can slide down to allow you to grab your child for feedings at night. However they are also fully enclosed so that your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards that require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and the child's crib.
There are also cribs for travel that are specially designed to be taken on the road. These are typically much smaller and lighter than a standard crib, making them easy to transport into and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and taken down in under an hour and weighs just 3 pounds, so it is easy to carry and lift.