Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size - it's bigger than a Moses basket, but smaller than a crib bed. It can also be folded down to one-quarter of its original size and fit into a handy bag for traveling.
Make sure that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can cause a child to be suffocated.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a crib for travel it is important to make sure the manufacturer meets all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is the best place to start. It will tell you whether a crib for portable use has ever been removed from the market. Pick a mattress that's suitable for the crib of your baby so it won't slip through the gaps or create a suffocation risk.
Look for cribs or bassinets that are in line with the latest safety standards of 2022. Also, avoid older cribs, modified cribs or drop side cribs that were repurposed for travel because these have not been tested and may pose risks to your baby's well-being.
A travel crib needs to be sturdy and well-constructed. Check for missing, loose or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you are using a playard, it should have mesh windows and secure walls for air circulation. The slats on the crib should be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, to prevent baby's head or limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any toys, blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. These items could choke or drown your baby. They should be removed at the time they are able to stand on their own, or before the age of 5 months.
It's also important to look frequently for loose or broken hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Take all plastic out of the crib as well.
If you are using a portable crib, make sure it's not placed directly under a large window. A window is a fall risk and if your baby rolls into it, they may be injured. Even if your baby is old enough to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping space away from windows. It's important to wake up your baby if they begin to sleep on their backs.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards or playards, as they're often referred to) are a great option for anyone who is on vacation, has a family stay over, or simply needing a safe crib for use during a sleepover or with friends. These portable cribs are simple to build, compact when they're closed, and come with a comfortable padded mattress that can accommodate infants up to 15kg.
MFM home testers love the BabyBjorn travel crib because it's easy to fold and store. bedside rocking crib -down panels that are one-handed are also convenient for parents with a bleary eye. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but at just 15 pounds, it's an acceptable weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack style strap, which some prefer.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another excellent alternative. It combines a bedside bassinet and crib into a compact unit. It is ideal for long-term stays and holidays with friends and family. It's not the least expensive one, but it does come with a wealth of all-singing and all-dancing features like a basket for storage and soothing night lights that change colour, lullabies and white noise to help your baby fall asleep, and its bassinet setting is higher than other models to make it easier to access during the early days when mom is still recovering.
The fabric is machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. And, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when open) it's surprisingly light at just under 12kg and fits neatly into a compact, convenient bag included - perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six different height settings and the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also incredibly quick to set up, with our MFM tester being able to have it ready in just 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase a separate mattress for it, however.
Feeding
Whether traveling to work or for pleasure, it's important to keep your baby comfortable and safe while traveling. It's better to purchase a bassinet or crib designed for travel instead of using one you already have. These are smaller, have mesh sides that permit parents to check on their children without disturbing them, and are light enough to allow for easy transport between destinations. These also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been subject to recalls.
If you have to use a crib alongside your bed, it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys. Sharing bedside cot mattress with parents isn't advised for any baby, regardless of age, and this form of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you have to occasionally co-sleep ensure that your baby is asleep and that you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
There are many kinds of cribs for babies and newborns.
Some are designed as a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides which can be placed on parent's beds. This lets parents access their child during the middle of the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of sleeping with their child. The AAP cautions against this due to the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, an infant bed that is attached to the side of a parent's mattress. It is also an ideal option for older babies since the sides are easily raised to allow you to reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. The travel cot with an integrated crib that is removable allows you to lift a sleeping baby for feeding or for care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep peacefully with your baby. They are placed next to your bed during the night, allowing you to reach them easily for feedings at night and monitor them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have drop sides that you can lower to make it easier, and some have an adjustable height to ensure they are able to be able to fit in your bed at home or away.
While it used to be recommended that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there's a growing trend for parents to share a bed with their infants. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows babies to remain close to their parents, while remaining in their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers that are available like the ICrib, which is an inflatable crib that is designed to be able to sit on the top of a bed, or a crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a mattress that is removable and it can be folded for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It is attached to the bed's edge and comes with seven height positions as well as a tummy-tilt to ease colic and reflux. This crib was well-received by our MFM home testers for its convenience and compact folding. it comes in a variety of colors.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs, like our Lilly and Alain cribs, which can be placed alongside a traditional bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that can slide down to allow you to pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is completely fully enclosed and your baby will continue sleeping soundly during this period. These cribs meet the latest BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm separation between your mattress and the child's crib.
There are also cribs for travel available. They are specifically designed to be taken along on the road. They are typically smaller and less bulky than standard cribs, making it easier to move them into and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and put down in less than a minute and it weighs just three pounds, making it easy to carry and lift.