Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size - it's bigger than the size of a Moses basket but smaller than a cot bed. It can also be folded down to one-quarter of its original size, and can be put into a convenient bag for traveling.
Make sure that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can suffocate a child.
Safety
As you shop for 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 a good place to begin. It will let you know whether a crib that is portable has ever been recalled. You should also select the right size for the crib of your baby to ensure it doesn't slide into gaps in the crib sides or create a suffocation risk.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the current safety standards of 2022. Avoid cribs that are older or modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs haven't been tested, and may pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be strong and well-constructed. 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 flow. The slats on the crib should be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, to prevent baby's head or legs from getting trapped. Don't put any pillows, blankets toys, stuffed animals or other items in the crib. These can cause suffocation or strangle your baby. They should be removed from the crib when your child is able to pull up on their hands and knees or prior to five months of age or when they reach 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
It's also important to look often for loose or broken hardware and screws, particularly when traveling with your infant. Make sure you remove all crib furniture prior to use, too.
If you are using a portable baby crib be sure that it's not placed directly beneath the large windows. A window is an injury risk for falls and if your child rolls into it, they may get injured. Even if your baby is old enough to be able to roll over, it's best to keep their sleeping space away from windows. If your child starts to roll over while sleeping it's a good idea to wake them up to prevent injury.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards, as they're sometimes called) are a great choice for those going on vacation, having guests over, or simply wanting a safe crib for use during a sleepover or with friends. These playards fold up and include an extremely comfortable mattress that can accommodate infants up to 15kg. bedside cot newborn are easy to put together and compact when closed.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favorite among MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact that it can be folded down and stored in a few minutes and that its easy-to-use drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but at just under 15 pounds it's still an adequate weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack style strap, which some parents prefer.
Another great option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which combines a bedside crib and bassinet into one compact unit that's ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to family and friends. It's not the cheapest option however it has various features, such as an organizer basket as well as calming lights for the night that change colour as well as lullabies and white noise, to help your child sleep.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, which makes it easy to clean. And, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when opened) it's light at less than 12kg. It can easily fit 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's able to fit all sizes of beds. It's also incredibly quick to set up and has our MFM tester able to get it set up in only 10 minutes. You'll need to buy a separate mattress for it, however.
Feeding
It's crucial that your baby is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether on business or pleasure. While some families might be tempted to use a bassinet or a crib that they already own however, it's recommended to purchase one specially designed for travel. They are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can monitor their child without disturbing them. They're also light for easy transportation between destinations. They also meet the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been recalled.
If you have to use a crib that is placed at your bedside, it's recommended that your baby be positioned on their backs and that the sleeping surface be free of any blankets, pillows and animals stuffed. This kind of sleeping arrangement increases the risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times ensure that your baby is asleep and that you and your partner are dressed and awake.
There are many kinds of cribs for babies and infants.
Some are shaped as a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides which can be lowered into the parent's beds. 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. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that is attached to the mattress of a parent. 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. The travel cot that has a built-in crib that can be removed allows you to lift a sleeping baby for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep peacefully with your baby. They are set next to your bed, allowing you to easily reach them for feedings and check on their sleep without disturbing them. Some cribs have drop sides that you can lower to make it easier, and others have an adjustable height so that they will fit your bed at home or away.
Previously, it was recommended that infants have their own bedrooms. However, parents are increasingly preferring to sleep in a co-sleep. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows infants to stay close to their parents while remaining safely separated in their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers available, such as the iCrib, an inflatable crib that is designed to be able to sit on top of a bed or a crib. It comes with a lightweight frame, a mattress that is removable and is able to be folded up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It attaches to the bed's edge and has 7 height positions, as well as a tummy tilt to help with colic and reflux. Our MFM home testers loved the crib for its compact folding and ease of use. It's also available in various colors.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain which you can put next to the standard bed frame. The cribs come with a side barrier that can slide down to allow you to pick up your child for feedings at night. However the cribs are completely self-contained so your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. These cribs also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that the 120mm high barrier should be installed between your mattress and your child's cot.
Travel cribs are also available. They are specifically designed to be taken along on the road. They are usually smaller and more compact than a standard crib and are therefore easier to carry in and out of cars and hotels. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and packed down in under a minute and it weighs just 3 pounds, making it easy to lift and carry.