Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The dimensions of this crib are perfect for mums. It's larger than a Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It folds down to just a third of its original size, and can fit into a convenient travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
Just remember that the crib should be used only to sleep and that toys, pillows and blankets are a suffocation hazard.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a travel crib you'll want to be sure that the manufacturer is compliant with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is the best place to start. It will let you know whether a crib that is portable has ever been removed from the market. You'll also want to choose a mattress that is the right size for your baby's bed, so it doesn't slip into gaps in the crib sides or cause suffocation hazards.
When choosing a bassinet or crib make sure it is in compliance with the latest safety standards that were updated in 2022. wooden bedside cot is also recommended to avoid older cribs, modified cribs or drop side cribs that are repurposed for travel because these have not been tested and could pose a risk to your baby's health.
A travel crib should be sturdy and well-constructed. Examine for loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it must be fitted with mesh windows and strong walls to allow air flow. 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. Do not put any toys, blankets, or toys that are stuffed with animals in the crib. These items can cause strangulation or death to your baby. They must be removed as soon as they are able to stand up on their own or before the age of 5 months.
It's also important to look regularly for broken or loose hardware and screws, particularly when traveling with your infant. Make sure to remove all plastic from the crib before use, as well.
If you are using a portable crib ensure that it's not placed in front of an enormous window. A window can be an accident hazard for your baby could get hurt when they fall into it. Even if your child is old enough to be able to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping area away from windows. It is important to wake your baby if they begin to sleep on their backs.
Portability
Whether you're going to a holiday, have relatives staying over, or just want a safe crib for sleepovers with your friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is a great choice. These foldable contraptions are easy to build and are compact when closed, and feature the most comfortable padded mattress that can support newborns up to 15kg.
MFM home testers are awestruck by the BabyBjorn travel crib because it's simple to fold and to store. Its easy drop-down panels that are one-handed are also easy for parents who are bleary-eyed. It's not the lightest pack-and-play on our list, but it's a good weight at just over 15 pounds, and it features standard carry handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some find more comfortable to carry around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another great alternative. It incorporates a bedside bassinet as well as a crib into a compact unit. This is ideal for overnight stays during holidays and with friends and family. It is not the cheapest option, but it comes with various features, such as an organizer basket as well as calming lights for the night that change colour, lullabies, and white noise, to help your child fall asleep.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, making it easy to clean. And, despite its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when opened), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and can easily fit into a compact, convenient bag included 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 sizes of beds. It's also very simple to install. Our MFM tester could do it in less than 10 minutes. You'll need an additional mattress for it, however.
Feeding
It's important that your baby is safe and secure when you travel, whether on business or pleasure. It is better to buy a crib or bassinet designed for travel instead of using one you already own. These are smaller and have mesh sides that allow parents to check on their baby 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 have to use a bedside crib, it's recommended that your baby be positioned on their backs and that the sleeping surface be free of pillows, blankets, and toys. Sharing the bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby regardless of age, and this kind of sleeping with a partner is associated with an increased 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 fully dressed and awake.
There are many kinds of cribs for newborns and babies.
Some are shaped as a mini-crib or Moses basket while others have sides which can be placed on parent's beds. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby for feeding and comforting without exposing the risk of true co-sleeping which the AAP cautions against due suffocation risks. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that is attached to a mattress that is used by a parent. This is a great option for older children, as the sides can be raised to allow you to reach the infant without having to lift 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 the sleeping infant to feed or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you sleep peacefully with your baby. They are placed near your bed at night so that you can reach over easily for night feeds and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs come with a drop-side that can be lowered to make it easier for you to do this, while others have a height adjustment so they can be placed in your bed at home and away.
While it used to be advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a increasing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. This arrangement, also known as rooming in, allows infants to remain close to their parents while being separated from their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available such as the ICrib, which is an iCrib-style portable crib that can 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 foldable into a compact size for storage. It also comes with the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of a bed. It has 7 height settings that can be adjusted and a tummy tilt to help with reflux and colic. This crib was praised by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding. it's also available in a variety of colors.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain which you can put next to the standard bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that can slide down to allow you pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is completely self-contained, and your child will sleep soundly throughout this period. These models also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that a 120mm high barrier must be installed between your mattress and the cot of your child.
Additionally, there are cribs designed for travel and are designed to be taken on the road. These are typically much smaller and less bulky than a standard crib, making them more convenient to take into and out of hotels and cars. Munchkin Brica, for example can be put together in under a minute and folded down in less than three pounds. It is therefore easy to lift and move.