Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The crib's size is a hit with moms it's larger than the size of a Moses basket, but smaller than a crib bed. It can also be folded down to one-quarter of its original size and can be put into a convenient bag for transport.
Make sure that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys or blankets, pillows and pillows can make a child suffocate.
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) website is an excellent place to start. It will tell you whether a crib for portable use has ever been removed from the market. You'll also want to choose the right size for your baby's bed, so it doesn't slip into the gaps between the sides of the crib or cause suffocation hazards.
When choosing a crib or bassinet choose one that is in compliance with the latest safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Avoid cribs that are older or modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested and could cause danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib needs to be strong and well-constructed. Make sure you check for broken, missing or loose screws and other hardware. If you are using a playard, it should be fitted with mesh windows and strong walls for air circulation. The crib's slats must not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Do not put any toys, blankets or toys 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 you travel with your infant. Make sure to remove all crib furniture prior to use, too.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it's not close to windows. A window can be a fall hazard and your baby could get hurt in the event that they crash into it. It is recommended to keep your baby's room away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. It is important to wake your baby when they begin to sleep on their backs.
Portability
If you're planning a trip on vacation, have family staying over, or just need a secure bedside crib for sleepovers with friends, a portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is an excellent option. These foldable contraptions are easy to put together and compact when closed, and feature a comfortable padded mattress that can accommodate infants up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact that it can be folded and stored in several minutes and 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 normal handles instead of a backpack strap, which some find more comfortable.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another fantastic option. It incorporates a bedside bassinet as well as a crib into a compact unit. This is ideal for long-term stays and holidays with family and friends. It's not the least expensive, but it has a wealth of features that are all-dancing and all-singing such as a storage basket, soothing colour-changing night lights, lullabies and white noise to help your baby sleep and its bassinet is higher than other models to make it easier to use during the early days when mum is still recovering.
It's also easy to keep clean, with machine-washable and wipeable fabrics. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when opened) it's light at just under 12kg and slots neatly into a small, handy bag included - perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six different height settings and the ability to tilt the tummy for reflux/colic babies. It's suitable for any size bed. It's also very easy to set up and has our MFM tester able to get it set up in only 10 minutes. It will require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
It's crucial that your baby is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether on pleasure or business. It's better to purchase a bassinet or crib designed for travel instead of using one you already have. They are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can observe their baby without disturbing them. They're also light and can be easily transported between places. bedside crib that turns into cot 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 alongside your bed it is recommended you put your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. Sharing sleeping in a bed with parents isn't advised for any baby, regardless of age, and this kind of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you must occasionally co-sleep ensure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are dressed and awake.
The kinds of cribs for infants and young children include:
Some are shaped as a mini-crib or Moses basket while others have sides which can be placed on parent's beds. This lets parents access their baby during the middle of the night to comfort and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of sleeping with their child. The AAP cautions against this due to the danger of the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the side of a mattress for a parent. It can also be an ideal option for older babies because the sides can be easily raised to let you reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting them out. The travel cot that has built-in cribs that can be removed allows you to lift a sleeping baby for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are a fantastic option to sleep comfortably with your infant. They sit next to your bed at night so that you can reach out easily for night feeds and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs come with a drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, while others have a height adjustment so they can fit into your bed at home or away.
It was previously 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 be close to their parents while remaining in their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers 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 comes with a light frame and a mattress that is removable and it can be folded 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 as well as a tummy tilt for reflux and colic. This crib was well-received by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding. it comes in a range of colours.
You can also purchase freestanding bedside cribs such as our Lilly or Alain which you can put next to the standard bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that can slide down to allow you pick your baby up for night feeding, but the crib is self-contained and your baby will continue sleeping soundly during this time. These cribs also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that a 120mm high barrier must be present between your mattress and your child's cot.
Lastly, there are travel cribs that are specifically designed to be used on the road. These are usually smaller and lighter than standard cribs, making it easier to move them from and into cars and hotels. Munchkin Brica, for example can be set up in less than one minute and folded down in less than three pounds. It is therefore simple to lift and transport.