Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size It's larger than the Moses basket, but smaller than a crib bed. It also folds down to just a third of its original size and fits into a convenient travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
It is important to remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping and that toys, pillows and blankets are a suffocation hazard.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. The best starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a specific portable crib has been removed from the market. You should also select the right size for your baby's crib, so it doesn't slip into the gaps between the crib sides or create a suffocation hazard.
When choosing the right bassinet or crib choose one that meets the newer safety standards that were updated in 2022. You should also avoid cribs that are older and cribs that have been modified or drop side cribs that have been used for travel as they aren't tested and could pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be strong and well-constructed. Check for missing, broken or loose screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should be fitted with mesh windows and strong walls to allow air flow. The slats on the crib should be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to keep baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any pillows, blankets or toys with stuffed animals in the crib. These items can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed when they are able to stand up independently or before the age of 5 months.
Check regularly for loose or broken screws and other hardware. This is especially important when traveling with an infant. Remove all plastic from the crib too.
If you're using a portable crib for your baby ensure that it's not placed directly under the large windows. Windows pose an injury risk for falls and if your baby falls into it, they may get injured. It's recommended to keep your baby's room away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. If your baby starts to roll over during sleep, it's a good idea awake them to prevent injuries.
Portability
If you're on holiday, have family staying over, or simply want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers or with friends, a portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is a good option. These portable cribs include a comfortable mattress that can accommodate babies up to 15kg. They are easy to assemble and compact once closed.
bedside cot for twins appreciate the BabyBjorn travel crib due to the fact that it is easy to fold and to store. Its easy one-handed drop down panels are also a breeze to use for parents who are tired. It's not the lightest backpack on our list but it's a decent weight, weighing just under 15 pounds. It has regular carry handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some find more comfortable to haul around.
Another excellent option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet in one compact unit that's perfect for holidays as well as overnight visits to relatives and friends. It's not the cheapest, but it has many all-singing and all-dancing features such as a storage basket as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night, lullabies and white noise to help your baby fall asleep and its bassinet sits up higher than most to make it easier to use in the early hours when mum is still recovering.
It's also easy to keep clean, with machine washable and wipeable fabric. It's also light at less than 12kg and fits nicely into the small, handy travel case that comes with it. It has six different height settings, as well as an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It's able to fit any size bed. It's also very simple to set up. Our MFM tester was able to set it up in just 10 minutes. You'll need to buy a separate mattress for it, however.
Feeding
Whether traveling for pleasure or business, it's important to keep your baby comfortable and safe while traveling. While some families might be inclined to use a bassinet or crib that they already own however, it's recommended to purchase one specifically made for travel. These are smaller and have mesh sides to allow parents to monitor their children without disturbing them. They are light enough to allow for easy transportation between locations. They also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you have to use a crib alongside your bed, it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. Sharing the bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby, regardless of age, and this type 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 both you and your partner are dressed and awake.
The bedside cribs available for newborns and young babies include:
Some are shaped like miniature cribs or Moses basket, while others have sides that can be put to the bed of the parent. This allows parents to access their child in the middle of the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP warns against this due to the risk of being suffocated. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that attaches to a mattress that is used by a parent. This is a good option for older children, as the sides can be raised to allow you to reach the baby without lifting them from the bed. The travel cot that has an integrated crib that is removable allows you to easily lift a sleeping baby for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to co-sleep safely with your baby. They are placed next to your bed, allowing you to easily reach them during night feedings and check on their sleeping without disturbing them. Some cribs have an opening on the side that can be lowered to make it easier, and others come with an adjustable height so that they will be able to fit in your bed at home or away.
While it was once recommended that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a growing trend for parents to sleep with their infants. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement allows babies to be close to their parents yet remain safely separated on their own bassinet or crib. There are several types of co-sleepers that are available like the iCrib, which is designed to be portable and can be placed on top of your bed or a standard crib. This model comes with a light frame and a mattress that is removable and folds up for easy storage. There is also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of the bed and has 7 height settings that can be adjusted and a tummy tilt for reflux and colic. The crib was highly loved by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding. it's also available in a variety of colours.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain that you can put on top of an existing 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 otherwise self-contained and your baby will sleep soundly throughout this time. They also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which require that 120mm high barriers must be installed between your mattress and your child's cot.
There are also cribs for travel that are specially designed to be used on the road. They are usually smaller and less bulky than standard cribs, making them more convenient to take into and out of cars and hotels. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in under a minute and folded down in less than three pounds. It is therefore simple to lift and move.