Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size It's larger than the Moses basket, but smaller than a cot bed. It can also be folded down to just a quarter of its original size, and can be put into a convenient bag for traveling.
Remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping and that toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows are a suffocation hazard.
Safety
As you shop for a travel crib, you'll want 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 inform you whether a crib that is portable has ever been removed from the market. You should also select the right size for your baby's crib to ensure it doesn't slide into gaps in the crib's sides or cause suffocation hazards.
Look for cribs or bassinets that are in line with the latest safety standards of 2022. It is also recommended to avoid cribs with a long history, modified cribs or drop side cribs that have been used for travel as they aren't evaluated and could pose dangers to your baby's health.
A travel crib must be sturdy and well-constructed. Check for missing, broken or loose screws, as well as other hardware. If you are using a playard, it must be fitted with mesh windows and strong walls to allow air circulation. 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 could choke or drown your baby. They must be removed when they can stand up on their own or before the age of 5 months.
Make sure you check regularly for loose or broken screws and hardware. This is particularly crucial when traveling with a baby. Take all plastic out of the crib, too.
If you are using a portable crib for your baby be sure that it's not placed beneath an enormous window. A window is an injury from falling and your baby could be injured in the event that they crash into it. Even if your child is old enough to be able to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping space away from windows. If your child begins to roll over during sleep it's a good idea wake them up to prevent injury.
Portability
Whether you're going on vacation, have family staying over, or simply need a secure bedside crib for sleepovers with your friends, a portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is a good option. These playards fold up easily to put together, compact when they're closed, and come with an incredibly comfortable mattress that can support newborns up to 15kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a fav among MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded and stored in a few minutes and that its simple one-handed drop-down panels are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack on our list but it's a decent weight, weighing just under 15 pounds, and it comes with standard carry handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some find more comfortable to haul around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another great alternative. It incorporates a bedside bassinet as well as a crib into a compact unit. It is ideal for holidays and overnight stays with friends and family. It's not the cheapest one, but it does come with an abundance 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 is higher than the majority for easier access in the beginning of the day when mum is still recovering.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, which makes it easy to clean. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when opened) it's surprisingly light at just 12kg and can easily fit into a compact, convenient travel bag included perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six different height settings that include the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic babies, and can fit beds of all sizes. It is also very easy to install. Our MFM tester was able to set it up in just 10 minutes. It will require a separate mattress.
Feeding
It's important that your baby is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether for pleasure or business. It is better to buy a crib or bassinet designed for travel than to use one that you already have. These are smaller, have mesh sides that permit parents to monitor their babies without disturbing them. They are lightweight enough for easy transport between destinations. They also meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been recalled.
If you must use a crib next to your bed it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The mattress should be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys. Sharing the bed with parents isn't advised for any baby regardless of age, and this form of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you have to sleep with your child occasionally, ensure that you only do so while your baby is asleep, and that you are at all times dressed and awake.
There are many types of cribs for babies and newborns.
Some are shaped as a mini-crib or Moses basket while others have sides which can be put into parent's bed. This lets parents access their infant at any time during the night to soothe and feed their child, and avoid the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP warns against this because of the danger of the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the parent's mattress. This can also be an ideal option for older babies since the sides can easily be raised to allow you to reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting them out. Another option is a travel cot with a built-in bassinet which can be removed from the top of the crib, making it easier to lift up the sleeping infant to feed or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are a fantastic method to sleep in a safe environment with your newborn. They are placed near your bed so you can easily reach them for night feedings and check on their sleeping without disturbing them. Some cribs have a drop-side that can be lowered for this purpose, whereas others have a height adjustment to ensure they can fit into your bed at home or away.
It was previously recommended that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However bedside rocking crib are increasingly choosing to sleep in a co-sleep. Also known as rooming-in, this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents but remain safe and separate from their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleeper available such as the iCrib that is designed to be a portable crib that fits on the top of your bed or a standard crib. It has a lightweight frame, a mattress that can be removed and is foldable into a compact size for storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It is attached to the bed's edge and has seven height positions, and a tummy-tilt to ease colic and reflux. This crib was loved by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding, and it comes in a variety of colors.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs such as our Lilly or Alain that you can place next to an existing bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that slides down so you can pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is otherwise self-contained, and your child will continue sleeping soundly during this period. These cribs meet the latest BS EN1130 safety standards, which require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and child's crib.
Travel cribs are also available. They are specifically designed to be carried on the road. These are usually smaller and lighter than standard cribs, making it easier to transport them from and into cars and hotels. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and put down in less than an hour and weighs just three pounds, so it is easy to lift and carry.