Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Moms love this crib's dimensions it's larger than the size of a Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It can also be folded down to just a quarter of its size and fit into a handy bag for transport.
Keep in mind that the crib is only for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can suffocate a child.
Safety
When you're looking for a travel cot, make sure that the manufacturer adheres to all safety standards. The best place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a particular portable crib has been recalled. You'll also want to choose the correct size for your baby's bed so that it doesn't fall into the gaps between the sides of the crib or create a suffocation risk.
When choosing the right bassinet or crib choose one that conforms to the latest safety standards that were revised in 2022. Avoid cribs with older designs and modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs haven't been tested, and could pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be well-built and sturdy. Check for missing, loose or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have mesh windows and sturdy walls for air flow. The crib's slats must not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Don't put any pillows, blankets or toys with stuffed animals in the crib. These items could strangle or suffocate your baby. They should be removed as soon as they are able to stand on their own, or before the age of 5 months.
Make sure you check frequently for broken or loose screws and hardware. This is especially important when traveling with an infant. Take all plastic out of the crib, too.
If you are using a portable crib for your baby ensure that it's not placed directly under an enormous window. A window is a fall hazard and your baby could get hurt if they roll into it. Even if your baby is old enough to roll over, it's best to keep their sleeping space away from windows. If your baby starts to roll over while sleeping it's a good idea awake them to prevent injuries.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards or playards, as they're often referred to) are a great option for anyone going on vacation, having family members over, or just needing a safe crib for use during a sleepover or with friends. These playards fold up easily to assemble and are compact when closed, and feature an incredibly comfortable mattress that can support newborns up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a fav among MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact that it can be folded and stored in a few minutes and that its easy-to-use drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but at under 15 pounds, it's an acceptable weight. It also comes with normal handles instead of a backpack-style strap, which some parents prefer to use.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another great option. It includes a bassinet for the bed and a crib into one compact unit. It is ideal for overnight stays during holidays and with friends and family. It is not the cheapest option, but it comes with various options, including an organizer basket and calming night lights that change colour, lullabies, and white noise to help your child sleep.
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 it's open), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and can easily fit into a small, handy bag included ideal for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings that include the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also easy to set up. Our MFM tester was able to do it in less than 10 minutes. It will require a separate mattress.
Feeding
When you travel for pleasure or business it's essential to keep your baby comfortable and safe when traveling. It's better to purchase a bassinet or crib designed for travel instead of using one you already have. These are smaller and have mesh sides, which allows parents to monitor their child without causing any disturbance to them. They are also lightweight and can be easily transported between places. They also meet all safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you are required to use a bedside crib, it's recommended that your infant be positioned on their backs and the mattress be free of pillows, blankets, and animals stuffed. Sharing the bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby regardless of age, and this type of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you must co-sleep occasionally, ensure that you do it only while your baby is asleep and you're both awake and fully dressed.
There are a variety of cribs for babies and infants.
Some are shaped like miniature cribs or Moses basket, while others have sides that can be set to the bed of the parent. bedside cot 6 months plus cotsfortots gives parents access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping which the AAP recommends 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 can also be a safer option for older babies because the sides are easily raised to allow you to reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting the mattress out. Another option is a travel cot, which has a built-in bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib, which makes it easier to raise a sleeping infant for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are a fantastic method to sleep in a safe environment with your baby. They are placed near your bed at night, so that you can reach out easily for night feeds and observe them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have a drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, whereas others have a height adjustment to ensure they will fit in your bed at home and when you go away.
In the past, it was suggested that infants have their own bedrooms. However parents are increasingly choosing to sleep in a co-sleep. This arrangement, also known 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 available like the iCrib, which is designed to be an easy-to-move crib that can be placed on the top of your bed or a regular crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a removable mattress and can be folded to make it easy for storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of the bed and features 7 adjustable height positions as well as an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers loved the crib for its compact folding and easy to use. It's also available in different colours.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs such as our Lilly or Alain which you can put on top of the standard bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that can slide down so you can pick your baby up for evening feeding, however the crib is completely fully enclosed and your baby will sleep soundly throughout this period. They also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements that specify that a 120mm high barrier must be installed between your mattress and the cot of your child.
Travel cribs are also available. They are designed specifically to be taken along when traveling. These are usually smaller and less bulky than standard cribs, making it easier to move them from and into hotels and cars. Munchkin Brica, for example can be set up in under a minute and folded down in less than three pounds. It is therefore easy to lift and transport.