Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The crib's size is a hit with moms It's larger than the Moses basket but smaller than a cot bed. It can also fold down to one-quarter of its size and can be put into a convenient bag for transport.
Keep in mind that the crib is intended for sleeping. Toys or blankets, pillows and pillows can make a child suffocate.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot, make sure that the manufacturer is adhering to all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is the best place to start. It will inform you whether a crib that is portable has ever been recall. You should also select a mattress that is appropriate for your baby's bed to ensure it doesn't slide into gaps in the crib sides or create a suffocation risk.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the current safety standards for 2022. It is also recommended to avoid cribs that are older or cribs that have been modified, or drop side cribs that are repurposed for travel because these aren't tested and could pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be sturdy and well-constructed. Check for missing, loose or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows to ensure proper air flow. The slats on the crib should not be more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to keep baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Also, do not put blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or toys in the crib. These objects can choke or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib when your child is able push up on their hands and knees or prior to 5 months of age or 5 months, whichever is first.
It is also essential to check frequently for loose or broken hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Remove all plastic from the crib, too.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it is not located directly under a window. A window is an accident hazard and if your child rolls into it, they may be injured. Even if your baby is old enough to roll over it is best to keep their sleeping space away from windows. It's important to wake up your baby if they begin to roll over during sleep.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards, as they're sometimes called) are a great choice for those who are going on vacation, having family members over, or simply needing a safe crib to use for a sleepover with friends. These playards fold up easily to assemble, compact when they're closed, and feature an incredibly comfortable mattress that can hold newborns up to 15kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who love the fact that it can be folded down and stored in just several minutes and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest pack-and-play on our list, but it's a good weight, weighing just under 15 pounds. It features standard carry handles rather than a backpack-style strap which some prefer to haul around.
Another excellent option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet into one compact unit that's perfect for holidays as well as overnight visits to relatives and friends. It's not the least expensive, but it has a wealth of all-singing and all-dancing features like a basket for storage, soothing colour-changing night lights as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and its bassinet sits up higher than most for easier access in the early hours when mum is still recovering.
It's also easy to clean, with machine washable and wipeable fabric. It's also light, at just under 12kg and fits nicely into the small, compact travel case that comes with it. It comes with six different 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 could do it in only 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase an additional mattress for it however.
Feeding
When you travel for business or pleasure it's crucial to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe when traveling. It is better to buy a travel-specific crib or bassinet rather than using one you already own. These are smaller, with mesh sides that allow parents to check on their children without disturbing them. They are light enough to allow for easy transport between places. They also meet the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you are required to use a crib next to your bed, it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. This kind of sleeping arrangement increases the risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times ensure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are dressed and awake.
The types of bedside cribs for babies and infants include:
Some are shaped like an oversized crib or Moses basket, and others have sides that can be set down into the bed of the parent. This gives parents access to the baby to feed and comfort while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping, which the AAP advises against due to suffocation risks. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that attaches to a parent's mattress. It is a good choice for older children since the sides can be raised so that you can reach the baby without having to lift them from the bed. The travel cot that has a built-in crib that can be removed allows you to easily lift a sleeping baby for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep peacefully with your baby. They are placed next to your bed during the night, allowing you to reach them easily to feed them and observe them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs come with drop-sides that you can lower to make it easier for you to do this, while others come with a height adjustment, so they will fit in your bed at home and when you go away.
In the past, it was suggested that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However, parents are increasingly preferring to sleep with their children. This arrangement, also known as rooming in, allows infants to be close to their parents while remaining safely separated in their own crib or a bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers available such as the iCrib, which is a portable crib designed to fit on the top of a bed, or a crib. It includes a light frame, a mattress that can be removed and is foldable up for easy storage. There is also the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens to the edge of a bed. It includes 7 adjustable height positions and a tummy tilt to help with reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers loved this crib for its small folding and ease of use. It is also available in various colors.
There are also bedside cribs, like our Lilly and Alain cribs, which can be put next to an existing bed frame. The cribs come with the side barrier that slides down to allow you to grab your baby for feedings at night. However the cribs are completely self-contained, allowing your baby to rest comfortably. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and the child's cot.
Lastly, there are cribs designed for travel and are made to be carried on the road. bedside travel cot are typically much smaller and less bulky than standard cribs, making them more convenient to take into and out of cars and hotels. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for instance can be set up and packed down in less than one minute, and weighs just 3 pounds, making it easy to carry and lift.