Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The dimensions of this crib are ideal for mothers. It's larger than the Moses Basket, but smaller than the Cot Bed. It also folds down to just a third of its original size, and can fit into a handy travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Just remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets are an entrapment risk.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer adheres to all safety standards. One good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can let you know whether or not a particular portable crib has been removed from the market. You should also select a mattress that is the right size for the crib of your baby to ensure it doesn't slide into the gaps between the crib's sides or create a suffocation hazard.
When selecting a crib or bassinet make sure it conforms to the latest safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Avoid cribs that are older or that have been 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. Make sure there aren't any loose, missing or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you are using a playard it should be fitted with mesh windows and strong walls for air circulation. The slats of the crib should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, to keep baby's head and limbs from being trapped. Also, never put pillows, blankets toys, stuffed animals or other items in the crib. These items can strangle or suffocate your baby. They should be removed at the time they can stand on their own or before the age of 5 months.
It's also important to look often for loose or broken hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Make sure you take out all plastic from the crib prior to use, too.
If rocking bedside crib using a portable crib, make sure that it's not directly under a window. Windows pose an accident hazard and if your baby falls into it, they may be injured. Even if your baby is old enough to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping space away from windows. If your child starts to roll over in bed it's a good idea to awake them to prevent injury.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards or playards, as they're often referred to) are a great choice for those going on vacation, having family stay over, or just needing a safe crib to use during a sleepover or with friends. These portable cribs are simple to put together and are compact when closed, and feature a comfortable padded mattress that can accommodate infants up to 15kg.
MFM home testers 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 easy for parents with a bleary eye. It's not our lightest pack-and play, but at 15 pounds, it's an adequate weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack-style strap, which some parents prefer to use.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another fantastic option. It includes a bassinet for the bed and a crib into a compact unit. This is ideal for long-term stays and holidays with family and friends. It's not the most affordable however it comes with a wealth of dancing and all-singing features like a storage basket and soothing night lights that change colour, lullabies and white noise to aid your baby to fall asleep, and its bassinet setting is higher than other models to make it easier to use during the early days when mom is still recovering.
It's also easy to clean, with machine washable and wipeable fabric. And, despite its size and weight (it's more bulky when opened), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and fits neatly into a small, handy travel bag that comes with it - perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings and the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic infants, and it can be adapted to beds of all sizes. It's also very simple to set up. Our MFM tester could do it in just 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase an additional mattress for it, however.
Feeding
It's important that your baby is safe and secure when you travel, whether for business or pleasure. It's better to purchase a bassinet or crib designed for travel rather than using one you already own. They are smaller, with mesh sides that allow parents to monitor their children without disturbing them, and are lightweight enough for easy transportation between locations. They also meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you must use a crib alongside your bed it is recommended you put your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys. Sharing a bed with parents isn't advised for any baby regardless of age, and this type of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times ensure that your baby is asleep and that both you and your partner are dressed and awake.
There are many kinds of cribs for newborns and babies.
Some are designed like a mini crib or a Moses basket, and others have sides that can be lowered down into the bed of the parent. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby to feed and comfort while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping, which the AAP recommends against due to the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the sides of a parent's mattress. It is also a safer option for older babies since the sides are easily raised to let you reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. The travel cot that has a built-in crib that can be removed enables you to easily raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to co-sleep safely with your baby. They are placed next to your bed at night, allowing you to reach out easily for night feeds and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have a drop side that you can lower to make this easier and others have an adjustable height setting to ensure they are able to fit your bed at home or away.
In the past, it was suggested that infants be in their own room. However parents are increasingly choosing to sleep with their children. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows infants to stay close to their parents while remaining safely separated in their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers available such as the iCrib that is designed to be portable and can be placed on top of your bed or a regular crib. This model includes a light frame, a mattress that can be removed and is foldable up for easy storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens to the edge of a bed and features 7 adjustable height positions and a tummy tilt to help with reflux and colic. This crib was well-received by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding, and it is also available in a variety of colors.
There are also bedside cribs that are freestanding, such as our Lilly or Alain that you can place on top of an existing bed frame. The cribs feature the side barrier that can slide down to allow you to pick up your child for feedings at night. However, the cribs are self-contained so your baby can rest comfortably. These models also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which require that a 120mm high barrier must be placed between your mattress and the cot of your child.
Additionally, there are travel cribs that are specifically designed to be used on the road. They tend to be smaller and lighter than standard cribs, which makes it easier to transport them in and out 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 easy to lift and transport.