Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Moms love this crib's dimensions It's larger than a Moses basket but smaller than a cot bed. It's also foldable down to one-quarter of its size and fit into a handy bag for transport.
It is important to remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets are a suffocation hazard.
Safety
When you are looking for a travel crib, you'll want to make sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. The best place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will inform you whether or not a particular portable crib has been recall. Choose a mattress that fits your baby's crib so it won't fall through the gaps or cause the risk of suffocation.
Find bassinets or cribs that meet the updated safety standards of 2022. Also, avoid cribs with a long history, modified cribs or drop side cribs that were recycled for use in travel, as they have not been evaluated and could pose dangers to your baby's safety.
A travel crib should be well-built and sturdy. Make sure you check for broken, missing or loose screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have mesh windows and secure walls for air circulation. The slats of the crib should be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to prevent baby's head or limbs from being trapped. Also, never put blankets, pillows or toys with stuffed animals in the crib. These items can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed at the time they can stand independently or before the age of 5 months.
Examine frequently for broken or loose screws and other hardware. This is particularly crucial when traveling with a baby. Make sure to remove all crib furniture prior to use, too.
If you're using a portable crib, be sure it's not close to a window. A window can be an accident hazard and if your baby falls into it, they may be injured. Even if your child is old enough to be able to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping area away from windows. It's important to wake up your baby if they begin to roll over during sleep.
Portability
If you're planning a trip on holiday, have family staying with you, or need a secure bedside crib for sleepovers with your friends, the portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is a great choice. These portable cribs are simple to build, compact when they're closed, and feature an incredibly comfortable mattress that can hold newborns up to 15kg.
MFM home testers are awestruck by the BabyBjorn travel crib due to the fact that it's simple to fold and put away. Its simple one-handed drop down panels are also easy to use for parents who are tired. It's not the tiniest of packs-and-play on our list however it's a decent weight at just over 15 pounds. It comes with standard handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some find more comfortable to carry around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another excellent alternative. It incorporates a bedside bassinet as well as a crib into one compact unit. It is ideal for long-term stays and holidays with family and friends. It's not the most affordable alternative, but it comes with many features, such as a basket for storage, soothing night lights that change color, lullabies, and white noise to aid your child to fall asleep.
The fabrics are machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. And, despite its size and weight (it's more bulky when it's open) it's surprisingly light at just under 12kg and slots neatly into a compact, practical travel bag included perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings that include a tummy tilt for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also very easy to set up and our MFM tester having it up and running in a mere 10 minutes. It'll require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
If you're traveling for pleasure or business, it's important to keep your baby happy and safe while traveling. While some families might be tempted to use a bassinet or crib that they have, it's best to buy one that is specifically made for travel. They are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can monitor their child without disturbing them. They are also lightweight and can be easily transported between places. These also conform to the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you have to use a crib next to your bed it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The bed should be free of pillows, blankets and stuffed toys. Sharing a bed with parents isn't advisable for any baby regardless of age, and this kind of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you are forced to co-sleep at times, make sure that you do it only when your baby is asleep and that you're both awake and fully dressed.
The types of bedside cribs for babies and infants include:
Some are designed to resemble an oversized crib or Moses basket, whereas others have sides that can be put down into the bed of the parent. This allows access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the risks of co-sleeping that the AAP recommends against due to the risk of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that attaches to a mattress that is used by a parent. It is a good choice for older children, as the sides can be raised so that you can reach the infant without lifting them out of the bed. The travel cot with built-in cribs that is removable allows you to lift a sleeping baby up for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep peacefully with your baby. They are placed next to your bed, allowing you to easily reach them during night feedings and check on their sleep without disrupting them. Some cribs have a drop-side that can be lowered for this purpose, 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 opting to sleep with their children. 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 several types of co-sleepers available like the iCrib, which is designed to be portable and can be placed on the top of your bed or a regular crib. It has a light frame and a mattress that can be removed and can be folded for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It is attached to the bed edge and has 7 height positions, as well as a tummy tilt for reflux and colic. The crib was highly well-received by our MFM home testers for its convenience and compact folding. it comes in a range of colours.
There are also twin bedside cot for bedside use, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, that can be placed next to an existing bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that can slide down so you can take your baby to a evening feeding, however the crib is otherwise self-contained and your baby will be sleeping comfortably throughout this time. These cribs are in compliance with the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards that require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and child's cot.
There are also cribs for travel available. They are designed specifically for use on the road. They are usually smaller and more compact than standard cribs and are therefore easy to transport into and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for instance, can be set up and put down in less than one minute, and weighs just 3 pounds, making it easy to lift and carry.