Buying bedside crib vs cot For Travel
Mums love this crib's size it's larger than a Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It also folds down to 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 to sleep and that toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows are an entrapment risk.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a travel crib you'll want to be sure that the manufacturer is compliant with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is a good place to begin. It will tell you whether a crib for portable use has ever been removed from the market. You'll also want to choose appropriate for your baby's bed to ensure it doesn't slide into the gaps between the crib sides or create a suffocation hazard.
Search for bassinets and cribs that are in line with the latest safety standards of 2022. Also, avoid older cribs, modified cribs or drop side cribs that are used for travel as they aren't tested and may pose risks to your baby's health.
A travel crib should be well-built and sturdy. Make sure there aren't any loose, missing or broken screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have a secure wall and mesh windows to allow for adequate air flow. The crib slats should not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any blankets, pillows or toys with stuffed animals in the crib. These items could choke or drown your baby. They must be removed at the time they are able to stand on their own or before the age of five months.
It's also important to check often for loose or broken hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Remove all plastic from the crib as well.
If you're using a portable crib, be sure it is not located right under the window. A window can be a fall hazard and your baby could be injured if they roll into it. It's best to keep your baby's bedroom away from windows, even when they are old enough to roll over. It's crucial to wake your baby if they begin to roll over during sleep.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards, as they're sometimes called) are a great option for anyone who is on vacation, has a family stay over, or simply needing a safe crib for use at a sleepover with friends. These portable cribs are simple to put together and are compact when closed, and come with a comfortable padded mattress that can support newborns up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded and stored in several minutes and its easy-to-use drop-down panels are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest pack-and-play on our list but it's a decent weight, weighing just under 15 pounds, and it comes with standard carry handles instead of a backpack-style strap which some prefer to carry around.
Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet in one compact unit that's ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to family and friends. It is not the cheapest alternative, but it comes with many options, including a storage basket as well as calming lights for the night that change color as well as lullabies and white noise to aid your child to fall asleep.
It's also easy to keep clean with machine-washable and wipeable fabrics. And, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when open) it's light at just under 12kg and can easily fit into a compact, practical bag that comes with it ideal for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings and the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also very easy to install and our MFM tester being able to have it set up in only 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase a separate mattress for it, however.
Feeding
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, it's important to keep your baby happy and safe on the road. It is better to buy a crib or bassinet designed for travel instead of using one you already have. They are smaller, with mesh sides that allow parents to monitor their children without disturbing them. They are light enough to allow for easy transport between destinations. These also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you must use a crib alongside your bed it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. Sharing the bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby regardless of age, and this kind of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times, make sure that your baby is sleeping and that you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
There are bedside crib with changing table of cribs for babies and infants.
Some are designed like miniature cribs or Moses basket, whereas others have sides that can be set to the bed of the parent. This allows access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping, which the AAP advises against due to dangers of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that attaches to the mattress of a parent. This can also be an ideal option for older babies because the sides can be easily raised to let you reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. The travel cot with a built-in crib that can be removed allows you to easily lift a sleeping baby up for feeding or for care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They are placed near your bed during the night so that you can reach them easily for night feeds and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs come with a drop-side that you can lower to make it easier for you to do this, while others have a height adjustment to ensure they can be placed in your bed at home or away.
While it was once advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a growing preference for parents to sleep with their infants. This arrangement, also known as rooming in, allows infants to remain close to their parents, while being separated from their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib, an iCrib-style portable crib that can be placed on the top of a bed, or a crib. It has a light frame and a mattress that is removable and it folds up for easy storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that can be attached to the edge of a bed and has 7 height settings that can be adjusted as well as a tummy tilt to help with reflux and colic. This crib was loved by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding, and it comes in a range of colours.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs such as our Lilly or Alain which you can put next to a standard bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that slides down to allow you take your baby to a night feeding, but the crib is completely self-contained and your baby will sleep soundly throughout this period. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm gap between your mattress and the child's cot.
Travel cribs are also available. They are specifically designed to be taken along on the road. These are typically much smaller and lighter than a standard crib and are therefore easy to transport into and out of cars and hotels. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in less than one minute and folded down in just three pounds. It is therefore easy to lift and move.