Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The size of this crib is ideal for mothers. It's larger than the Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It also can fold down to a third of its original size and fits into a convenient travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Make sure that the crib is only for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can make a child suffocate.
Safety
As you shop for a travel crib, you'll want to make sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is a good place to begin. It will let you know whether a crib for portable use has ever been recalled. You'll also want to choose the right size for the crib of your baby so that it doesn't fall into the gaps between the crib's sides or cause suffocation hazards.
Look for cribs or bassinets that meet the updated safety standards for 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 and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have a secure wall and mesh windows to ensure adequate air circulation. The crib's slats must not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Do not put any toys, blankets, or toys in the crib. These items can suffocate or strangle your baby. They should be removed from the crib at the time your child is able to pull up on their hands and knees or prior to five months of age or 5 months, whichever is first.
Make sure you check regularly for loose or broken screws and hardware. This is especially important when traveling with an infant. Remove all plastic from the crib too.
If you're using a portable baby crib ensure that it's not placed directly under the large windows. A window could be an accident hazard for your baby may be injured in the event that they crash into it. It is recommended to keep your baby's room away from windows, even when they are old enough to roll over. If your baby starts to roll over in bed, it's a good idea awake them to prevent injury.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards or playards, as they're often referred to) are a great choice for those who are going on vacation, having family members over, or simply wanting a safe crib for use at a sleepover with friends. These playards fold up easily to build and compact when closed, and come with a comfortable padded 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 a few minutes and that its simple drop-down panels that can be operated with one hand are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not our lightest pack-and play, but at just under 15 pounds it's still an acceptable weight. It also has regular handles instead of a backpack style strap, which some prefer to use.
Another excellent option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which incorporates a bedside crib and bassinet into a compact unit that's ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to family and friends. It's not the most affordable however it comes with a wealth of features that are all-dancing and all-singing like a basket for storage and soothing night lights that change colour as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and sleep. Its bassinet is higher than the majority to make it easier to use in the early hours when mum is still recovering.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, making it easy to clean. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when opened), it's relatively lightweight at less than 12kg. best bedside cot uk can easily fit into a small, handy travel bag that comes with it perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings, including the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic infants, and it can be adapted to beds of all sizes. It's also very easy to set up, with our MFM tester having it up and running in a mere 10 minutes. It will require a separate mattress.
Feeding
It's crucial that your baby is comfortable and safe when you travel, whether on business or pleasure. While some families may be tempted to use a crib or bassinet that they own, it's best to buy one specially made for travel. These are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can check on their baby without disturbing them. They are also lightweight to make it easy to transport between locations. They also meet the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been recalled.
If you must utilize a crib for your bed it is recommended that your baby be placed on their back and the mattress be free of any blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. Sharing sleeping in a bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby regardless of age, and this type of sleeping with a partner is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you are forced to co-sleep on occasion, ensure that you only do so when your baby is asleep and that you are both awake and fully dressed.
The kinds of cribs that are available for babies and infants include:
Some are designed like a mini crib or a Moses basket, whereas others have sides that can be lowered to the bed of the parent. This allows parents to reach their infant in the middle of the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP warns against this due to the danger of being suffocated. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the side of a mattress for a parent. This is a good option for older children since the sides can be raised so that you can reach the infant without having to lift them from the bed. Another option is a travel cot, which has an integrated bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib, which makes it easier to lift up the sleeping infant to feed or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are an excellent way to safely co-sleep with your newborn. They are set next to your bed so you can easily reach them for night feedings and check on their sleep without disrupting them. Some cribs have an adjustable drop-side that you can lower to make it easier for you to do this, while others come with a height adjustment, so they can fit into your bed at home and away.
Previously, it was recommended that infants be in their own room. However, parents are increasingly preferring to co-sleep. Also known as rooming-in this arrangement allows babies to be close to their parents, but remain safely separated on their own bassinet or crib. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available like the iCrib, which is designed to be a portable crib that fits on the top of your bed, or a regular crib. It has a light frame and a removable mattress and it folds up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It attaches to the bed's edge and comes with 7 height positions, as well as a tummy-tilt to help with colic and reflux. The crib was highly praised 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 dinner at night, but the crib is otherwise self-contained and your baby will sleep soundly throughout this time. These cribs meet the latest BS EN1130:2019 safety standards that require a 120mm gap between your mattress and the child's cot.
Travel cribs are also available. They are designed specifically to be taken along on the road. They tend to be smaller and more compact than standard cribs, making it easier to carry them in and out hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and put down in less than an hour and weighs just 3 pounds, so it is easy to lift and carry.