Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The crib's size is a hit with moms - it's bigger than a Moses basket, but smaller than a cot bed. It can fold down to a third of its original size and fits into a convenient travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
Make sure that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys or blankets, pillows and pillows can suffocate a child.
Safety
When you're looking for a travel cot, make sure that the manufacturer is adhering to all safety standards. The best starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can let you know whether or not a particular portable crib has been recall. It is also important to select a mattress that is the correct size for the crib of your baby so that it doesn't fall into gaps in the crib sides or create a suffocation risk.
Look for cribs or bassinets that meet the updated safety standards of 2022. Avoid older cribs and cribs designed for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs haven't been tested, and may cause danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be well-constructed and sturdy. Examine for 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 ensure proper air flow. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Also, never put blankets, pillows toys, stuffed animals or other items in the crib. cot bedside can cause suffocation 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 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
It's also important to look frequently for loose or broken hardware and screws, particularly when you travel with your infant. Remove all plastic from the crib as well.
If you are using a portable crib for your baby, make sure it's not positioned directly under a large window. A window is an accident hazard and if your child rolls into it, they may be injured. It's best to keep your baby's sleeping space away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. It is important to wake your baby if they start to sleep on their backs.
Portability
Whether you're going on holiday, have family staying with you, or need a secure bedside crib for sleepovers with your friends, an portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is an excellent option. These foldable contraptions are easy to assemble and are compact when closed, and come with an incredibly comfortable mattress that can hold newborns up to 15 kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favorite among MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded down and stored in one or two minutes, and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack on our list but it's a decent weight at just over 15 pounds, and it has regular carry handles instead of a backpack-style strap which some prefer to haul around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another great alternative. It combines a bedside bassinet and crib into a compact unit. This is perfect for holidays and overnight stays with family and friends. It's not the most affordable one, but it does come with a wealth of all-singing and all-dancing features like a storage basket as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby sleep and its bassinet sits up higher than most for easier access in the early hours when mum is still recovering.
The fabrics are machine washable and washable, which makes it easy to clean. In spite of its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when open) it's light at just 12kg and fits neatly into a compact, practical travel bag that comes with it ideal for trips away from home. It comes with six different height settings, as well as an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It's able to fit any size bed. It's also incredibly quick to install and has our MFM tester being able to have it up and running in a mere 10 minutes. You'll need a separate 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 crib or bassinet designed for travel instead of using one you already have. They are smaller and come with mesh sides that allow parents to check on their baby without disturbing them. They are also lightweight for easy transportation between destinations. They also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been subject to recalls.
If you are required to utilize a crib for your bed it is recommended that your baby be positioned on their backs and that the bed be free of any blankets, pillows and toys. Sharing sleeping in a bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby, regardless of age, and this form of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you must co-sleep on occasion, ensure that you only do this 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 to look like a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides which can be lowered into the parents' beds. This allows parents to reach their infant during the middle of the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP cautions against this because of the risk of the risk of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that is attached to a mattress that is used by a parent. It is a good choice for older children, as the sides can be raised to allow you to reach the baby without having to lift them out of the bed. Another option is the travel cot, which has an integrated bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib which makes it easier to raise an infant who is sleeping for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you co-sleep safely with your baby. They are placed near your bed at night, allowing you to reach them easily to feed them and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have drop-sides that can be lowered for this purpose, whereas others have a height adjustment so they can be placed in your bed at home and away.
Although it was previously recommended that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a growing preference for parents to sleep with their infants. 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 a bassinet. There are several types of co-sleepers available such as the iCrib that is designed to be a portable crib that fits on top of your bed or a regular crib. This model has a lightweight frame, a removable mattress and is able to be folded into a compact size for storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It attaches to the bed edge and features 7 height positions, as well as a tummy-tilt to help with colic and reflux. Our MFM home testers loved this crib for its compact folding design and its ease of use. It's also available in various colors.
There are also bedside cribs, like our Lilly and Alain cribs, which can be positioned next to the traditional bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that slides down to allow you to pick your baby up for night feeding, but the crib is self-contained and your baby will continue sleeping soundly during this time. These models meet the new BS EN1130 safety standards, which require a 120mm separation between your mattress and the child's cot.
Additionally, there are travel cribs that are specifically made to be carried on the road. They are usually smaller and more compact than a standard crib which makes them easier to carry in and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and taken down in under a minute and it weighs only three pounds, making it easy to carry and lift.