Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The size of this crib is ideal for moms. It's larger than a Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It's also foldable down to one-quarter of its original size, and can be put into a convenient bag for travel.
Keep in mind that the crib is only for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can suffocate a child.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot ensure that the manufacturer is adhering to all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is a good place to begin. It will let you know if a portable crib has ever been removed from the market. Pick a mattress that's suitable for your baby's crib so it won't fall through the gaps or pose a suffocation risk.
When you are choosing a crib or bassinet, look for one that meets the newer 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 have not been tested, and could cause danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib should be built well and strong. Examine for loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have mesh windows and secure walls to allow air circulation. The crib's slats must not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and legs from getting trapped. Also, never put blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or toys in the crib. These items could cause strangulation or death to your baby. They should be removed when they can stand independently or before the age of five months.
It is also essential to check regularly for broken or loose hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Make sure to remove all crib furniture before use, as well.
If you're using a portable crib for your baby, make sure it's not placed in front of a large window. A window can be an accident hazard and if your baby falls into it, they could get injured. Even if your child is old enough to roll over it is best to keep their sleeping area away from windows. If your child starts to roll over during sleep, it's a good idea to wake them up to prevent injuries.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards or playards, as they're often referred to) are a great option for anyone going on vacation, having family stay over, or just needing a safe crib to use for a sleepover with friends. These foldable contraptions include an extremely comfortable mattress that can hold infants up to 15kg. They are easy to assemble and compact once closed.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers who appreciate the fact it can be folded down and stored in several minutes and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but at just 15 pounds, it's an acceptable weight. It also has regular handles instead of a backpack style strap, which some prefer to use.
Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which combines a bedside crib and bassinet into a compact unit that's ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to relatives and friends. It's not the cheapest one, but it does come with many features that are all-dancing and all-singing like a storage basket and soothing night lights that change colour and white noise. It also has lullabies to aid your baby to fall asleep and its bassinet sits up higher than most to make it easier to access during the early days when mum is still recovering.
The fabrics are machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's more bulky when open) it's surprisingly light at just under 12kg and slots neatly into a compact, practical travel bag included ideal for trips away from home. It comes with six different height settings and the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also incredibly quick to install and our MFM tester being able to have it set up in only 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
Feeding
It's crucial that your baby is safe and secure when you travel, whether on pleasure or business. While some families might be attracted to use a bassinet or a crib that they own but it's better to purchase one that is specifically designed for travel. They are smaller and come with mesh sides that allow parents to observe their baby without causing any disturbance to them. They're also light to make it easy to transport between locations. They also meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you have to use a crib next to your bed it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of pillows, blankets and toys. Sharing sleeping in a bed with parents isn't advised for any baby, regardless of age, and this kind of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you must occasionally co-sleep ensure that your baby is asleep and that both you and your partner are dressed and awake.
There are many types of cribs for babies and newborns.
Some are shaped like a mini crib or a Moses basket, whereas others have sides that can be put down into the bed of the parent. This gives parents access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping that the AAP cautions against due dangers of suffocation. bedside crib to cot include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the sides of a mattress for a parent. It is a good choice for older children, as the sides can be elevated so that you can reach the infant without lifting them out of the bed. The travel cot that has a built-in crib that can be removed allows you to lift a sleeping baby for feeding or for care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you co-sleep safely with your baby. They are set next to your bed, allowing you to easily reach them for night feedings and check on their sleeping without disrupting them. Some cribs have a drop side that can be lowered to make it easier, and others come with an adjustable height to make sure they accommodate your bed when you are at home or away.
In the past, it was suggested that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However, parents are increasingly preferring to co-sleep. This arrangement, also known as rooming in, allows infants to remain close to their parents, while being separated from their own crib or a bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers available, such as the ICrib, which is an inflatable crib that is designed to be placed on the top of a bed, or a crib. This model comes with a lightweight frame, a mattress that can be removed 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 comes with seven height positions as well as a tummy-tilt to help with colic and reflux. Our MFM home testers highly praised the crib for its compact folding and easy to use. It's also available in a variety of colors.
There are also cribs for bedside use, such as our Lilly and Alain, that can be positioned on top of a traditional bed frame. They 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 continue sleeping soundly during this period. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards that require a 120mm separation between your mattress and the child's crib.
Travel cribs are also available. They are specifically designed for use when traveling. These are usually smaller and more compact than standard cribs, which makes it easier to transport them into and out of hotels and vehicles. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and taken down in less than a minute and it weighs only three pounds, so it is easy to move and carry.