Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Moms love this crib's dimensions it's larger than the Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It can fold down to a third of its original size, and can fit into a compact travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Keep in mind that the crib is only for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can make a child suffocate.
Safety
As you shop for a travel crib, you'll want to make sure the manufacturer meets all safety standards. One good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can let you know whether or not a specific crib is being removed from the market. You should also select a mattress that is the right size for your baby's bed so that it doesn't fall into the gaps between the crib sides or cause suffocation hazards.
Search for bassinets and cribs that are in line with the latest 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 pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be strong and well-constructed. Check for missing, broken or loose screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows to ensure proper air circulation. The crib slats should not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Do not put any toys, blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. These items can suffocate or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib when your child is able to pull up on their knees and hands or before 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
It's also important to look often for loose or broken hardware and screws, particularly when you travel with your infant. Make sure you remove all plastic from the crib prior to use, too.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it's not close to the window. A window is a fall risk and if your baby falls into it, they may be injured. It's recommended to keep your baby's room away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. It's important to wake up your baby if they begin to roll over during sleep.
Portability
If you're to a holiday, have relatives staying over, or simply need a secure bedside crib for sleepovers with your friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is an excellent option. These foldable contraptions come with 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 favorite among MFM home testers, who love the fact it can be folded down and stored in just a few minutes and that its easy-to-use drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not our tiniest pack-and-play play, but at just under 15 pounds, it's a good weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack strap, which some parents prefer.
Another great option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which combines a bedside crib and bassinet into one compact unit that's perfect for both overnight and holiday visits to family and friends. It's not the most affordable option but it does come with various features, such as a storage basket as well as calming lights for the night that change color as well as lullabies and white noise, which can help your child fall asleep.
It's also easy to keep clean, with machine-washable and wipeable fabrics. bedside cot mattress 's also relatively lightweight, at just under 12kg, and fits neatly into the small, handy travel case that comes with it. It has six height settings and a tummy tilt for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also extremely easy to install, with our MFM tester being able to have it set up in only 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
Feeding
It is essential that your child is safe and secure when you travel, whether for business or pleasure. While some families may be inclined to use a crib or bassinet that they have but it's better to purchase one that is specifically made for travel. They are smaller, have mesh sides that permit parents to monitor their babies without disturbing them, and are light enough to allow for easy transport between destinations. 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 alongside your bed it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. This type of co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times ensure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
There are many kinds of cribs for babies and newborns.
Some are designed like a mini crib or a Moses basket, while others have sides that can be lowered down into the bed of the parent. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby for feeding and comforting without exposing the risk of true co-sleeping, which the AAP recommends against due to dangers of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the side of a parent's mattress. It is a good choice for older children, as the sides can be raised to allow you to reach the infant without having to lift them from the bed. The travel cot with built-in cribs that can be removed enables you to lift a sleeping baby for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you co-sleep safely with your baby. They are placed near your bed during the night so that you can reach over easily for night feeds and monitor them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs come with an adjustable drop-side that can be lowered for this purpose, while others have a height adjustment so they will fit in your bed at home or away.
In the past, it was suggested that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However, parents are increasingly preferring to sleep in a co-sleep. This arrangement, also known as rooming in, allows infants to stay close to their parents while remaining safely separated in their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available such as the ICrib, which is an iCrib-style portable crib that can fit on the top of a bed, or a crib. It comes with a lightweight frame, a mattress that is removable, and can be folded into a compact size for storage. It also comes with the Joie Roomie Go crib, that can be attached to the edge of a bed. It includes 7 adjustable height positions as well as a tummy tilt to help with reflux and colic. This crib was loved by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding. it is also available in a variety of colors.
You can also purchase freestanding bedside cribs such as our Lilly or Alain that you can place on top of a standard bed frame. The cribs feature an elongated side that slides down to allow you to pick up your child for feedings at night. However, the cribs are self-contained, allowing your baby to remain asleep peacefully. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and child's cot.
Travel cribs are also available. They are specifically designed to be carried on the road. These are usually smaller and more compact than standard cribs, which makes it easier to carry them into and out of hotels and vehicles. Munchkin Brica, for example can be put together in under a minute and folded down in just three pounds. It is therefore simple to lift and transport.