Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The dimensions of this crib are ideal for mothers. It's bigger than a Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It can fold down to a third of its original size, and can fit into a convenient travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
It is important to remember that the crib should be used only for sleeping. Toys like blankets, pillows and pillows pose dangers to suffocate.
Safety
When you are shopping for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) website is a good place to begin. It will let you know whether a crib that is portable has ever been recalled. Select a mattress that is suitable for your baby's crib so it doesn't slide through the gaps or pose a suffocation risk.
When choosing the right bassinet or crib choose one that conforms to the latest safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Also, avoid cribs with a long history or cribs that have been modified, or drop side cribs that were repurposed for travel because these aren't evaluated and could pose dangers to your baby's well-being.
A travel crib should be well-constructed and sturdy. Examine for loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows for adequate air flow. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Don't put any toys, blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. These items can suffocate or strangle your baby. They should be removed from the crib as soon as your child is able to pull up on their knees and hands or prior to five months of age or when they reach 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
It's also important to look regularly for broken or loose hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your child. Make sure you remove all crib furniture before use, as well.
If you're using a portable crib be sure that it's not placed directly beneath the large windows. A window could be a fall hazard and your baby could be injured when they fall into it. It's recommended to keep your baby's bedroom away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. It's crucial to wake your baby when they begin to roll over while sleeping.
Portability
If you're to a holiday, have relatives staying over, or just want a safe crib for sleepovers with your friends, a portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is a good option. These portable cribs come with an extremely comfortable mattress that can support babies up to 15kg. They are simple to assemble and compact when closed.
MFM home testers love the BabyBjorn travel crib because it's simple to fold and put away. Its easy one-handed drop down panels are also convenient to use for parents who are tired. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but with just under 15 pounds, it's a good weight. It also comes with normal handles instead of a backpack style strap, which some find more comfortable.
Another great option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet into a compact unit that's perfect for both holidays and overnight visits to friends and family. It's not the cheapest one, but it does come with a wealth of all-singing and all-dancing features such as a storage basket as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night, lullabies and white noise 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.
It's also easy to keep clean, with machine washable and wipeable fabric. It's also quite light, at just under 12kg and fits nicely inside the compact, convenient travel case that comes with it. It comes with six different height settings, as well as the ability to tilt the tummy for reflux/colic babies. It's able to fit all sizes of beds. It's also incredibly quick to set up, with our MFM tester having it ready in just 10 minutes. You'll need an additional mattress for it, however.
Feeding
Whether traveling to work or for pleasure it's essential to keep your baby comfortable and safe while traveling. It is better to buy a bassinet or crib designed for travel than to use one that you already own. These are smaller and have mesh sides to allow parents to check on their children without disturbing them and are light enough for simple transport between destinations. They also meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you must use a bedside crib it is recommended that your baby be positioned on their backs and the mattress be free of pillows, blankets and animals stuffed. Sharing a bed with parents isn't advisable for any baby, regardless of age, and this form of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you are forced to co-sleep on occasion, ensure that you only do this while your baby is asleep, and that you're at all times dressed and awake.
The types of bedside cribs available for newborns and young babies include:
Some are designed to look like a mini-crib or Moses basket while others have sides that can be put into parents' beds. This allows access to the baby for feeding and comforting without exposing the risk of true co-sleeping which the AAP advises against due to the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the parent's mattress. This is a great option for older children since the sides can be raised to allow you to reach the baby without having to lift them out of bed. The travel cot that has a built-in crib that is removable allows you to raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to co-sleep safely with your baby. They sit next to your bed during the night, allowing you to reach them easily for feedings at night and monitor them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have an adjustable drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, while others have a height adjustment to ensure they can be placed in your bed at home and when you go away.
While it was once advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there's a increasing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. Also known as rooming-in this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents, but remain safely separated on their own bassinet or crib. There are many types of co-sleepers that are available like the iCrib, which is an iCrib-style portable crib that can be able to sit on top of a bed or a crib. This model comes with a lightweight frame, a removable mattress and is foldable up for easy storage. There is also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of a bed. cot bedside features 7 adjustable height positions as well as a tummy tilt to help with reflux and colic. The crib was loved by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding. it's also available in a variety of colors.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs, like our Lilly and Alain cribs, which can be put alongside the traditional bed frame. The cribs come with a side barrier that can be lowered to allow you to grab your child for feedings at night. However, the cribs are fully enclosed so that your baby can remain asleep peacefully. They also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which require that 120mm high barriers must be placed between your mattress and your child's cot.
There are also travel cribs that are specifically designed to be taken on the road. These are usually smaller and more compact than standard cribs, making it easier to transport them from and into hotels and vehicles. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for instance can be set up and taken down in less than an hour and weighs only three pounds, so it is easy to lift and carry.