Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The size of this crib is ideal for moms. It's bigger than the Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It folds down to just a third of its original size and fits into a handy travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Just remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping and that toys like blankets, pillows and pillows pose a suffocation hazard.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer adheres to all safety standards. A good starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can inform you whether or not a specific crib is being removed from the market. You should also select the correct size for your baby's bed so that it doesn't fall into gaps in the crib's sides or cause suffocation hazards.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the updated safety standards of 2022. Avoid older cribs and cribs modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested, and may pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be well-built and sturdy. Make sure there aren't any loose, missing or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows for proper air flow. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Also, never put blankets, pillows or toys with 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 push up on their knees and hands or prior to 5 months old, whichever comes first.
It's also important to look frequently for loose or broken hardware and screws, particularly when traveling with your child. Remove all plastic from the crib too.
If you're using a portable crib, be sure that it's not close to a window. Windows pose a fall risk and if your baby rolls into it, they could be injured. It's recommended to keep your baby's sleeping space away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. If your baby starts to roll over while sleeping, it's a good idea to wake them up to prevent injuries.
Portability
If you're on holiday, have family staying with you, or want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers with your friends, the portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is a good option. These foldable contraptions are easy to put together and are compact when closed, and come with a comfortable padded mattress that can accommodate infants up to 15kg.
bedside crib or cot is a favourite with MFM home testers, who appreciate 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 the lightest backpack on our list but it's a decent weight at just a little over 15 pounds. It features standard carry handles rather than the backpack-style strap that some prefer to haul around.
Another excellent option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet into one compact unit that's ideal for holidays as well as overnight visits to friends and family. It's not the cheapest option, but it comes with many features, including a storage basket, soothing night lights that change colour, lullabies, and white noise, to aid your child to fall asleep.
It's also easy to clean, with machine washable and wipeable fabric. It's also quite light at less than 12kg and easily fits into the small, handy 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 install and has our MFM tester having it ready in just 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
Feeding
When you travel for pleasure or business it's essential to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe when traveling. It's better to purchase a travel-specific crib or bassinet rather than using one you already have. These are smaller, have mesh sides to allow parents to monitor their babies without disturbing them. They are lightweight enough for easy transportation between locations. They also meet all safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If you have to utilize a crib for your bed, it's recommended that your infant be positioned on their backs and that the bed be free of any blankets, pillows and animals stuffed. Sharing the bed with parents isn't advised for any baby, regardless of age, and this form of sleeping with a partner is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you must co-sleep at times, make sure that you only do so while your baby is asleep and that you're completely dressed and awake.
The bedside cribs for babies and infants include:
Some are shaped like miniature cribs or Moses basket, while others have sides that can be set down into the parent's bed. This allows parents to reach their infant at any time during the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of sleeping with their child. The AAP warns against this because of the danger of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the mattress for a parent. It is a good choice for older children since the sides can be elevated so that you can reach the baby without having to lift them out of bed. The travel cot with built-in cribs that can be removed allows you to easily lift a sleeping baby up for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to co-sleep safely with your baby. They sit next to your bed at night, so that you can reach out easily to feed them and observe them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have drop sides that can be lowered to make it easier, and others come with an adjustable height to ensure they are able to accommodate your bed when you are at home or away.
While it used to be advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a growing trend for parents to share a bed with their infants. This arrangement, also known as rooming in, allows infants to be close to their parents, while being separated from their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers available, such as the iCrib, an iCrib-style portable crib that can be placed on the top of a bed, or a crib. This model comes with a lightweight frame, a mattress that is removable, and can be folded into a compact size for storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of a bed. It features 7 adjustable height positions as well as an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. The crib was 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 bedside cribs that are freestanding, such as our Lilly or Alain that you can put next to an existing bed frame. The cribs feature an elongated side that can slide down to allow you to pick up your baby for feedings at night. However they are also self-contained so your baby can remain asleep peacefully. These cribs also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements that specify that 120mm high barriers must be installed between your mattress and the cot of your child.
There are also travel cribs that are specifically designed to be taken on the road. They tend to be smaller and lighter than standard cribs, making it easier to transport them from and into hotels and cars. Munchkin Brica, for example can be set up in just a few minutes and folded down in just three pounds. It is therefore easy to lift and transport.