Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The crib's size is a hit with moms - it's bigger than the Moses basket, but smaller than a crib bed. It can also be folded down to just a quarter of its size and then put in a handy bag for traveling.
Keep in mind that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys or blankets, pillows and pillows can make a child suffocate.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a crib for travel it is important to make sure that the manufacturer is compliant with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is an excellent place to start. It will let you know whether a crib for portable use has ever been removed from the market. Pick a mattress that's suitable for the crib of your baby so it won't slip through the gaps or cause an suffocation hazard.
Find bassinets or cribs that meet the updated safety standards of 2022. Avoid cribs with older designs and that have been modified for travel, or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs haven't been tested, and could cause danger 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 a secure wall and mesh windows to allow for proper air circulation. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs becoming trapped. Do not put any toys, blankets, or toys in the crib. These items could cause strangulation or death to your baby. They must be removed when they are able to stand on their own or before the age of 5 months.
It's also important to check often for loose or broken screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your infant. Remove all plastic from the crib, too.
If you are using a portable crib for your baby ensure that it's not placed in front of the large windows. A window can be an accident hazard and if your baby falls into it, they could be injured. Even if your child is old enough to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping space away from windows. If your child begins to roll over in bed, it's a good idea to get them up in order to avoid injury.
Portability
Whether you're going on holiday, have family staying with you, or want a safe crib for sleepovers with your friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is an excellent option. These portable cribs include a comfortable mattress that can accommodate infants up to 15kg. newborn bedside cot are simple to assemble and compact once closed.
MFM home testers are awestruck by the BabyBjorn travel crib because it is easy to fold and put away. Its easy one-handed drop down panels are also easy for parents who are bleary-eyed. It's not our lightest pack-and play, but at just under 15 pounds it's still an adequate weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack-style strap, which some parents find more comfortable.
Another excellent option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which incorporates a bedside crib and bassinet in one compact unit that is ideal for holidays as well as overnight visits to friends and family. It's not the least expensive however it comes with many features that are all-dancing and all-singing like a storage basket and soothing night lights that change colour as well as white noise and lullabies to aid your baby to fall asleep, and its bassinet setting sits up higher than most to make it easier to access in the beginning of the day when mum is still recovering.
It's also easy to keep clean, with wipeable and machine-washable fabrics. It's also quite light, at just under 12kg and easily fits inside the compact, convenient travel case that comes with it. It comes with six different height settings as well as an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It's able to fit all sizes of beds. It's also easy to set up. Our MFM tester was able to do it in just 10 minutes. It'll require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
If you're traveling for pleasure or business it's essential to keep your baby happy and safe on the road. While some families may be inclined to use a bassinet or a crib that they already own, it's best to buy one that is specifically made for travel. They are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can observe their baby without disturbing them. They're also light for easy transportation between destinations. They also meet the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been subject to recalls.
If you are required to use a crib next to your bed it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The mattress should be free of pillows, blankets and toys. Sharing the bed with parents isn't advisable for any baby, regardless of age, and this kind of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you have to sleep with your child occasionally, ensure that you do it only when your baby is asleep and you're at all times dressed and awake.
There are a variety of cribs for babies and newborns.
Some are designed like miniature cribs or Moses basket, and others have sides that can be lowered down into the parent's bed. This gives parents access to the baby to feed and comfort 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, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the sides of a mattress for a parent. It is a good choice for older children since the sides can be elevated so that you can reach the infant without lifting them out of the bed. The travel cot that has an integrated crib that can be removed allows you to easily raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They sit next to your bed during the night, allowing you to reach over easily to feed them and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have a drop side that can be lowered to make it easier, and others have an adjustable height adjustment to make sure they fit your bed at home or away.
While it used to be advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is a increasing preference for parents to co-sleep with their infants. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows babies to stay close to their parents, while remaining safely separated in their own crib or a bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers like the iCrib, a portable crib designed to fit on the top of a bed, or a crib. It has a lightweight frame, a mattress that can be removed and is foldable up for easy storage. It also comes with the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens 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. Our MFM home testers loved the crib for its compact folding and ease of use. It's also available in different colours.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain which you can put next to an existing bed frame. The cribs feature a side barrier that can slide down to allow you to grab your child for feedings at night. However they are also self-contained so your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. These models also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which require that 120mm high barriers must be placed between your mattress and the cot of your child.
There are also cribs for travel available. They are designed specifically for use when traveling. These are usually smaller and more compact than standard cribs, which makes it easier to carry them in and out hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and packed down in less than one minute, and weighs just three pounds, so it is easy to move and carry.