Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size It's larger than the Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It can also fold down to a quarter of its original size and then put in a handy bag for transport.
Remember that the crib is intended for sleeping. Toys or blankets, pillows and pillows can make a child suffocate.
Safety
If you're looking to purchase a crib for travel, you'll want to make sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is an excellent place to start. It will let you know if a portable crib has ever been recalled. It is also important to select a mattress that is the right size for your baby's crib, so it doesn't slip into gaps in the sides of the crib or create a suffocation hazard.
Find bassinets or cribs that meet the current safety standards of 2022. Also, avoid cribs with a long history, modified cribs or drop side cribs that have been repurposed for travel because these have not been tested and could pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib should be built well and strong. Make sure you check for broken, missing or loose screws, as well as other hardware. If you are using a playard, it must have mesh windows and secure walls for air flow. The slats on the crib should be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, to keep baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or toys in the crib. These can cause suffocation or strangle your baby. They should be removed from the crib at the time your child is able to push up on their hands and knees or before five months of age, whichever comes first.
bedside cot 6 months plus is also essential to check regularly for broken or loose hardware and screws, particularly when traveling with your child. Take all plastic out of the crib, too.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure that it's not right under the window. A window is an accident hazard and if your baby rolls into it, they may be injured. Even if your child is old enough to be able to roll over, it's best to keep their sleeping area away from windows. It is important to wake your baby when they begin to sleep on their backs.
Portability
Whether you're going to a holiday, have relatives staying over, or simply want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers or with friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're often called) is an excellent option. These portable cribs are simple to build, compact when they're closed, and come with a comfortable padded mattress that can hold newborns up to 15kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who love the fact that it can be folded and stored in several minutes and its simple drop-down panels that can be operated with one hand are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack on our list but it's a decent weight, weighing just under 15 pounds, and it has regular handles instead of an e-bag strap, which some find more comfortable to carry around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another great option. It incorporates a bedside bassinet as well as a crib into a compact unit. This is perfect for overnight stays during holidays and with family and friends. It's not the least expensive however it comes with a wealth of features that are all-dancing and all-singing like a storage basket, soothing colour-changing night lights and white noise. It also has lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and its bassinet sits up higher than most to make it easier to access during the early days when mom is still recovering.
The fabric is machine washable and washable, which makes it easy to clean. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when open) it's surprisingly light at just under 12kg and fits neatly into a small, handy bag that comes with it ideal for trips away from home. It has 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 very easy to set up and our MFM tester having it set up in only 10 minutes. It will require a separate mattress.
Feeding
It's important that your baby is safe and secure when you travel, whether on pleasure or business. It is better to buy a bassinet or crib designed for travel than to use one that you already have. These are smaller and have mesh sides that allow parents to check on their baby without causing any disturbance to them. They are also lightweight for easy transportation between destinations. bedside cots for newborns meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been recalled.
If you must use a crib next to your bed, it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. This type of co-sleeping increases the chance of SIDS. If you have to occasionally co-sleep ensure that your baby is asleep and that both you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
The kinds of cribs available for newborns and young babies include:
Some are shaped like an oversized crib or Moses basket, while others have sides that can be set down into the parent's bed. This allows access to the baby to feed and comfort 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, an infant bed that is attached to the parent's mattress. It can also be a safer option for older babies because the sides are easily raised to allow you to reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting them out. Another option is the travel cot, which has a built-in bassinet which can be removed from the top of the crib which makes it easier to lift the sleeping infant to feed or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to co-sleep safely with your baby. They are set next to your bed so you can easily reach them for feedings and check on their sleeping without disrupting them. Some cribs have a drop side that can be lowered to make this easier, and others come with an adjustable height adjustment to ensure they are able to accommodate your bed when you are at home or when you are away.
While it used to be recommended that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is now a growing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. This arrangement, also known as rooming in, allows infants to remain close to their parents, while remaining safely separated in their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers available, such as the iCrib, a portable crib designed to be placed on the top of a bed, or a crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a removable mattress and can be folded for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It attaches to the bed's edge and has seven height positions, as well as a tummy tilt to help with colic and reflux. Our MFM home testers highly praised this crib for its small folding design and its ease of use. It's also available in different colours.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain that you can put next to a standard bed frame. The cribs feature a side barrier that can be lowered to allow you to pick up your baby for night feedings. However the cribs are completely self-contained, allowing your baby to continue sleeping peacefully. They also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that a 120mm high barrier must be present between your mattress and the cot of your child.
Lastly, there are cribs designed for travel and are made to be carried on the road. These are usually smaller and lighter than standard cribs, making it easier to move them in and out hotels and vehicles. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in under a minute and folded down in three pounds. It is therefore simple to move and lift.