Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size - it's bigger than the Moses basket, but smaller than a cot bed. It folds down to just a third of its original size and fits into a convenient travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
Remember that the crib should only be used to sleep and that toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows are dangers to 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 best starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a specific portable crib has been recall. You'll also want to choose appropriate for your baby's bed so that it doesn't fall into the gaps between the crib sides or create a suffocation hazard.
When you are choosing the right bassinet or crib make sure it meets the newer safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Also, avoid cribs with a long history and cribs that have been modified or drop side cribs that are recycled for use in travel, as they have not been tested and may pose risks to your baby's health.
A travel crib needs to be well-constructed and sturdy. Examine for loose, missing or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have a secure wall and mesh windows to ensure adequate 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 being trapped. Also, never put pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or toys in the crib. These objects can choke or drown your baby. They must be removed at the time they are able to stand independently or before the age of five months.
It's also important to look regularly for broken or loose screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your infant. Take all plastic out of the crib too.
If you are using a portable baby crib ensure that it's not positioned directly beneath the large windows. A window is an injury from falling and your baby may be injured in the event that they crash into it. It's recommended to keep your baby's room away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. If your child begins to roll over while sleeping, it's a good idea to awake them to prevent injuries.
Portability
Whether you're going to a holiday, have relatives staying over, or just want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers with your friends, a portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is a good option. These playards fold up and have a comfortable mattress that can accommodate children up to 15 kg. They are easy to assemble and compact once closed.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favorite among MFM home testers, who love the fact that it can be folded and stored in just one or two minutes, and its simple drop-down panels that can be operated with one hand are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but with just 15 pounds, it's an adequate weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack style strap, which some parents find more comfortable.
Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet into a compact unit that is ideal for holidays as well as overnight visits to relatives and friends. It's not the cheapest however it comes with many features that are all-dancing and all-singing like a storage basket, soothing colour-changing night lights as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby sleep, and its bassinet setting sits up higher than most to make it easier to access during the early days when mom is still recovering.
The fabrics are machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. It's also, despite its size and weight (it's on the bulkier side when opened), it's relatively lightweight at just under 12kg and slots neatly into a compact, convenient travel bag included - perfect for trips away from home. It has six different height settings as well as an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It can fit all sizes of beds. It's also very simple to install. Our MFM tester was able to set it up in just 10 minutes. It'll require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
It is essential that your child is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether for pleasure or business. While some families may be inclined to use a bassinet or a crib that they have but it's better to purchase one that is specifically made for travel. These are smaller, have mesh sides to allow parents to monitor their children without disturbing them, and are light enough for simple transport between destinations. They also comply with the safety standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been subject to recalls.
If you have to utilize a crib for your bed, it's recommended that your child be positioned on their backs and the mattress be free of blankets, pillows, and toys. Sharing the bed with parents isn't advised 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 at times, make sure that you do it only while your baby is asleep, and that you are completely dressed and awake.
The kinds of cribs available for newborns and young babies include:
Some are shaped like a mini crib or a Moses basket, whereas others have sides that can be lowered to the bed of the parent. This allows parents to access their baby at any time during the night to comfort and feed their child, and avoid the dangers of sleeping with their child. The AAP warns against this due to the risk of the risk of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper that is attached to the mattress of a parent. It can also be a safer option for older babies since the sides are easily raised to let you 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, making it easier to lift up a sleeping infant for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are a fantastic method to sleep in a safe environment with your infant. They are placed next to your bed at night, allowing you to reach them easily to feed them and monitor them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have a drop side that can be lowered to make this easier and others come with an adjustable height setting so that they will accommodate your bed when you are at home or when you are away.
While it was once recommended that infants sleep in their own separate bedroom, there's a increasing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement allows babies to be close to their parents, but remain in a safe space on their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available such as the ICrib, which is a portable crib designed to fit on top of a bed or a crib. It has a light frame and a mattress that is removable and it folds up for easy storage. It also comes with the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens to the edge of a bed. It has 7 height settings that can be adjusted and an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. bedside cot sale was highly loved by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding, and it comes in a variety of colours.
There are also cribs for bedside use, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, that can be put alongside an existing bed frame. The cribs feature a side barrier that can slide down to allow you to pick up your child for feedings at night. However, the cribs are fully enclosed so that your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. These cribs also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that 120mm high barriers must be placed between your mattress and the cot of your child.
Travel cribs are also available. They are designed specifically to be taken along when traveling. They are usually smaller and more compact than a standard crib, making them more convenient to take into and out of cars and hotels. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in just a few minutes and folded down in three pounds. It is therefore simple to lift and move.