Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The dimensions of this crib are perfect for mums. It's bigger than a Moses Basket but smaller than a Cot Bed. It also folds down to just a third of its original size, and can fit into a convenient travel bag, making it ideal for travel.
Just remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows are dangers to suffocate.
Safety
When you're looking for a travel cot ensure that the manufacturer adheres to all safety standards. One good starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can let you know whether or not a specific crib is being removed from the market. Pick a mattress that's suitable for the crib of your child so that it doesn't slide through the gaps or create an suffocation hazard.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the updated safety standards of 2022. Also, avoid older cribs and cribs that have been modified or drop side cribs that were used for travel as they aren't tested and could pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be strong and well-constructed. Make sure you check for broken, missing or loose screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have secure walls and mesh windows to ensure adequate air flow. The crib's slats should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, to keep baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Do not put any toys, blankets or toys that are stuffed with animals in the crib. These objects can choke or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib at the time your child is able to pull up on their hands and knees or prior to 5 months old, whichever comes first.
It is also essential to check often for loose or broken hardware and screws, particularly when traveling with your infant. Make sure you remove all plastic from the crib before using it, and.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it is not located right under the window. A window can be a fall hazard and your baby could be injured when they fall into it. It's best to keep your baby's bedroom away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. If your baby starts to roll over during sleep it's best to get them up in order to avoid injury.
Portability
If you're on holiday, have family staying with you, or want a safe crib for sleepovers with friends, the portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is a good option. These playards fold up easily to assemble and are compact when closed, and come with an incredibly comfortable mattress that can support newborns up to 15kg.
MFM home testers appreciate the BabyBjorn travel crib because it's easy to fold and store. Its easy one-handed drop down panels are also easy for parents who are bleary-eyed. It's not the lightest pack-and-play on our list, but it's a good weight at just a little over 15 pounds, and it comes with standard carry handles instead of the backpack-style strap that some prefer to haul around.
The Joie Kubbie Sleep is another excellent alternative. It combines a bedside bassinet and crib into a compact unit. This is perfect for long-term stays and holidays with family and friends. It's not the cheapest one, but it does come with an abundance of features that are all-dancing and all-singing like a storage basket and soothing night lights that change colour, lullabies and white noise to help your baby fall asleep, and its bassinet setting sits up higher than most for easier access in the early hours when mom is still recovering.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, which makes it easy to clean. It's also relatively lightweight at less than 12kg, and fits neatly into the small, handy travel case that comes with it. It has six height settings and a tummy tilt to help with reflux or colic infants, and it can be adapted to beds of all sizes. It's also easy to set up. Our MFM tester could do it in only 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
Feeding
It's important that your baby is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether on pleasure or business. It is better to buy a crib or bassinet designed for travel than to use one that you already have. They are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can monitor their child without disturbing them. They're also light and can be easily transported between places. bedside baby bed conform to the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you are required to use a crib beside your bed it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The mattress should be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys. Sharing a bed with parents isn't advised for any baby, regardless of age, and this type of sleeping with a partner is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times ensure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are dressed and awake.
There are many types of cribs for babies and newborns.
Some are designed to look like a mini-crib or Moses basket while others have sides which can be put into parent's bed. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby to feed and comfort without exposing the risk of co-sleeping that the AAP cautions against due 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 can also be an option for older babies since the sides can easily be raised to allow you to reach the baby from the adult bed without lifting them out. The travel cot with a built-in crib that can be removed enables you to raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs let you sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They are placed near your bed to allow you to easily reach them for feedings and check on their sleeping without disturbing them. Some cribs have an adjustable drop-side that can be lowered to make it easier for you to do this, while others have a height adjustment so they will fit in your bed at home and away.
Although it was previously advised that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there's a increasing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows infants to stay close to their parents while remaining safely separated in their own crib or bassinet. There are many types of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib, an inflatable crib that is designed to be placed on top of a bed or a crib. It includes a light frame, a removable mattress and is foldable up for easy storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, that is attached to the edge of a bed. It includes 7 adjustable height positions as well as an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers loved this crib for its small folding and easy to use. It's also available in various colors.
You can also purchase freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain that you can place on top of the standard bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that slides down so you can take your baby to a dinner at night, but the crib is otherwise self-contained, and your child will sleep soundly throughout this time. These cribs are in compliance with the new BS EN1130 safety standards, which require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and the child's cot.
There are also cribs for travel available. They are designed specifically to be taken along on the road. They are typically smaller and more compact than standard cribs, making it easier to move them from and into cars and hotels. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in less than one minute and folded down in less than three pounds. It is therefore simple to lift and transport.