Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The dimensions of this crib are perfect for mums. It's bigger than the Moses Basket, but smaller than a Cot Bed. It also folds down to just a third of its original size and fits into a convenient travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
Make sure that the crib is designed for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can make a child suffocate.
Safety
When you are shopping for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer adheres to all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) website is the best place to start. It will let you know if a portable crib has ever been recalled. You should also select appropriate for your baby's crib to ensure it doesn't slide into gaps in the crib sides or create a suffocation risk.
When selecting a bassinet or crib, look for one that conforms to the latest safety standards that were updated in 2022. Avoid cribs that are older or designed for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested and could pose a risk to your baby's safety.
A travel crib should be built well and strong. Check for missing, loose or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have mesh windows and sturdy walls to allow air flow. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or toys in the crib. These items can strangle or suffocate your baby. They should be removed when they are able to stand independently or before the age of five months.
It's also important to check often for loose or broken screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your infant. Make sure you remove all plastic from the crib prior to use, too.
If you're using a portable crib for your baby be sure that it's not positioned directly beneath a large window. A window is an accident hazard for your baby may be injured in the event that they crash into it. Even if your child is old enough to be able to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping area away from windows. If your baby starts to roll over during sleep it's a good idea get them up in order to avoid injuries.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards, as they're sometimes called) are a great choice for those going on vacation, having family stay over, or just needing a safe crib for use at a sleepover with friends. These playards fold up and come with a comfortable mattress that can hold babies up to 15kg. They are easy to assemble and compact once closed.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a fav among MFM home testers who appreciate the fact it can be folded and stored in just several minutes and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not our lightest pack-and play, but with 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 prefer to use.
Another great option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which combines a bedside crib and bassinet in one compact unit that's perfect for both overnight and holiday visits to relatives and friends. It's not the most affordable alternative, but it comes with various features, including a basket for storage as well as calming lights for the night that change colour as well as lullabies and white noise, which can help your child sleep.
The fabrics are machine washable and washable, which makes it easy to clean. It's also quite light at just 12 kilos and fits nicely into the small, handy travel case that comes with it. It has six height settings, including the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also very simple to set up. Our MFM tester could do it in less than 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase a separate mattress for it however.
Feeding
It is essential that your child is safe and secure when you travel, whether on pleasure or business. It's better to purchase a bassinet or crib designed for travel than to use one that you already own. These are smaller and have mesh sides so parents can monitor their child without disturbing them. They're also light for easy transportation between destinations. These also conform to the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been subject to recalls.
If you are required to use a crib alongside your bed it is recommended you place your baby on their back. The sleeping surface 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 sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you have to occasionally co-sleep, make sure that your baby is asleep and that you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
There are a variety of cribs for babies and infants.
Some are designed to look like a mini-crib or Moses basket, while others have sides which can be placed on parent's beds. This allows parents to access their infant during the middle of the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of sleeping with their child. The AAP cautions against this because of the risk of the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, which is a bedside sleeper that connects to the side of a mattress for a parent. It is a good choice for older children, as the sides can be elevated to allow you to reach the baby without lifting them from the bed. Another option is the travel cot, which has an integrated bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib, which makes it easier to lift up the sleeping infant to feed or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are a fantastic method to sleep in a safe environment with your infant. They are placed near your bed to allow you to easily reach them for night feedings and check on their sleeping without disrupting them. Some cribs have a drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, while others have a height adjustment so they can fit into your bed at home and away.
Although it was previously advised that infants sleep in their own separate bedroom, there is now a growing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. Also known as rooming in, this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents yet remain safely separated on their own bassinet or crib. There are many types of co-sleepers that are available, such as the iCrib, which is a portable crib designed to be able to sit on top of a bed or a crib. It comes with a lightweight frame, a mattress that can be removed and is foldable into a compact size for storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It attaches to the bed edge and comes with 7 height positions, as well as a tummy-tilt for reflux and colic. This crib was praised by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding. it is also available in a variety of colours.
There are also cribs for bedside use, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, which can be placed on top of the traditional bed frame. The cribs have an elongated side that slides down to allow you to pick up your child for feedings at night. However, the cribs are self-contained so your baby can remain asleep peacefully. These cribs are in compliance with the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm separation between your mattress and the child's crib.
Additionally, there are cribs designed for travel and are designed to be taken on the road. bedside crib to cot tend to be smaller and lighter than standard cribs, which makes it easier to move them in and out hotels and vehicles. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for instance, can be set up and taken down in under an hour and weighs only three pounds, so it is easy to move and carry.