Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size It's larger than the size of a Moses basket but smaller than a cot bed. It can also be folded down to a quarter of its original size and can be put into a convenient bag for travel.
Make sure that the crib is intended for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can cause a child to be suffocated.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. One good starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a certain crib for portable has been removed from the market. You should also select appropriate for your baby's crib to ensure it doesn't slide into the gaps between the crib sides or cause suffocation hazards.
Look for cribs or bassinets that meet the current safety standards for 2022. Avoid older cribs and cribs modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested, and could be a danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be sturdy and well-constructed. Check for missing, broken or loose screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have mesh windows and secure walls to allow air circulation. The crib's slats must not 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. bedside crib to cot can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed as soon as they can stand up independently or before the age of 5 months.
Check regularly for loose or broken screws and other hardware. This is particularly important when traveling with an infant. Make sure you remove all crib furniture prior to use, too.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it's not right under the window. A window can be an accident hazard for your baby could get hurt in the event that they crash into it. Even if your baby is old enough to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping area away from windows. It is important to wake your baby when they begin to roll over while sleeping.
Portability
Whether you're going on holiday, have family staying over, or just want a safe bedside crib for sleepovers or with friends, an portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is an excellent option. These playards fold up and include an extremely 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 that it can be folded and stored in several minutes and its easy-to-use drop-down panels are easy for even bleary-eyed parents to use. It's not our lightest pack-and play, but at under 15 pounds, it's a good weight. It also comes with normal handles instead of a backpack style strap, which some prefer.
Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet into one compact unit that's perfect for holidays as well as overnight visits to family and friends. It is not the cheapest option, but it comes with various features, such as a basket for storage, soothing night lights that change colour, lullabies, and white noise, which can help your child sleep.
The fabrics are machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. It's also quite light at just 12 kilos, and fits neatly inside the compact, convenient travel case that comes with it. It comes with six different height settings and an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It's suitable for any size bed. It's also very easy to install and has our MFM tester having it up and running in a mere 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
Feeding
If you're traveling to work or for pleasure, it's important to keep your baby comfortable and safe while traveling. It is better to buy a travel-specific crib or bassinet instead of using one you already have. These are smaller and have mesh sides, which allows parents to check on their baby without disturbing them. They are also lightweight for easy transportation between destinations. They also meet all the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been subject to recalls.
If you have to use a crib next to your bed it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The sleeping surface should be free of pillows, blankets, and stuffed toys. Sharing a bed with parents isn't advised for any baby regardless of age, and this type of sleeping together is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. If you must co-sleep on occasion, ensure that you only do this while your baby is asleep and that you're completely dressed and awake.
The bedside cribs for newborns and young babies include:
Some are designed to look like a mini-crib or Moses basket, while others have sides which can be placed on parents' bed. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby to feed and comfort while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping which the AAP recommends against due to the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, an infant bed that is attached to the sides of a mattress for a parent. It is also a safer option for older babies since 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, making it easier to lift up an infant who is sleeping for feeding or 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 during night feedings and check on their sleep without disrupting them. Some cribs have a drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, while others have a height adjustment to ensure they can fit into your bed at home and when you go away.
While it used to be recommended 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, but remain safe and separate from their own crib or bassinet. There are several types of co-sleepers that are available like the iCrib, which is designed to be portable and can be placed on the top of your bed or a regular crib. This model comes with a light frame and a removable mattress and it can be folded to make it easy for storage. There's also the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens to the edge of the bed and has 7 height settings that can be adjusted as well as an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. The crib was highly praised by our MFM home testers for its convenience and compact folding. it's also available in a range of colours.
There are also cribs for bedside use, such as our Lilly and Alain cribs, which can be positioned on top of the traditional bed frame. The cribs come with an elongated side that slides down to allow you to pick up your baby for night feedings. However, the cribs are self-contained so your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. These cribs are in compliance with the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards that require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and child's crib.
Lastly, there are bedside cot newborn designed for travel and are made to be carried on the road. They tend to be smaller and more compact than standard cribs, which makes it easier to carry them into and out of hotels and cars. Munchkin Brica, for example can be set up in less than one minute and folded down in just three pounds. It is therefore easy to move and lift.