Why We Do We Love Bedside Crib (And You Should Also!)

Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel

Mums love this crib's size it's larger than a Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It also folds down to a third of its original size and fits into a convenient travel bag, making it ideal for travel.

Make sure that the crib is only for sleeping. Toys, pillows and blankets can make a child suffocate.

Safety

As you shop for a travel crib you'll want to be sure the manufacturer meets all safety standards. A good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will let you know whether or not a particular crib is being recalled. You should also select a mattress that is appropriate for the crib of your baby so that it doesn't fall into the gaps between the crib's sides or create a suffocation risk.

Look for cribs or bassinets that meet the updated safety standards for 2022.  bedside crib or cot  should 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 may pose risks to your baby's health.

A travel crib must be sturdy and well-constructed. Examine for loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have mesh windows and secure walls for air flow. The slats of the crib should be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to prevent baby's head or limbs from being trapped. Don't put any toys, blankets, or toys in the crib. These items can choke or drown your baby. They must be removed at the time they are able to stand up on their own or before the age of 5 months.

It's also important to look regularly for broken or loose screws and hardware, especially when traveling with your infant. Remove all plastic from the crib as well.

If you're using a portable baby crib ensure that it's not positioned directly in front of an enormous window. A window is a fall hazard and your baby could get hurt when they fall into it. It's recommended to keep your baby's sleeping space 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 awake them to prevent injury.

Portability

Portable cribs (or playards, as they're sometimes called) are a great option for those going on vacation, having family stay over, or just needing a safe crib for use during a sleepover or with friends. These playards fold up easily to build and are compact when closed, and feature the most comfortable padded mattress that can support newborns up to 15kg.

The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favorite among MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded down and stored in just a few minutes and that its simple one-handed drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not our lightest pack-and play, but with just under 15 pounds it's still an acceptable weight. It also comes with normal handles instead of a backpack style strap that some people prefer.

Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet in one compact unit that is ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to family and friends. It's not the most affordable one, but it does come with many dancing and all-singing features such as a storage basket, soothing colour-changing night lights as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and its bassinet is higher than other models to make it easier to use in the beginning of the day when mom is still recovering.

It's also easy to keep clean, with wipeable and machine-washable fabrics. And, despite its size and weight (it's more bulky when opened) it's surprisingly light at just under 12kg and fits neatly into a compact, convenient travel bag included - perfect for trips away from home. It comes with six different height settings that include a tummy tilt to help with reflux or colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also very simple to set up. Our MFM tester was able to do it in less than 10 minutes. You'll need to buy an additional mattress for it however.

Feeding

It's important that your baby is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether for pleasure or business. While some families might be inclined to use a bassinet or crib that they own, it's best to buy one that is specifically designed for travel. They are smaller and have mesh sides that allow parents to observe their baby without causing any disturbance to them. They're also light to make it easy to transport between locations. These also meet the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been subject to recalls.

If you must utilize a crib for your bed, it's recommended that your infant be laid on their backs and that the bed be free of any blankets, pillows and toys. Sharing sleeping in a bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby regardless of age, and this kind of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you must occasionally co-sleep, make sure that your baby is asleep and that you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.

There are many types of cribs for babies and newborns.

Some are shaped like miniature cribs or Moses basket, and others have sides that can be lowered to the bed of the parent. This allows parents to reach their child during the middle of the night to soothe and feed their child, and avoid the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP cautions against this due to the danger of being suffocated. 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 an ideal option for older babies since the sides can be easily raised to allow you to reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. The travel cot with built-in cribs that is removable allows you to raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or for care.

Sleeping

Bedside cribs allow you to co-sleep safely with your baby. They are placed next to your bed at night so that you can reach over easily for feedings at night and monitor them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have drop sides that you can lower to make this easier and others have an adjustable height adjustment to make sure they accommodate your bed when you are at home or when you are away.

Although it was previously recommended that babies sleep in a separate bedroom, there is now a increasing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. This arrangement, referred to as rooming in, allows infants to stay close to their parents while remaining in their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers available such as the iCrib that is designed to be portable and can be placed on the top of your bed, or a regular 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, that is attached to the edge of a bed. It features 7 adjustable height positions and a tummy tilt for reflux and colic. Our MFM home testers loved this crib for its small folding and ease of use. It is also available in various colors.

You can also purchase freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain that you can put next to the standard bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that slides down so you can pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is self-contained and your baby will sleep soundly throughout this time. These cribs are in compliance with the new BS EN1130 safety standards, which require a 120mm gap between your mattress and the child's crib.

Additionally, there are travel cribs that are specifically made to be carried on the road. They are usually smaller and lighter than a standard crib and are therefore more convenient to take into and out of hotels and cars. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in less than one minute and folded down in just three pounds. It is therefore simple to lift and transport.