20 Fun Facts About Bedside Crib
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 can also be folded down to one-quarter of its size and fit into a handy bag for traveling.
Just remember that the crib should only be used to sleep and that toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows are a suffocation hazard.
Safety
When you are looking for a crib for travel it is important to make sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) site is a good place to begin. It will inform you whether a crib for portable use has ever been recalled. You should also select appropriate for the crib of your baby to ensure it doesn't slide into the gaps between the crib sides or cause suffocation hazards.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the updated safety standards for 2022. You should also avoid cribs with a long history or cribs that have been modified, or drop side cribs that have been repurposed for travel because these aren't tested and may pose risks to your baby's well-being.
A travel crib should be sturdy and well-constructed. Check for missing, loose or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have a secure wall and mesh windows to allow for adequate air circulation. The crib's slats should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, to keep baby's head and legs from getting trapped. Also, do not put blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or toys 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 push up on their knees and hands or prior to five months of age or when they reach 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
Make sure you check often for broken or loose screws and hardware. This is particularly important when traveling with a child. Remove all plastic from the crib too.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it is not located close to windows. A window can be a fall risk and if your baby rolls into it, they may get injured. Even if your baby is old enough to be able to roll over, it's best to keep their sleeping space away from windows. It's crucial to wake your baby if they start to roll over during sleep.
Portability
Whether you're going on holiday, have family staying over, or just want a safe crib for sleepovers or with friends, a portable crib (or playard, as they are sometimes called) is a good option. These foldable contraptions come with an extremely comfortable mattress that can accommodate babies up to 15kg. They are simple to put together and compact when closed.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a fav among MFM home testers, who love the fact it can be folded and stored in one or two minutes, and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not the tiniest of packs-and-play on our list, but it's a good weight, weighing just under 15 pounds. It has regular handles instead of the backpack-style strap that some find more comfortable to haul around.
bedside co sleeper cot that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which combines a bedside crib and bassinet into one compact unit that is ideal for holidays as well as overnight visits to family and friends. It's not the cheapest, but it has many dancing and all-singing features like a storage basket, soothing colour-changing night lights and white noise. It also has lullabies to help your baby sleep and its bassinet is higher than other models for easier access in the beginning of the day when mum is still recovering.
It's also easy to keep clean with machine-washable and wipeable fabrics. It's also light at less than 12kg and fits nicely inside the compact, convenient travel case that comes with it. It comes with six different height settings, including a tummy tilt for reflux/colic babies, and can fit beds of all sizes. It is also very easy to install. Our MFM tester could do it in just 10 minutes. It will require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
It's crucial that your baby is safe and comfortable when you travel, whether for pleasure or business. It is better to buy a bassinet or crib designed for travel instead of using one you already have. They are smaller, have mesh sides that permit parents to monitor their children without disturbing them. They are lightweight enough for easy transport between destinations. They also meet the safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been recalled.
If you must use a crib next to your bed, it is recommended that you put your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows and toys. Co-sleeping can increase the risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times, make sure that your baby is sleeping and that you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
small bedside cot that are available for infants and young children include:
Some are designed like an oversized crib or Moses basket, and others have sides that can be put down into the bed of the parent. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the risks of true co-sleeping, which the AAP advises against due to dangers of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the side of a mattress for a parent. This is a good option for older children since the sides can be elevated so that you can reach the infant without lifting them out of bed. Another option is the travel cot, which has a built-in bassinet that can be removed from the top of the crib, which makes it easier to lift a sleeping infant for feeding or care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They sit next to your bed at night so that you can reach over easily for night feeds and observe them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have a drop side that you can lower to make it easier, and others come with an adjustable height so that they will accommodate your bed when you are at home or away.
It was previously recommended that infants have their own bedrooms. However parents are increasingly choosing to sleep with their children. Also known as rooming-in, this arrangement lets babies be close to their parents but remain in a safe space on their own bassinet or crib. There are many types of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib that is designed to be a portable crib that fits on the top of your bed, or a regular crib. It has a light frame and a mattress that can be removed and can be folded for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It is attached to the bed's edge and comes with seven height positions as well as a tummy tilt to ease colic and reflux. Our MFM home testers praised this crib for its small folding and easy to use. It is also available in different colours.
You can also buy freestanding bedside cribs such as our Lilly or Alain that you can place on top of a standard bed frame. They have a movable side barrier that slides down to allow you pick your baby up for dinner at night, but the crib is otherwise fully enclosed and your baby will sleep soundly throughout this time. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards that 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 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 cars and hotels. small bedside cot , for instance can be set up and put down in under one minute, and weighs only three pounds, making it easy to lift and carry.