The Top Companies Not To Be Follow In The Bedside Crib Industry
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 the Cot Bed. It's also foldable down to one-quarter of its original size, and then put in a handy bag for traveling.
Remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows are dangers to suffocate.
Safety
As you shop for a travel crib it is important to make sure the manufacturer meets all safety standards. One good starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which will inform you whether or not a certain crib for portable has been recall. Select a mattress that is suitable for the crib of your baby so it doesn't slide through the gaps or create a suffocation risk.
When you are choosing a bassinet or crib make sure it meets the newer safety standards, which were updated in 2022. Avoid cribs with older designs and modified for travel or cribs with drop-sides. These cribs have not been tested, and could cause danger to your baby's safety.
A travel crib must be strong and well-constructed. Check for missing, loose or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard it should have secure walls and mesh windows for proper air flow. The crib's slats must not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or toys in the crib. These items can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed at the time they are able to stand on their own, or before the age of 5 months.
It's also important to check often for loose or broken hardware and screws, especially when you travel with your infant. Take all plastic out of the crib as well.
If you're using a portable crib, make sure it's not right under windows. Windows pose an accident hazard and if your child rolls into it, they may be injured. Even if your baby is old enough to roll over it is recommended to keep their sleeping area away from windows. It's important to wake up your baby if they start to roll over during sleep.
Portability
Whether you're going on vacation, have family staying over, or simply want a safe crib for sleepovers with your friends, a 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 the most comfortable padded mattress that can support newborns up to 15kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers, who love the fact that it can be folded and stored in just several minutes and its simple one-handed drop-down panels are simple for even sleepy parents to use. It's not our tiniest pack-and-play play, but at under 15 pounds, it's an acceptable weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack-style strap, which some parents prefer to use.
Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which incorporates a bedside crib and bassinet in one compact unit that's ideal for holidays as well as overnight visits to family and friends. It's not the most affordable option, but it comes with various options, including a storage basket as well as calming lights for the night that change color and lullabies, as well as white noise, to aid your child to fall asleep.
The fabrics are machine washable and wipeable, making it easy to clean. It's also relatively lightweight, at just under 12kg and easily fits into the small, compact travel case that comes with it. It comes with six different height settings, as well as an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It's able to fit all sizes of beds. It's also extremely easy to set up, with our MFM tester able to get it ready in just 10 minutes. It'll require a mattress that is separate.
Feeding
Whether traveling for Cots 4 Tots or business it's essential to keep your baby comfortable and safe when traveling. It is better to buy a bassinet or crib designed for travel instead of using one you already have. These are smaller, with mesh sides that allow parents to monitor their children without disturbing them, and are light enough for simple transportation between locations. They also conform to the safety standards of American Academy of Pediatrics and have not been recalled.
If you are required to use a crib alongside your bed, it is recommended that you place your baby on their back. The bed should be free of pillows, blankets and toys. This kind of sleeping arrangement increases the risk of SIDS. If you have to sleep with your child at times, make sure that you only do this while your baby is asleep, and that you are completely dressed and awake.
The types of bedside cribs that are available for infants and young children include:
Some are designed to resemble an oversized crib or Moses basket, and others have sides that can be lowered down into the bed of the parent. This allows parents to access their infant at any time during the night to soothe and feed them, while avoiding the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP cautions against this because of the danger of the risk of suffocation. Examples include the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet, a bedside sleeper that attaches to the side of a parent's mattress. This is a good option for older children, as the sides can be raised so that you can reach the infant without lifting them out of bed. The travel cot that has built-in cribs that can be removed allows you to lift a sleeping baby up for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They are set next to your bed to allow you to easily reach them during night feedings and check on their sleep without disrupting them. Some cribs come with an adjustable drop-side that you can lower for this purpose, whereas others have a height adjustment to ensure they can be placed in your bed at home or away.
Previously, it was recommended that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However parents are increasingly opting to sleep with their children. Also known as rooming-in this arrangement allows babies to be close to their parents but remain safe and separate from their own crib or bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib, an inflatable crib that is designed to be able to sit on the top of a bed or a crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a removable mattress and can be folded for easy 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. Our MFM home testers praised the crib for its compact folding and ease of use. It's also available in a variety of colors.
There are also freestanding bedside cribs like our Lilly or Alain which you can put next to an existing bed frame. The cribs come with the side barrier that can slide down to allow you to grab your child for feedings at night. However, the cribs are fully enclosed so that your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. These models also meet the latest BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements which stipulate that 120mm high barriers must be installed between your mattress and your child's cot.
Lastly, there are travel cribs that are specifically designed to be used on the road. They are typically smaller and lighter than standard cribs, which makes it easier to carry them from and into hotels and vehicles. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and put down in under one minute, and weighs just 3 pounds, so it is easy to carry and lift.