So You've Bought Bedside Crib ... Now What?

Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel

The size of this crib is ideal for moms. It's bigger than the Moses Basket but smaller than a Cot Bed. It's also foldable down to a quarter of its original size and fit into a handy bag for transport.

bedside cot mattress  is important to remember that the crib should only be used for sleeping and that toys, pillows and blankets are a suffocation hazard.

Safety

When you are looking for a crib for travel you'll want to be sure that the manufacturer complies with all safety standards. One good starting point is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can let you know whether or not a certain crib is being recall. It is also important to select appropriate for your baby's crib to ensure it doesn't slide into the gaps between the crib sides or cause suffocation hazards.

Find bassinets or cribs that are in line with the latest safety standards of 2022. Avoid cribs with older designs and modified 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 needs to be strong and well-constructed.  bedside cot mattress  for loose, missing or broken screws as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have secure walls and mesh windows to ensure proper air flow. The crib slats should not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Also, never put blankets, pillows or toys with stuffed animals in the crib. These can cause suffocation or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib when your child is able push up on their hands and knees or prior to 5 months old or when they reach 5 months of age, whichever comes first.

It's also important to check regularly for broken or loose hardware and screws, especially when traveling with your infant. Remove all plastic from 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 baby falls into it, they could get 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 while sleeping.

Portability

Whether you're going on holiday, have family staying over, or just need a secure bedside crib for sleepovers or with friends, an portable crib (or playard or playard, as they're sometimes called) is a good option. These portable cribs include an extremely comfortable mattress that can hold infants up to 15kg. They are easy to assemble and compact once closed.

The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with 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 for even sleepy parents to use. It's not our tiniest pack-and-play play, but with just under 15 pounds, it's an acceptable weight. It also has regular handles instead of a backpack style strap that some people prefer to use.

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 ideal for both holidays and overnight visits to friends and family. It's not the most affordable however it comes with an abundance of all-singing and all-dancing features like a basket for storage as well as calming colour-changing lights for the night and white noise. It also has lullabies to aid your baby to fall asleep, and its bassinet setting is higher than the majority for easier access during the early days when mum is still recovering.

The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, making it easy to clean. It's also quite light, at just under 12kg, and fits neatly into the small, compact travel case that comes with it. It has six different height settings and an adjustable tummy tilt for reflux or colic babies. It's suitable for any size bed. It's also incredibly quick to set up and our MFM tester able to get it up and running in a mere 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase a separate mattress for it however.

Feeding

It's crucial that your baby is safe and secure when you travel, whether for business or pleasure. While some families might be attracted to use a crib or bassinet that they own, it's best to buy one specially made for travel. They are smaller and have mesh sides, which allows parents to monitor their child without causing any disturbance to them. They're also light for easy transportation between destinations. They also meet 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 put your baby on their back. The bed should be free of blankets, pillows and stuffed 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 must occasionally co-sleep ensure that your baby is sleeping and that you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.

The types of bedside cribs available for infants and young children include:

Some are shaped like an oversized crib or Moses basket, while others have sides that can be put down into the bed of the parent. This allows parents to access their baby during the middle of the night to soothe and feed their child, and avoid the dangers of co-sleeping. The AAP warns against this because of the risk of the risk of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper which attaches to the mattress of a parent. This is a good option for older children, as the sides can be elevated to allow you to reach the baby without lifting them out of the bed. The travel cot with an integrated crib that is removable allows you to easily raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or other care.

Sleeping

Bedside cribs let you sleep peacefully with your baby. They are placed next to your bed during the night, allowing you to reach them easily to feed them and check on them without disturbing their sleep. Some cribs have an opening on the side that you can lower to make this easier and some have an adjustable height to make sure they fit your bed at home or away.

In the past, it was suggested that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However parents are increasingly choosing to sleep in a co-sleep. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows babies to be close to their parents while remaining in their own crib or a bassinet. There are a variety of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib that is designed to be an easy-to-move crib that can be placed on the top of your bed or a standard crib. This model comes with a lightweight frame, a mattress that is removable, and can be folded into a compact size for storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It attaches to the bed's edge and features 7 height positions, as well as a tummy-tilt to help with colic and reflux. The crib was loved by our MFM home testers for its user-friendly design and compact folding. it's also available in a range of colours.

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

Lastly, there are cribs designed for travel and are designed to be used on the road. They are usually smaller and lighter than a standard crib which makes them more convenient to take into and out of cars and hotels. Munchkin Brica, for example can be assembled in less than one minute and folded down in less than three pounds. It is therefore easy to lift and transport.