15 Reasons Why You Shouldn t Be Ignoring Bedside Crib

Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel

Moms love this crib's dimensions - it's bigger than a Moses basket, but smaller than a cot bed. It can also fold down to one-quarter of its size and can be put into a convenient bag for traveling.

Remember that the crib is only for sleeping. Toys such as pillows, blankets and pillows can make a child suffocate.

Safety

When you're looking for a travel cot make sure that the manufacturer adheres to all safety standards. One good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can inform you whether or not a particular crib is being recall. Select a mattress that is suitable for your baby's crib so it won't fall through the gaps or pose an suffocation hazard.

When you are choosing the right bassinet or crib choose one that is in compliance with the latest safety standards that were updated in 2022. It is also recommended to avoid cribs that are older, modified cribs or drop side cribs that have been repurposed for travel because these aren't tested and may pose risks to your baby's health.

A travel crib should be well-constructed and sturdy. Make sure there aren't any loose, missing or broken screws and other hardware. If you are using a playard, it should have mesh windows and sturdy walls for air flow. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and limbs from becoming trapped. Don't put any toys, blankets or toys in the crib. These can cause suffocation or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib as soon as your child is able to push up on their knees and hands or before 5 months of age or 5 months, whichever is first.

It's also important to check frequently for loose or broken screws and hardware, especially when you travel with your infant. Take all plastic out of the crib as well.

If you are using a portable crib for your baby ensure that it's not placed directly beneath an enormous window. Windows pose a fall risk and if your baby falls into it, they could be injured. Even if your child is old enough to roll over it is best to keep their sleeping area away from windows. It's important to wake up your baby when they begin to sleep on their backs.

Portability

Portable cribs (or playards or playards, as they're often referred to) are a great option for anyone traveling on vacation, having a family stay over, or just needing a safe crib to use at a sleepover with friends. These foldable contraptions have an extremely comfortable mattress that can hold children up to 15 kg. They are easy to assemble and compact when closed.

The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favorite among MFM home testers, who appreciate the fact it can be folded and stored in just one or two minutes, and its easy-to-use drop-down panels are simple enough for even sleepy parents to use. It's not our lightest pack-and play, but with just 15 pounds, it's an adequate weight. It also has regular handles instead of a backpack style strap that some people find more comfortable.

Another excellent option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which incorporates a bedside crib and bassinet in one compact unit that is ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to friends and family. It is not the cheapest option however it has many features, including a basket for storage and calming night lights that change colour and lullabies, as well as white noise, to help your child fall asleep.

It's also easy to keep clean with wipeable and machine-washable fabrics. It's also quite light, at just under 12kg, and fits neatly into the small bedside cot, compact travel case that comes with it. It comes with six height settings and the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic babies, and can fit beds of all sizes. It's also very easy to set up and our MFM tester having it ready in just 10 minutes. You'll need to purchase an additional mattress for it, however.

Feeding

If you're traveling for business or pleasure it's essential to keep your baby happy and safe while traveling. While some families may be attracted to use a crib or bassinet that they own, it's best bedside cots to buy one specially designed for travel. These are smaller and have mesh sides to allow parents to monitor their babies without disturbing them. They are lightweight enough for easy transport 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 utilize a crib for your bed it is recommended that your infant be positioned on their backs and that the bed be free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. This kind of sleeping arrangement increases the chance 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.

The bedside cot mattress cribs for babies and infants include:

Some are shaped like a mini crib or a Moses basket, and others have sides that can be put to the bed of the parent. This gives parents access to the baby for feeding and comforting without exposing the risk of true co sleeper bedside cot-sleeping which the AAP advises against due to the risk of suffocation. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper which attaches to a mattress that is used by a parent. It is also an ideal option for older babies since the sides are easily raised to allow you to reach the infant from the adult bed without lifting them out. Another option is the travel cot bedside that has a built-in bassinet which can be removed from the top of the crib, which makes it easier to lift up an infant who is sleeping for feeding or other care.

Sleeping

Bedside cribs are a fantastic method to sleep in a safe environment with your infant. They sit next to your bed at night, allowing you to reach over easily to feed them and observe them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have an opening on the side that you can lower to make this easier and some have an adjustable height setting so that they will fit your bed at home or away.

Although it was previously recommended that babies sleep in their own separate bedroom, there is now a growing trend for parents to sleep with their infants. This arrangement, referred to as rooming in, allows infants to be close to their parents while remaining in their own crib or a bassinet. There are a variety of co sleeper Bedside Cot-sleepers that are available like the iCrib, which is designed to be a portable crib that fits on the top of your bed or a regular crib. This model comes with a light frame and a mattress that is removable and it folds up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another option. It is attached to the bed's edge and comes with 7 height positions, as well as a tummy-tilt for reflux and colic. The crib was highly loved by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding, and it's also available in a range of colours.

There are also bedside cribs that are freestanding, such as our Lilly or Alain which you can put on top of an existing bed frame. They come with a moveable side barrier that can slide down to allow you take your baby to a dinner at night, but the crib is completely self-contained, and your child will continue sleeping soundly during this time. These cribs also meet the new BS EN 1130:2019 safety requirements that specify that a 120mm high barrier must be installed between your mattress and the cot of your child.

Additionally, there are travel cribs that are specifically made to be carried on the road. They tend to be smaller and more compact than standard cribs, making it easier to transport them from and into hotels and vehicles. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and taken down in under one minute, and weighs just three pounds, making it easy to carry and lift.