20 Things You Must Know About Bedside Crib
Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
Mums love this crib's size - it's bigger than the size of a Moses basket but smaller than a crib bed. It also can fold down to a third of its original size and fits into a handy travel bag, making it perfect for travel.
Remember that the crib is intended for sleeping. Toys or blankets, pillows and pillows can make a child suffocate.
Safety
If you are looking for a travel cot, ensure that the manufacturer is adhering to all safety standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) website is a good place to begin. It will inform you whether a crib for portable use has ever been removed from the market. You should also select a mattress that is the correct size for the crib of your baby so that it doesn't fall into gaps in the sides of the crib or create a suffocation hazard.
Search for bassinets and cribs that meet the current safety standards of 2022. It is also recommended to avoid older cribs, modified cribs or drop side cribs that are recycled for use in travel, as they aren't evaluated and could pose dangers to your baby's safety.
A travel crib should be well-constructed and sturdy. Check for missing, loose or broken screws and other hardware. If you're using a playard, it should have sturdy walls and mesh windows to allow for adequate air circulation. The slats on the crib should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart to prevent baby's head or limbs from being trapped. Never put toys, blankets, or stuffed animals in the crib. These items can strangle or suffocate your baby. They must be removed at the time they can stand independently or before the age of 5 months.
Examine regularly for loose or broken screws and hardware. This is particularly crucial when traveling with an infant. Take all plastic out of the crib, too.
If you're using a portable crib be sure that it's not placed directly beneath an enormous window. A window is an injury from falling and your baby may be injured in the event that they crash into it. It is recommended to keep your baby's room away from windows, even if they are old enough to roll over. If your baby starts to roll over in bed it's a good idea to get them up in order to avoid injuries.
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 members over, or simply needing a safe crib for use during a sleepover or with friends. These portable cribs include a comfortable mattress that can support infants up to 15kg. They are simple to put together and compact when closed.
MFM home testers appreciate the BabyBjorn travel crib due to the fact that it's simple to fold and store. Its simple drop down panels that can be operated by one hand are also a breeze to use for parents who are tired. It's not the lightest backpack and play, but at 15 pounds, it's an adequate weight. It also comes with regular handles instead of a backpack strap, which some prefer.
Another option that is worth considering is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which combines a bedside crib and bassinet into a compact unit that's ideal for both overnight and holiday visits to friends and family. It's not the most affordable however it comes with an abundance of dancing and all-singing features like a storage basket, soothing colour-changing night lights, lullabies and white noise to aid your baby to fall asleep and sleep. Its bassinet is higher than other models for easier access in the beginning of the day when mom is still recovering.
The fabrics can be washed in the machine and washable, which makes it easy to clean. It's also light at just 12 kilos, and fits neatly into the small, handy travel case that comes with it. It comes with six different height settings and a tummy tilt for reflux/colic babies, and is able to fit beds of all sizes. It's also easy to set up. Our MFM tester could do it in only 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
Feeding
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, it's important to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe when traveling. It is better to buy a travel-specific crib or bassinet than to use one that you already have. They are smaller and come with mesh sides, which allows parents to observe their baby without disturbing them. They're also light and can be easily transported between places. They also meet all safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and have not been recalled.
If large bedside cot are required to use a bedside crib it is recommended that your baby be laid on their backs and that the bed be free of any blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. This type of co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. If you do have to sleep with your partner at times, make sure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are dressed and awake.
The bedside cribs that are available for newborns and young babies include:
Some are designed to look like a mini-crib or Moses basket while others have sides which can be placed on parents' beds. This allows for middle-of-the-night access to the baby for feeding and comforting while avoiding the dangers of true co-sleeping, which the AAP cautions against due suffocation risks. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Bassinet is a bedside sleeper which attaches to the mattress of a parent. It is a good choice for older children, since the sides can be elevated to allow you to reach the baby without having to lift them out of bed. The travel cot that has an integrated crib that can be removed allows you to lift a sleeping baby up for feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs are a great method to sleep in a safe environment with your newborn. They are placed near your bed so you can easily reach them during night feedings and check on their sleep without disturbing them. Some cribs have a drop side that can be lower to make this easier, and others come with an adjustable height setting so that they will accommodate your bed when you are at home or away.
While it was once advised that infants sleep in their own separate bedroom, there is now a growing preference for parents to share a bed with their infants. This arrangement, also referred to as rooming in, allows infants to stay close to their parents while remaining in their own crib or bassinet. There are several types of co-sleepers that are available such as the iCrib that is designed to be portable and can be placed on top of your bed or a regular crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a removable mattress and it folds up for easy storage. There is also the Joie Roomie Go crib, which fastens to the edge of the bed and has 7 height settings that can be adjusted as well as an incline for the tummy to aid in reflux and colic. This crib was praised by our MFM home testers for its convenience and compact folding, and it comes in a variety of colours.
There are also bedside cribs that are freestanding, such as our Lilly or Alain that 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 baby for feedings at night. However they are also self-contained so your baby can continue sleeping peacefully. These models meet the new BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm separation between your mattress and child's cot.
Lastly, there are cribs for travel that are specially made to be carried on the road. They are typically smaller and lighter than standard cribs, making it easier to move them in and out cars and hotels. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example, can be set up and taken down in less than a minute and it weighs just three pounds, so it is easy to lift and carry.