What Freud Can Teach Us About Bedside Crib
Buying a Bedside Crib For Travel
The size of this crib is ideal for moms. It's bigger than a Moses Basket but smaller than the Cot Bed. It can also fold down to just a quarter of its original size and fit into a handy bag for travel.
Just remember that the crib should only be used to sleep and that toys, pillows and blankets are an entrapment risk.
Safety
As you shop for a crib for travel it is important to make sure that the manufacturer is compliant with all safety standards. One good place to start is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, which can inform you whether or not a specific crib for portable has been recall. Pick a mattress that's suitable for the crib of your child so that it doesn't slide through the gaps or cause an suffocation hazard.
When you are choosing a crib or bassinet, look for one that meets the newer safety standards, which were updated in 2022. You should also avoid cribs that are older or cribs that have been modified, or drop side cribs that have been used for travel as they have not been tested and may pose risks to your baby's well-being.
A travel crib must be well-constructed and sturdy. Make sure there aren't any loose, missing or broken screws, as well as other hardware. If you're using a playard it should be fitted with mesh windows and strong walls to allow air circulation. The crib slats shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid the baby's head and legs from getting trapped. Don't put any toys, blankets or toys that are stuffed with animals in the crib. These objects can choke or strangle your baby and should be removed from the crib when your child is able push up on their knees and hands or before 5 months of age or when they reach 5 months of age, whichever comes first.
Examine regularly for loose or broken screws and other hardware. This is particularly crucial when traveling with an infant. Make sure to remove all plastic from the crib before using it, and.
If you are using a portable baby crib, make sure it's not positioned directly under a large window. A window is an accident hazard and if your child rolls into it, they could get injured. Even if your baby is old enough to be able to roll over it is best to keep their sleeping area away from windows. It's important to wake up your baby if they begin to roll over while sleeping.
Portability
Portable cribs (or playards which is what they're sometimes referred to as) are a great option for those who are who is on vacation, has a guests over, or simply wanting an appropriate crib at a sleepover with friends. These portable cribs are simple to put together and compact when closed, and feature an incredibly comfortable mattress that can support newborns up to 15kg.
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a favourite with MFM home testers who appreciate the fact that it can be folded and stored in several minutes and its simple drop-down panels that can be operated with one hand are easy for even bleary-eyed 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 normal handles instead of a backpack strap, which some parents prefer to use.
Another great option is the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which includes a crib for bed and a bassinet into one compact unit that is ideal for holidays as well as overnight visits to relatives and friends. It's not the most affordable one, but it does come 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 as well as white noise and lullabies to help your baby fall asleep and sleep. Its bassinet is higher than the majority to make it easier to access during the early days when mum is still recovering.
It's also easy to keep clean with machine washable and wipeable fabric. And, despite its size and weight (it's on the heavier side when opened) it's light at just 12kg and fits neatly into a compact, convenient travel bag that comes with it ideal for trips away from home. It comes with six height settings and the tilt of the tummy for reflux/colic infants, and it can be adapted to beds of all sizes. It's also very simple to set up. Our MFM tester could do it in just 10 minutes. It'll require a separate mattress.
When you travel to work or for pleasure, it's important to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe on the road. While some families might be tempted to use a crib or bassinet that they already own but it's better to purchase one specifically designed for travel. These are smaller and have mesh sides that permit parents to check on their babies without disturbing them, and are light enough for simple transportation between locations. They also meet all safety standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and haven't been subject to recalls.
If you must use a crib that is placed at your bedside it is recommended that your child be placed on their back and that the bed be free of blankets, pillows, and animals stuffed. Sharing a bed with parents isn't recommended for any baby, regardless of age, and this kind of co-sleeping is linked to an increased risk of SIDS. If you have to occasionally co-sleep, make sure that your baby is sleeping and that both you and your partner are fully dressed and awake.
The kinds of cribs for infants and young children include:
Some are designed as a mini-crib or Moses baskets, while others have sides which can be placed on parent's bed. This allows parents to access their child 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 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 great option for older children, as the sides can be elevated to allow you to reach the baby without having to lift them from the bed. The travel cot that has a built-in crib that can be removed allows you to easily raise a sleeping baby to allow feeding or other care.
Sleeping
Bedside cribs allow you to sleep with your baby in a safe and secure way. They sit next to your bed during the night so that you can reach over easily to feed them and observe them without disrupting their sleep. Some cribs have drop sides that can be lower to make it easier, and others have an adjustable height adjustment so that they will be able to fit in your bed at home or on the go.
It was previously recommended that infants sleep in their own bedroom. However parents are increasingly opting to sleep with their children. This arrangement, 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, an inflatable crib that is designed to be placed on the top of a bed or a crib. This model has a lightweight frame and a removable mattress and it folds up for easy storage. The Joie Roomie Go crib is another alternative. It attaches to the bed's edge and has seven height positions and a tummy-tilt for reflux and colic. The crib was praised by our MFM home testers for its ease of use and compact folding. it's also available in a variety of colours.
There are also cribs for bedside use, such as our Lilly and Alain, that can be positioned next to a traditional bed frame. These have a movable side barrier that slides down so you can pick your baby up for night feeding, but the crib is otherwise fully enclosed and your baby will be sleeping comfortably throughout this time. These cribs meet the latest BS EN1130:2019 safety standards which require a 120mm barrier between your mattress and child's cot.
Travel cribs are also available. They are designed specifically to be taken along when traveling. These are typically much smaller and lighter than a standard crib, making them easy to transport into and out of hotels and cars. The Munchkin Brica travel crib, for example can be set up and taken down in under one minute, and weighs only three pounds, making it easy to carry and lift.