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Choosing a Travel Crib

June 28, 2014 by Rosie 2 Comments

Many of you may currently be preparing for summer trips away with your baby or toddler. Have you packed the kitchen sink yet?! With all the clobber we can end up packing for our children, most of us are trying to reduce our luggage and travel as light as we can. Luckily, most travel cribs around now are incredibly light and compact – some can be carried as a backpack and some will fit in an airplane overhead locker! But how to choose a travel crib?

Choosing-a-travel-crib-lead

Many hotels offer cribs for rent, but if you are staying with family, camping, or don’t want to use a hotel crib, then you may be looking at purchasing a travel crib – and it doesn’t have to become another piece of clobber!

Choosing-a-travel-cribIf it’s an option, then having a travel crib is fantastic, as you can use it for all kinds of trips with your baby or toddler – even for naps at the grandparents! A travel crib is also a great way to ease the transition to sleeping away from home, as baby can practice sleeping in the crib at home and will then be in a familiar bed when away. There are many types of different travel cribs, but most of them consist of fabric over a sturdy frame, with a folding mattress – which all folds away into a case or bag. But which crib should you choose? In this post I will give you some key tips on how to choose the travel crib that is right for you, along with a mini review of Little M’s travel crib – BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light.

When choosing a travel crib, you will need to consider your own individual needs and budget, as well as looking at the features of the crib. However, here are some generally important features to look for…

Phil-ands-Teds-Traveller

Phil&Teds Traveller

Light – You don’t want to be lugging a huge great thing around with you on your hols, especially if you’ll be toting it through airports, or slinging it in and out of cars. This is where the multi use ‘pack n plays’ fall down, as they are much heavier than travel cribs. Some of the Graco pack n plays weigh in over 30 lbs! In contrast, both the BabyBjorn and Lotus travel cribs are a super light 13 lbs, while the Phil&Teds Traveller is a teeny 7lbs!

Quick and easy to assemble – Think of a travel crib the way you think of a tent – it should be quick and easy to put up when on the go. Unfortunately many tents are in reality a nightmare to assemble (all those metal poles and weird hooks – where do I hammer?!) and some travel cribs are the same. But some of the best travel cribs can be put up in a matter of seconds with barely a glance at the instruction booklet!

Folds small – You want your travel crib to fit easily into your car/luggage/on the airplane – wherever it is you want it to go. It should fold to a small convenient size for your needs – not be big and unwieldy. Here some compromise may be required, as I have found from my research that the travel cribs that fold the smallest, may be more time consuming and fiddly to assemble, whereas the cribs that fold out in seconds generally have a slightly larger folded footprint. For example, the ‘Phil and Ted’s Traveller’ folds to a miniscule 10” by 27” – but reviewers have commented that it can be time consuming to assemble. The ‘BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light’ in comparison, at 19” by 23.5” is slightly too large to fit in an airplane overhead locker, but can be put up in seconds (even by a DIY incompetent mamma like me!) You may have to decide whether folded size is more important than easy assembly, or other features.

Comfortable – There’s no point buying a crib that folds down to the size of a matchbox if it is then uncomfortable for baby! After all the main purpose of the thing is to sleep in it! Travel crib mattresses are thinner than regular crib mattresses – but the best will unfold nicely and be thick enough to be comfortable for baby.

Sturdy and stable – Lightweight does not mean baby should be able to tip it over and crawl right on out! Look for a sturdy, stable design that will not tip over. We love the BabyBjorn Light for this reason, as the sides tilt inwards, making it very stable for even a strong toddler! Make sure that your chosen crib meets current safety standards.

Lotus-crib

Lotus Travel Crib

Easy visibility – Most travel cribs now have mesh sides, which extend all the way to the bottom, so that you can rest assured that baby is safe – and peek through easily without disturbing her.

Easy to clean – Look for a crib that has an easily removable, machine washable cover and it will practically wash itself!

Size when assembled – This is especially important if you have a baby or toddler that is tall for their age (like Little M!) or if you want to buy a travel crib that your child will fit in for a long time. The ‘pop up’ style of travel cribs (think miniature tent!) tend to be much smaller and will not get long usage, especially with a tall baby. Most standard travel cribs on the other hand, are bigger and therefore have a longer life span.

Many travel cribs have other features that are not essential, but may be useful. Some, like the Lotus Travel Crib, have a zippered side, for easy access. Some have separate bassinets for a newborn and even change tables. Many of these features are handy – but I think it is most important to have a crib that is safe, comfortable and easy to use, whilst being small and light to enough to travel with.

Mini Review: BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light

BabyBjorn-Travel-Crib

BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light

The BabyBjorn travel crib comes at a higher price point than other travel cribs, however, this is reflected in the excellent quality and design of the crib. At around 13lbs it is incredibly light, is a breeze to put up (takes seconds!) and super easy to fold and put away in the case. The sturdy design, with sides that tilt inwards, make it very stable, even for a tall strong toddler. With a 41 by 24 inch mattress, it has a decent sized sleeping space – even for tall kiddos. BabyBjorn say this can be used from 0-3 years, though I think age 3 may be a little ambitious! There is no weight limit – but you must stop usage as soon as your child is able to climb out of the crib. Little M has slept like a dream in this every time we have been away – the mattress is really comfortable. All the fabrics are excellent quality and all removable and washable.

Note: The older version of the crib, BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light 2 (which is the one that we have) does not have mesh all the way to the bottom – it has mesh most of the way down and then a breathable fabric at the bottom of the crib. The new version of the crib has mesh sides that extend all the way to the bottom and new fastenings for the mattress to account for this. These are the only differences between the two models.

Smiling-in-travel-cribThe downsides? Well, aside from the high price, the crib does not fold as small as some travel cribs – unfortunately it is slightly too wide to fit in an airplane overhead locker. When folded and in the case, it is the size of a small suitcase. You could place it in a (very!) large suitcase or bag, but you may likely have to check this dude if you are flying. Personally, we did not find this an issue, as we prefer to carry less through the airport anyway, but it is definitely a consideration to make.

Summary: If you are traveling a lot, especially by car, you will get great use and value out of the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light. If you only need a crib for occasional use or want one that you don’t have to check at the airport (or just something cheaper!) then you may want to look at an alternative – like the Lotus Travel Crib or the Phil&Teds Traveller.

At the end of the day the travel crib that is best for your family is the one that fits your situation and your budget the best. Happy traveling and sleep tight babies!

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links, however all opinions are entirely my own. 

[plinker]

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Filed Under: Baby, Reviews, Travel Tagged With: crib, travel

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Comments

  1. Elizabeth

    February 22, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    Hi there! I have a very large boy who just turned 2 yrs old. He is 37″ tall and 36lbs. Do you have any input on which travel crib would be best for his size? I was hoping for the baby bjorn or the lotus but the Phil & Teds seems to be longer.
    Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Rosie

      February 23, 2016 at 4:08 pm

      Hi there,
      Thanks so much for reading and stopping by!
      I checked by son’s growth chart and he was the exact same height as your son at age 2! He was really getting a bit small for the Baby Bjorn crib at that age. It is an amazing crib, but I would say not worth your while to buy it if your son is already at 37 inches. The mattress is only 41 inches long. The lotus is only slightly longer at 42 inches, while the Phil and Ted’s is the longest with a 45 inch mattress. So the Phil and Ted’s would give your son the most space and growing room.
      I have not used the Phil and Ted’s travel crib so can’t comment on it personally, but it gets well reviewed on amazon. It actually looks better for travelling with than the other cribs, as is lighter and folds smaller, so you could fit it in an airplane locker. The only negative is it take a little more time to assemble.
      I hope this helps! x

      Reply

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Sweet and simple ideas to inspire kids. 👩‍🎨
Art | Crafts | Nature
Lover of tea on the beach and avid recycler! 🐚🐠🐳 ❤️

Rosie
Don’t you just love when a crafty project double Don’t you just love when a crafty project doubles as something useful??
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Get your children printing and decorating Christmas trees on a sheet of parcel paper. You’ll keep them busy and creative, then can wrap gifts for the grandparents or friends in the paper! 
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This year, more than ever, people will really appreciate the small, personal things that you do for them. Things that are made, thought about and given with love. ❤️ Have a think about how you can make someone feel special this year. The simple ideas are always the best!
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Joining in with @makemerryandcreate @littlelion_mom @playwithmamma and #makeyourchristmascrafts
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I took a bit of a social media break, as life took over. As it does from time to time. So taking the time to say hello to you all again.👋 

I’m Rosie and I love to share simple ideas to inspire kids to get arty, crafty and creative. 🎨 

I also 💚the outdoors and try to share this love of nature in many of my projects. 🌲 

This is me and my crew, back in October on my 40th birthday! A beautiful beachy day. 🏝 

Since then we’ve bought a house, moved and had one kiddo in isolation for 14 days 🤪- hence the radio silence. 

A break has helped me ditch the overwhelm and simplify my priorities. But now, I’m so ready to start getting creative again and bring on all the festive vibes! 🎄

When life gets overwhelming, don’t be afraid to step back and focus only on the things that are important. Take a breath, get outdoors and then reprioritise, one step at a time. ❤️

How are you doing with lockdowns, winter and festive preparation? What helps you step back and reprioritise?
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For me it’s been bike rides and making things together. 🖍 ✂️ 
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I’ve not been on social media much lately - I’ve been making the most of the end of summer, adjusting to the ‘new normal’ and figuring out what is next for me now that my littlest has started school. 😊
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One thing I am doing is starting to sort through the pile of creations 🖼 (and clutter too!) in the house. It’s reminding me of all the lovely things we have done together (even when mum guilt sometimes tells me otherwise) and helping to clear my mind too. ❤️
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If you’re feeling a little lost at the moment I can recommend a good sort out as a starting point! @whatkatysaiduk is a wonderful inspiration on decluttering. 🥰
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I feel so much more relaxed for letting go of formal work! (Let’s face it there wasn’t much of it happening anyway...😬) But I was still pressuring myself mentally and it was starting to create power struggles (with my eldest very spirited child!) When you start doing things that you and the children are motivated to do it takes the pressure off everyone. And the miracle is that’s when the real learning happens! 🌟 
My son has even written about his fossil collection - a change from tearing my hair out to get him to write! The kids have played more independently too, as I’ve ‘left them to it’ more. Plus - the house is even starting to look just a little bit cleaner! 🧹

So if home school is just not happening anymore, I’d recommend doing an Elsa and just ‘Let it Goooo’. Swap it for ‘life school’ and I guarantee the kids will be learning equally valuable lessons. 💡Just do what works for your family. ❤️ Are you still home schooling? Do you feel like you’re trying to ‘do it all’? Or have you embraced a more flexible approach?

I’d love to hear any ideas you have that we could try? My kids love dinosaurs and creative things. Plus I’m trying to encourage independent playing and helping in the house, so all ideas welcome! 💡
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I’ve always thought of myself as someone who embraces diversity. I’ve travelled, met and befriended people of all colours, nationalities and religions. As a teacher I’ve valued each child’s individuality, as well as seeing them all as equals. I try to encourage my children to be kind to all others.
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But I realise this is NOT enough. I need to do more. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last week it’s that - we have to take ACTION against racism. It’s not enough to just ‘not be racist’, we have to be ANTI racist to make a change.
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So what action do I commit to do?
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•Listen - keep listening to black people’s stories and struggles.
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If you’re a mama or a teacher and wondering how you can take ACTION against racism, I’d really recommend taking a look at @readlikearockstar and @apron_education - they have some brilliant resources to share with your kids. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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