In this guide, we will outline features that we love of each, as well as share any negatives that we found of the baby travel cribs as well. I hope this guide to choosing the best travel cribs for babies and toddlers will help you choose the best baby travel bed for your family.
We know how challenging it can be to get a baby to sleep (don’t tell me your baby sleeps like a dream – I don’t want to know!). And I’m sure that you are aware that it might be even more challenging to get them to sleep in new locations.
That is why we love travel cots so much! Your baby will sleep so much better when they sleep in a familiar crib. A travel cot for a baby is handy not only for vacations with your baby, but it is also really handy for when you visit friends or grandparents as well.
If you are planning on traveling a lot, you will need to invest some dollars in order to purchase a light travel crib that is also compact, easy to fold, safe, and also comfortable for your little one.
You might also like to purchase a crib that will last for longer than the first year as well.
Let’s look at each of these criteria more closely, so you can make a smart decision on which crib would be the best travel bed for your baby.
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Types of Travel Crib
There are several different types of travel cribs on the market:
- portable cribs,
- toddler travel cot,
- regular travel cribs,
- travel pack ‘n play
It is important to choose the right type of crib for both the age of your baby as well as for your circumstances (how much packing space do you have? Are you driving or flying? etc.)
If your baby is still little, and you typically don’t travel very often, you might want to grab one of the cocoon-type cribs.
They are super light and you can easily place the cocoon crib in between you or on another bed (or in the hotel cot). They are very compact travel cribs.
Once your baby moves around, you will of course want to invest in something larger in size.
It also makes sense to invest in a travel crib that folds out very much like a portable crib does, if you travel a lot. They weigh more than a cocoon-style crib, but they will last you a lot longer.
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Size of Travel Crib
The size of your folding travel crib is really important. It needs to fold up small enough that you can easily transport it around.
It also needs to be lightweight so that you can carry it easily. In order to find the best lightweight travel crib for you, we have shared weights for each of the travel cribs in the table above.
Make sure to know down what size the cot is when assembled as well as when it is folded up. The best travel bed for infant use should be able to fit easily in your suitcase.
Another important factor when it comes to size is to ensure that the crib will actually be large enough to fit your baby comfortably.
Age Range
If you travel frequently, it only makes sense to invest in a crib that will last for at least a few years. Some travel cribs are suitable for newborn babies only, but many can be used for 2-3 years.
You will find though, that even though many of these cribs stipulate that they can fit kids up to 3 of age, it might not be best suited for that age bracket.
Once your toddler is 2, I would suggest that you do some research to find the best travel crib for toddler use. The crib should allow your child to move around, but it should also be sturdy enough to keep them contained.
Comfort
You have to be really careful when it comes to travel cribs. As many might be super light and super cheap but have thin flimsy mattresses.
You also want to buy a crib that offers great airflow.
So when you’re trying to pick the best travel cribs for babies or toddlers, then it is important to make sure that it ticks both the boxes for comfort as well as airflow.
Safety
Of course, safety should be the most important factor to consider. We have only included baby travel cots that have met the American Standards in terms of safety.
When it comes to safety is so important to buy a crib that fits with your baby’s age and activity levels. Especially important for toddlers who try to climb out of their cribs.
Also, look at how snug the mattress fits into the cot, we don’t want the mattress to be loose or have gaps. And think about how the sheet will be held in place as well.
Ease of Use
The best travel baby bed should be super simple and easy to set up, as well as fold up.
Make sure to have a look at how the cots fold up, some are super easy whilst others require some fiddly assembly.