Best Travel Cribs for Baby in 2018: Guide for the Traveler Parents

How do you choose the best travel crib for baby? What are the options that are available? What are some of the things that you should check when buying a travel crib? If you have such questions and more, I'm here to enlighten you.

After researching and testing many cribs, I present you a list of top recommendations. All of these cribs were great when it comes to portability, comfort, ease of use, durability, price and much more. Read more to find what suits you best.

List of the Top 5 Travel Cribs for the Money

Name

Weight

Dimension

See More

Graco Travel Lite Crib

Graco Lite Crib

(Editor's Choice)

19 lbs

23.2 x 33.5 x 32.2

Lotus Travel Crib

Lotus Travel Crib

(Best Choice)

11 lbs

23 x 12 x 9

Graco Pack 'n Play Playard

Graco Pack'nPlay

22.9 lbs

40 x 28.5 x 29

BABYBJORN Travel Crib

BABYBJORN Travel Crib

12 lbs

24 x 20.3 x 6

KidCo Peapod, Cranberry

2.45 lbs

16.5 x 3 x 16.5

Best Travel Crib Reviews in Details

1. Graco Travel Lite Crib

Whether you are at home or far away from home, you want your baby to sleep and relax in a comfortable place. For moms who love carrying their little one, having the Graco travel crib is a great idea. This is a safe and comfortable crib for your baby.

Crib for baby

Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages, Manor

The bassinet provides your baby with a cozy sleeping environment when you are at home or away. You can always have a peace of mind knowing that your baby is safe and comfy.

Travel crib is smaller as compared to other traditional playards so it will fit well in your bedroom. On top of that, the crib is easy to fold which is a mandatory function of the best travel bassinet.. With just a press of a button, it folds with ease making storage and transportation easy. To add more convenience, the crib comes with a hand carry bag.

You can also convert it to a portable playard when you need to have a closer look at your baby. The playard is comfortable and keeps your baby safe when you are handling other.

Considering the design and the amazing features of the travel crib, you would expect to pay more. However, this is not the case. The crib provides a comfortable place for your baby and the price is pocket-friendly.

You don't expect to experience a difficult time assembling the crib. It comes almost ready to use. It is partly assembled meaning that you don't have to spend much time assembling. Again, it comes with a user manual that will guide you.

What I Appreciate

  • Has a comfortable mattress.
  • Has detachable canopy and integrated toys.
  • Easy to assemble.
  • Comes with carrying bag.
  • Has an adjustable height.
  • Has transportation wheels.
  • Mesh side promote breath ability.

What I Don't Appreciate

  • Only ideal for babies under 35 inches.

2. Lotus Travel Crib

If you love traveling with your baby, having a travel crib makes your vacation or trip fun. Not only do you need a travel crib but one that is comfortable and you can take it with you everywhere. In this case, the Lotus travel crib is the best companion. Why?

Lotus Travel Crib - Backpack Portable, Lightweight, Easy to Pack Play-Yard with Comfortable Mattress - Certified Baby Safe

A travel crib should be lightweight such that you can carry it with ease. This unit together with mattress and the backpack weighs 13lbs. This makes it lightweight and easy to transport. You can carry in on your back leaving both hands free.

The crib is suitable for babies from birth to three months and above. Because the mattress is on the floor, the crib doesn't have a maximum weight limit.

Another thing I love about the crib is its ease of set up. This is a process that takes a few minutes. It also folds with ease into a compact unit for easy storage and transport.

The crib is designed with breathable mesh that provides your child with an unobstructed view as well as a full flow of air. The mesh covers the sides and runs down to the mattress creating a safe and breathable place for your baby.

Maintaining the crib clean is also easy. The mesh and the sheets are machine washable. The mattress is also removable for washing or wiping.

The crib is also safe for everybody. It is designed with high-quality materials so no PVC, Lead, heavy metals or phthalates.

What I Appreciate

  • Has a zippered side entry.
  • Mesh on the sides allow effective flow of air.
  • Sturdy and easy to set up.
  • It comes with a fitted sheet.
  • Easy to carry everywhere.

What I Don't Appreciate

  • The mattress is thin.

3. Graco Pack 'n Play Playard

When you are visiting grandma with your little one, this playard provides a comfortable place for your baby to take naps or play. This is one of the most durable travel cribs you will find on the market today. This playard provides your little one with a comfortable place to relax whether you are at home or far away.

Graco Pack 'n Play Portable Playard, Carnival

It is best suited for babies who are under 35 inches in height because it is hard for them to climb out.

The first thing you need to check when buying a travel crib is ease of folding. This unit is super easy to fold. With just a push of a button, you can fold down the playard easy and fast.

Traveling is hassle-free when you have this travel playard. Because it has a durable frame construction, so that you can put it in your car trunk. It is also designed with automatic folding feet that collapse and make the unit smaller.

The playard comes with a convenient travel bag that helps to carry it everywhere. When the playard is folded, it fits perfectly in the travel bag making it easy to store or transport.

This playard is designed to provide your baby with maximum comfort all the time. It has air mesh wires on the sides that allow free flow of air.

What I Appreciate

  • Folds easily with just a push of a button.
  • Designed with a durable frame.
  • Comes with a carrying bag.
  • Mesh on all sides provide ventilation.
  • Perfect for use at home or travel.
  • East to set up.

What I Don't Appreciate

  • Has a thin mattress pad.
  • Difficult to clean.

4. BABYBJORN Travel Crib

Do you want a travel crib that you can carry for any adventure? Consider this unit as the best lightweight travel crib and very easy to set up. The crib is compact enough to carry in your car or to the airport.

BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light - Silver

Whether you are going for a vacation or a visit with your kids, you know you need to carry a lot of luggage. This is why you need a light crib like this unit that is easy to move around. It is suitable for all types of trips and its smart design makes it easy to store and keep in baggage space.

Apart from weight, it is also important if you consider the comfort of the crib. This one features a soft and comfortable mattress that offers a cozy sleeping and relaxing environment for your baby. The mattress is designed with a built-in base plate that makes it firm on the floor and ensures your baby is secure.

Another thing you will love about the BabyBjorn product is its ease of setup and folding. Setting up and folding is pretty easy and this makes the crib convenient for both short and long trips. It doesn't have loose parts that you need to attach and the legs unfold spontaneously.

The sides of the crib are designed with a soft and airy mesh fabric that allows your baby to breathe. The mesh is also see-through so you can keep checking on your baby. Additionally, it helps your baby to look outside.

Babies are bound to mess. If your crib is difficult to clean, this means that the place will not be convenient for your baby. To ease the cleaning process, this crib is machine washable. The mattress and the crib cover are removable and easy to wash with a machine.

What I Appreciate

  • The fabric is tested and approved.
  • It is easy to clean.
  • Provides a comfortable place for your baby to stay.
  • The mesh sides provide good ventilation.
  • Features a safe and sturdy design.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • It is easy to fold and setup.

What I Appreciate

  • Fitting sheets are sold separately.
  • A little expensive.

5. KidCo Peapod, Cranberry: One of the best travel cribs for toddlers

If you can't leave your little one behind when going out for vacations, at the beach or visiting friend and family, the kidco peapod is a great companion. This is a lightweight travel crib that is suitable for toddlers.

KidCo Peapod, Cranberry

It provides your baby with ample space to play or sleep comfortably when traveling. You can get the crib in different colors depending on the type of color you love. The crib ensures that your baby is safe when outdoors so you can carry it to picnics, camping, and outdoor travels.

Carrying the crib should not trouble you. As compared to many travel cribs on the market, this unit is lightweight and highly portable. It folds into a compact size making it easy to carry around. Additionally, the crib comes with a carry bag for transportation and storage.

For those sunny days and you would love to spend time on the beach, you can carry your little one too. The crib is designed with UV protection and this gives you an assurance that your baby is safe. On top of that, it has anchor straps that allow you to attach it to the ground when outdoors.

The crib features lightweight mesh that ensures there is an effective flow of air. Moreover, the mesh also prevents insects from getting inside the crib.

If you want to get a quick access, the crib is designed with a large zipper panel so you don't have to spend a lot of time accessing the baby.

What I Appreciate

  • Provides a comfortable environment for your baby.
  • It is lightweight and portable.
  • Ensures your baby is safe when outdoors.
  • Suitable for travel.
  • Easy to fold and set up.
  • Great for use at the beach.
  • Comes with a carry bag.

What I Don't Appreciate

  • Seems to be good for only older babies.
  • It is loud.

6. Fisher-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard

This is one of the most versatile travel playards that provide you with so many benefits. You can use it for playing, changing, napping and sleeping whether you are at home or away from home. With all these great features the unit still remains compact and lightweight when on the go.

Fisher-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard

The crib has been designed with your baby in mind. It features a supportive seat back and padded head support that ensures your baby is comfortable. It also has a padded play mat that provides additional comfort.

The playard is lightweight making it easy to carry anywhere. When folded, it fits well in the travel bag and you can carry it on your shoulders. As compared to other playards on the market, this unit is almost half the weight of many models.

If you want to change your baby, the playard features a portable changing clutch. It also has a built-in container where you can keep baby wipes. Cleaning the playard is simple and easy. The inclined sleeper is removable has pads and head support that are machine washable.

When it comes to set up, expect a simple job. It is very easy to open and close without a struggle. You can take around 5 minutes to set up everything.

What I Appreciate

  • Easy to fold.
  • Padded mat provides comfort.
  • Machine washable parts.
  • Easy to carry to any place.
  • Features a portable changing clutch with a container for wipes.
  • Lightweight as compared to other playards.

What I Don't Appreciate

  • Complaints of mold.
  • Some users find folding difficult.

What is Travel Crib and why do you need it?

A travel crib refers to a baby bed that collapses and folds to fit into a bag for easy transportation. These are different from the bassinets.The cribs are compact and lightweight making them ideal for travel. The main difference between travel cribs and cribs is that travel cribs are small such that you can take them on planes like hand luggage.

Do you really need a travel crib? If so travel cribs are important for you. Because they provide your little one with a comfortable sleeping environment when you are traveling.

For instance, when you are taking a vacation, visiting friends or grandma, having a travel crib can be lifesaving. After all, you want to ensure that your childproofing to relax or sleep. You can also use a travel crib for other outdoor activities like camping, at the beach and much more.

In as much as travel cribs are available in many hotels and home rentals, having your own gives you a nice feeling because you don't have to entirely depend on hotels or relatives to provide one.

The following are some of the benefits of having a travel crib:

  • They are easy to fold
  • Easy to keep clean
  • The cribs are comfortable and portable
  • They offer a comfortable sleeping area for your baby
  • They are lightweight
  • They look good

Travel Crib Buying Guide

How would you recognize the best travel crib for baby? There are quite a number of things that you need to consider when buying a travel crib. Let's go through some of the most important considerations you should think about when buying one.

Age

Before you buy a best baby travel crib, consider the age of your baby. Additionally, you should think about how long you intend to use the crib. For instance, if you are having an extended travel trip, your baby will also grow during that period.

There are travel cribs that are designed for newborns and others are for bigger babies. So keep your baby's age in mind look for a travel crib that fits them comfortably.

Types

You should also know that there are different types of travel cribs. They range from regular travel cribs, portable cribs, and toddler travel cots. Selecting the best will also depend on the age of your baby.

Crib size

The size greatly matters when it comes to travel cribs. After all, you want a compact unit that you can carry with ease to different places. Moreover, the crib should not weight too much making it hard to carry.

Before you purchase, consider the size when it is assembled and disassembled. Look for a convenient unit that you can easily carry in your suitcase, car trunk or hand luggage when you are taking a flight.

Ease of use

How easy can set up the crib? If you are traveling, you do not want to spend much time doing such tasks. You should look for travel cribs that are straightforward to use like the top list reviewed above.

Comfort

All travel cribs are not designed in the same way. Some are more comfortable than others. Some come with a mattress and air flow while others do not. Consider how your baby will feel comfortable before you buy a travel crib.

Does the crib have a padded mattress? Some cribs come with thin mattresses while others have relatively thicker mattresses. Compare several models and choose the most comfortable for your baby.

Safety

Alike the best baby cribs for baby, safety measuring is another great consideration to think about when you are purchasing a travel crib. Does it meet the American Standards for travel cribs? Compare the safety features of different travel cribs because some are safer as compared to others.

Some of the safety considerations that you should check are the space between the crib and the mattress, can the child escape, whether the sheets hold in place and the possibility of a toddler falling.

Play pen

Do you want a travel crib that can also be used as a play pen? There are different designs on the market and some models can also be converted to beds.  If you want a playing area for your child, you can pick a larger and lightweight playard that will keep your baby safe and comfortable.

Price

Just like buying other products, the price is also another consideration. You need to make price comparisons among different products to find out the one that meets your budget. You can get affordable and high-end travel cribs. It all depends on how much money you want to use.

Final Words

With the many options of travel cribs available, choosing the best can be a problem especially if you are buying for the first time. However, if you have more information about travel cribs, finding the best should be easy.

The above are great travel cribs that you can choose when you are planning a journey. Not only do they provide your baby with a comfortable sleeping environment but they are also pocket-friendly.

You can compare the features of the product and choose a model that makes you happy and meets your budget requirements.

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Margaret
 

I am Margaret, a researcher, and mom blogger from Houston, Texas. I have been blogging for almost 4 years on motherhood and mom issues. Please feel free to reach me anytime. Thank You!