Best Travel Crib

When it comes to babies, there are a lot of things you have to get to keep your child happy and healthy. From food, clothes, toys, and cribs, there is a laundry list of materials for all new parents. One such thing is a crib or playpen or Best Travel Crib for travel somewhere. While each of us would love to be able to spend all our time with our newborns, work and other responsibilities mean that we sometimes have to leave the children alone for sleeping or to play. If you’re an on-the-go family, taking a full-size crib is not an option, so what can you do? That’s where travel cribs come into play.

What is a Travel Crib?

When talking about cribs, it’s important to note that there is a difference between a travel crib and a portable crib. While portable cribs can fold up and move around relatively easily, a travel crib is designed to be as compact as possible, so you can potentially take it on a plane or other transportation. Typically, travel cribs are soft and made of mesh, so not only can they fold tightly, but they are safe and fun for your baby.

Graco Travel Lite Crib, Winslet

Next on our list is the Graco Travel Lite Crib. When it comes to baby products, no company is quite as well known for its quality and safety as Graco. This brand is well-known for making high-quality materials, and the Travel Lite is no exception. This is another bassinet-style crib, so it’s ideal for newborns and infants alike. This model is a little more extravagant than the Chicco Lullago since it comes with some extra features that make it much more versatile and handy.

What I love about the Travel Lite Crib is that you can use it for a variety of applications. If you’re trying to save money, you can have this stand in for a fixed bassinet or crib. The Travel Lite is built tough, so you can use it daily without worrying about it breaking or wearing down. Also, since the bassinet is removable, you can use this crib for years as it will adjust to the needs of your child.

Another key feature of this crib is the fact that it vibrates to soothe and comfort your baby as he or she sleeps. I wouldn’t expect such luxury from a travel crib, but Graco is well-known for its commitment to the best quality products and materials. I also love the fact that you can collapse it with the push of a button, which comes standard on almost all Graco travel cribs.

Finally, the other thing that I love about this crib is that it comes with wheels, so I can move it wherever I need to quickly and easily. Safety isn’t a concern, however, since only two feet have wheels and the others don’t. That way, I can simply lift the crib up, move it where it needs to go, and then set it down. I don’t have to lock the wheels or worry about it rolling away, which is especially nice.

What we liked

• Compact design
• Mesh sides for breathability and visibility
• Bassinet included
• Thick fabric hood
• Toy bar for mobiles and other toys
• One-push button folding
• Removable bassinet
• Comfortable padding for your baby
• Weighs less than 20 pounds
• Wheels included to move around
• Comes with large carrying bag for travel
• Durable construction
• Easy to use
• Versatile
• Perfect for sleeping or playing
• Fits babies and toddlers alike
• Lightweight design
• Easy to set up and take down
• High visibility
• Well ventilated
• Highly rated for safety
• Super portable

What we didn’t like

• More components means more stuff to carry and keep track of
• Sheet are not 100% cotton

How to Choose the Best Travel Crib

Obviously, you want the best for your baby. It’s important that you have the most reliable products so that your child is safe, happy, and healthy. Thus, when choosing the best travel crib, there are some important factors to consider to ensure that you make the best decision. Here are the top four considerations when picking a travel crib for your baby.

Type

The first thing to look at when picking the best travel crib is the model type. When it comes to travel cribs, there are two basic types from which to choose:

• Floor Model. The most common type of travel crib is one that folds out to look like a regular crib. These units stand on the floor and either have a bassinet for your baby or a simple pad at the bottom for your infant or toddler. Some of these cribs have a hood to give shade to your infant while sleeping, while others are just a basic mesh crib.
• Pod. The second type of travel crib is a “pod” style model. These cribs are covered completely and resemble a tent. If you want to protect your baby from the sun or other elements, a pod style crib may be the best choice although with some models it can be hard to see inside or interact with your baby. I would recommend pod cribs for sleeping mostly.

Age Range

Once you’ve determined the kind of travel crib you want for your child, the second thing to consider is the age range of the unit itself. When comparing travel cribs, each of them should have a listed age range for your convenience. Obviously, cribs with a bassinet are ideal for newborns and infants, whereas open floor models are perfect for toddlers and babies alike. What you also need to consider is whether or not the crib is raised off the ground. A raised crib will only be able to carry so much weight, so you want to ensure that you get a model that can handle the size of your baby without issue.

Assembly

The whole point of a travel crib is the convenience, so when picking out the best model for your child you want to make sure that it’s easy and comfortable for you as well. You don’t want a crib that is hard to assemble or takes a lot of time since this can add stress and potentially create problems down the road. In general, travel cribs with a bassinet are a little harder to assemble, so keep that in mind.

Another thing regarding assembly is the number of parts included. The more components you have, the harder it will be to take down and carry with you wherever you go. While almost all travel cribs come with a carrying case or bag, the best ones will fold up neatly and store almost anywhere for your convenience.

Comfort Level

Ultimately, one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a travel crib is the level of comfort for your child. While convenience and ease of use are important, if your baby doesn’t like being in the crib, then everything else is just a moot point. Thus, when picking out the best travel crib, it’s important to make sure that it has sufficient padding so your baby can rest easily in any environment. What you also need to keep in mind, however, is that the more padding the crib comes with, the more stuff you’ll have to carry with you.

Safety

The health and security of your child are always important, so be sure to pick a travel crib that meets all standard safety requirements. There are also some other critical points to look at when determining the safety of your travel crib. You should look at the following and make sure that nothing poses a potential risk for your baby.

• Space between mattress and crib
• Any sheets or extra fabric that sits in the crib
• The height of the sides of the crib
• How easy it is to tip over
• Whether or not your baby can climb out

Overall, what you need to watch out for are suffocation risks (like excess sheets and padding) and whether or not your child can get out of the crib themselves. You don’t want to run the risk of your baby climbing out on their own, so make sure that the sides of the crib are sufficient to keep your child protected and safe.

Final Verdict

When trying to find the right travel crib for your child, it’s important to determine how often you think you’ll use it. For me, I love all Graco products, and each of the travel cribs featured on this list are ideal in any number of situations. If you’re a thrifty parent like me, you love the fact that each Graco travel crib has a removable bassinet, so you can theoretically use these models all the time instead of buying a separate crib for the house. I also love Graco’s patented push-button fold design, which makes packing everything up so simple and easy. If I had to pick one, I would choose the Travel Lite Crib with Stages since it’s designed to grow with my baby.

If, however, you’re looking for something quick and easy, I would recommend the Chicco Lullago Travel Crib since it’s super easy to set up and doesn’t require any extra bells and whistles. Overall, though, all of these travel cribs are top-rated, so no matter which one you choose, you’re sure to be satisfied.