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One of the things every parent can attest to needing from the very beginning is a lightweight travel crib for their baby. Maybe a pack n’ play is the standard for some parents, but at some point, you are going to wonder, what are the best baby beds for travel?
Honestly, there are a lot of other options than the foldable portable travel crib style that literally everyone has already seen. If you travel a lot or just need something to keep your little one comfortable during your next family vacation, a portable travel crib is a must!
Jump to a specific section
- Why You Need a Portable Baby Bed?
- 1. Lotus Travel Crib
- 2. Brica Fold ‘N Go Travel Bassinet
- 3. Lulyboo Bassinet To-Go Metro
- 4. MiClassic 2in1 Rock & Stay Bassinet One-Second Fold Travel Crib
- 5. Brandream Baby Nest Bed
- 6. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light
- 7. DockATot Deluxe Baby Lounger
- 8. Dream On Me Travel Light Play Yard
- 9. Joovy Gloo Infant Travel Bed
- FAQ’s About Baby Travel Beds
- Final Thoughts
Why You Need a Portable Baby Bed?
Traveling can be a bit challenging with a newborn, especially since they are accustomed to their own home, so if you want them to have their good night’s sleep in a portable travel crib, you definitely have to check some outstanding lightweight travel cribs we are reviewing.
But first, you have to know what types of best travel baby beds there are and how to pick the best for your type of travel.
There are smaller baby bassinets that can safely sit on the floor or on your bed, standalone bassinets made for travel, or complete pack n’ play style travel cribs to give your baby the best sleeping experience away from home.
Most of the best travel baby beds have convenient carrying bags or handles to make traveling with them as easy as possible, and the best part is that the covers are machine washable and made of breathable mesh. Others are still lightweight and compact enough to take on the go and use for quite a while in order to get plenty of use out of it for your little one when it comes to their good night’s sleep.
In most cases, the baby travel beds are comfortable enough to keep your baby from having bedtime confusion since they won’t be in their own crib at naptime and bedtime.
And you can even use some of these as a nap place for a home or as a playpen area and even buy an air mattress for the ultimate comfort of your infant. Regardless, there’s little reason to suggest you won’t be able to get plenty of use out of the travel crib even if your family doesn’t travel more than a few times per year.
1. Lotus Travel Crib
The Lotus Travel Crib is one of the best travel baby beds because of its comfort and durability, but it just looks sleek no matter what room it’s in. As a playard or place to nap at home, the Lotus is easily one pack n’ play that you wouldn’t mind leaving out after naptime.
But when it comes to traveling with your little one, this particular travel crib is one of the best options out there by far since it’s lightweight and because you can also add air mattresses to it for better sleep for your infant.
This pack ‘n play travel bed has a 3D folding rame and when folded down, is compact enough to travel with whether you need to pack it in an already full car or take it on a flight with you and your family.
The carrying bag it comes with fits the crib perfectly and has two convenient carrying straps to make it a backpack that either parent can easily sling over their back for easy carrying. The Lotus also weighs just 13 pounds, so carrying it along with your little one or other luggage is a breeze for most parents.
- Child Age Range: The travel crib is designed for children from 0-3 years old.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
- The Best Part: The crib has a side zipper panel to allow you to get down on the floor next to the travel crib and play or relax with your baby or toddler.
- The Not So Great: The mattress part of the Lotus is low to the ground, so it can sometimes be a struggle to get your smaller baby in and out of the crib. Although, you can add an inflatable mattress here, so you can easily pick up your baby from it, without too much effort.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Lotus Travel Crib.
Worry free airport travel - Designed to be easy to fly with the compact, light backpack carrying case. Set up is simple in 15 seconds and only weighs 13 lbs packed.
2. Brica Fold ‘N Go Travel Bassinet
Another kind of baby travel crib is a bassinet, or in this case, the Brica Fold ‘n Go Travel Bassinet. The bassinet doesn’t have legs, so it can be placed on the floor out of the way or in the middle of a bed as long as you are close by to keep an eye on your sleeping baby.
The bottom line is that because it doesn’t have legs or anything needed to stand upon, a bassinet is truly a portable option when it comes to travel cribs.
The bassinet has breathable mesh panels and mosquito nets to keep your little one comfortable and cool as they sleep. The mesh allows for optimum breathability and airflow and the double locking steel frame makes the bassinet extra safe for your baby and for your own peace of mind.
When it’s time to fold the bassinet up and take it on the go, you simply press the safety button in to release the locks, and the bassinet folds flat. You can then carry it with the built-in handle, which makes traveling with the lightweight bassinet plenty easy, even for newbie parents.
- Child Age Range: The bassinet is made for babies up to three months or 15 pounds.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in-store at Target.
- The Best Part: It weighs just three pounds.
- The Not So Great: Because the weight limit is 15 pounds, you might not be able to get a lot of use out of the bassinet before your baby outgrows it.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Brica Fold ‘n Go Travel Bassinet.
Worry free airport travel - Designed to be easy to fly with the compact, light backpack carrying case. Set up is simple in 15 seconds and only weighs 13 lbs packed.
3. Lulyboo Bassinet To-Go Metro
Another of my favorite cribs for babies that are easy to take on the go and plenty comfortable for your baby is the Lulyboo Bassinet To-Go Metro. When you’re ready to go, the bassinet literally folds into a backpack to make it easy to carry anywhere you might need it as the drop of a hat.
One downside that results from that is the fact that it doesn’t require a carrying bag to keep it clean and covered when not in use, and it’s not washable, but its overall comfort can’t really be beaten.
The rounded sides of the bassinet are made of a thick plush cushion that is also cool enough to keep your baby comfortable and safe at all times. And the pad your little one will lay on is padded just enough. You can even use the bassinet as a makeshift changing pad whether you’re at home or on the go.
And because the bassinet folds up into itself, in a way, it’s so lightweight that carrying it with your baby in your arms will feel like there’s virtually nothing on your back. The bassinet also has an activity bar with toys to engage your baby as he or she lays in the padded bassinet. Plus, it has a removable two-position canopy.
- Child Age Range: The bassinet can fit babies up to 15 pounds.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
- The Best Part: Although the sides of the bassinet are made of cloth and cushion, they are still sturdy and durable.
- The Not So Great: It might be a little pricey for some families, especially since it can only be used for a few months.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Lulyboo Bassinet To-Go Metro.
Baby Lounge Backpack - Combines Crib, Playpen and Changing Station, Metro. Transforms into a backpack in one motion with outer storage pocket for baby essentials
4. MiClassic 2in1 Rock & Stay Bassinet One-Second Fold Travel Crib
The MiClassic 2in1 Rock & Stay Bassinet One-Second Fold Travel Crib could easily be used as a bassinet for everyday use or a travel option, which gives it double the value for some families. Its size, however, is something of a catch-22. It’s large enough to accommodate your baby as he or she grows, but it can take up a bit of space, so you might need to make sure your hotel room is large enough to give the bassinet space before you take it on your family travels. All four sides of the bassinet are made from a breathable mesh but don’t have a mosquito net for cover.
This not only allows for plenty of airflow in the bassinet, but it gives you a peek at your baby from essentially every angle. To fold up the bassinet, you simply pull up on the lever in the middle of the bassinet under the mattress pad and the entire thing folds up with ease.
When in use, you can opt to have the bassinet stationary or use its rocker legs to help soothe your little to a good night’s sleep or during naptime. The bassinet is on the larger size, so taking it on the go might pose a challenge for some parents, but it does fold up to make traveling a bit easier (and yes, even for camping too) and its overall comfort is hard to ignore.
- Child Age Range: The bassinet can hold little ones up to 35 pounds.
- Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.
- The Best Part: You can use the bassinet in the stationary or rocker option.
- The Not So Great: The bassinet is on the bigger side and for a travel bassinet, you might expect something a little slimmer.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the MiClassic 2in1 Rock & Stay Bassinet One-Second Fold Travel Crib.
5. Brandream Baby Nest Bed
The Brandream Baby Nest Bed is an oversized and totally comfortable option when it comes to the best travel baby beds. But more than that, it can be used until your baby is out of the baby stage and reaches 12 months.
The soft and full cushion is made from environmentally friendly hypoallergenic 100 % cotton to ensure that your little one has a comfortable and safe sleep or resting in the infant travel bed.
Not only does the travel bed have plenty of cushions all around on all four sides, but it also has a pillow to keep your baby well-rested after each nap. The upraised sides help keep your little one from rolling over and rolling out of the travel bed and because it’s entirely made of cloth and filling, it’s lightweight enough to take anywhere on the go. And to take it with you on family trips or daily outings, the bed has a convenient carrying handle.
- Child Age Range: It’s made for babies from 0-12 months old.
- Where To Buy: You can primarily find the travel baby bed on Amazon.
- The Best Part: The travel bed is big enough to potentially last your little one their entire first year.
- The Not So Great: The mattress padding and cushion can lose some of their shape over time.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Brandream Baby Nest Bed.
6. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light
If you’re after a full-sized travel crib, however, the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light is a fine option for your growing baby. The Baby Bjorn brand is already home to so many different top baby products, so it’s only natural that is also in the baby travel crib game.
And this one is easily one of the best ones out there right now. All four sides of the travel crib are made from a breathable mesh to provide ample airflow to your little one as they relax or nap.
Although it folds up to easily take the crib on the go, it has four sturdy legs to keep it from shifting when your baby is in it. Once folded up, the Baby Bjorn Travel Light Crib fits easily in its carrying back and it folds down compact enough so that it isn’t too bulky when you take it on the go or on family trips.
Even with the legs and the carrying bag, the travel crib weighs just 13 pounds, making it a truly lightweight and approachable travel crib that can be used for quite a while before your baby grows out of it.
And once you take the crib out of its carrying bag, you can set it up in one swift movement. What more could you ask for?
- Child Age Range: It is made for children from 0-3 years old.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
- The Best Part: It’s easy to set up and take down each time.
- The Not So Great: The travel crib is on the pricier side for some families.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light.
7. DockATot Deluxe Baby Lounger
The DockATot Deluxe Baby Lounger is definitely one of the best options for baby sleep and as a baby bed for travel. If you consider convenience, lightweight design, comfort, usefulness, the DockATot should be high on your list of possible travel baby beds for your own little one.
The fabric on the outside is made of a soft and breathable fabric and the filling is made from non-toxic and lightweight materials, making the travel bed plenty lightweight when your little one isn’t resting or napping in the travel bed.
But the beauty of this travel baby bed is that your baby can also use it for tummy time and so you can lay down and relax with him or her at their level. Or, even as a portable changing pad. It’s lightweight enough to take essentially anywhere and there’s even a convenient carrying handle.
It comes in a ton of different prints to match your personal style and as your little one grows, you can unbuckle the bottom of the lounger to allow your little one to stretch out and continue to get used out of the travel bed. The bonus part is that it is machine washable so if there are some dirty spots, you will be able to clean them easily.
- Child Age Range: The DockATot is made for babies from 0-8 months old.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
- The Best Part: The DockATot has multiple different uses so you and your baby can really get the most out of it.
- The Not So Great: It might be a little costly for some parents.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the DockATot Deluxe Baby Lounger.
8. Dream On Me Travel Light Play Yard
Another great option when it comes to picking a playard for a more full-sized baby travel bed option is the Dream On Me Travel Play Yard. Like the others on this list that are made for extended use, this one also has four mesh sides.
They add optimum breathability and airflow to keep your little one from overheating. They also give you a peek in at your baby as he or she naps and allows him or her to look out instead of at a blank fabric wall. Here you can also install a self-inflating mattress in order to make the pack n’ play softer and more pleasant for sleeping.
Even though the playard is portable, it does have sturdy legs that keep it from moving or shifting. However, you can still easily move it throughout your home whenever you need to. But because it is a travel bed for babies and toddlers, the legs of the Dream On Me can be easily removed and then reattached when you take it down and set it up each time.
- Child Age Range: It is made for children from 0-3 years old.
- Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.
- The Best Part: It takes less than a minute to set up each time.
- The Not So Great: Taller toddlers might be able to climb out of the travel crib.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Dream On Me Travel Play Yard.
9. Joovy Gloo Infant Travel Bed
The Joovy Gloo Infant Travel Bed is unique to other baby travel beds in its general design, but it’s definitely an excellent option to choose. It comes in two different sizes so it can really grow with your baby and it can be used pretty much anywhere. It comes with a self-inflating sleep mattress (or bed if you will) and cotton cover, which is already outside of the norm for baby travel beds.
Plus, it features a pop-up setup that can give your child a little privacy which, in turn, gives you privacy and helps younger babies get to sleep a little more easily. It’s also available in multiple colors and although it has a sunshade, the bed is still quite breathable and allows maximum airflow for your sleeping baby. The travel bed can fold up just as easily as it pops up and collapses down to a flat size that is more portable than really any other baby travel bed.
- Child Age Range: The regular size is for babies from 0-3 years old and the large is for kids from 0-5 years old.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
- The Best Part: The bed pops up and set up faster than any other similar baby travel bed.
- The Not So Great: The mattress pad might not be thick enough for some children to stay comfortable.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Joovy Gloo Infant Travel Bed.
FAQ’s About Baby Travel Beds
Traveling with a baby can be very challenging, so the best way to help your little one sleep during the travel is to create a routine for him/her that will be easy to follow and to introduce the crib or other travel bed you choose before traveling in order to give her/him enough time to get familiar with and to enjoy it. Adding some familiar toys can also help them sleep better because they will have something they already know.
Yes. In fact, many parents opt for pack n play because they are easily foldable and travel-friendly. Some travel beds of this kind also come with a mattress for better comfort of your little one, so it’s definitely worth investing in this type of travel bed which you can also use as play yard too.
All hotels have different policies about cribs and while some offer you cribs at an additional rate, others allow you to bring yours at a different rate or no rate at all, so it’s always best to contact them before making a reservation.
Yes, airlines provide bassinets for infants, but in order to get one, you will have to make a request before arriving at the airport, as they sometimes receive lots of requests.
Final Thoughts
Parents can indeed use whatever cribs or cots come with a vacation home or hotel room. But there is something to be said for the safety and security that having your own baby travel bed offers. You won’t have to worry about potential germs or even bed bugs and your baby will have a comfortable place to sleep that they might become more familiar with over time.
Plus, if you have your own travel crib, you can use it as a bassinet or play yard for your little one at home to get even more use out of it. Plus, as a bonus, that can help acclimate your baby to the bed to keep them comfortable with using it when you’re away from home.
Baby travel beds are also affordable for the most part and with many different styles and options, there are baby travel beds that can last little ones for quite a while before they grow out of them completely, but when the time comes for choosing the best travel baby beds for toddlers, you can start right with the Leachco Bumpzzz travel bed which is a comfortable and perfect travel option.
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