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There was once a time where there were just a few standard travel cribs that you purchased or that were gifted to you at your baby shower and that was that.
But these days, there are several choice travel cribs to choose from and compare. Including the Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib vs. the Nuna Sena Aire Mini Playard Travel Crib, both of which are strong contenders from reputable brands.
Of course, that only makes this more difficult when trying to choose between them. But rest assured, they each have their own strong qualities and quirks to hopefully help you narrow down your decision.
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Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib vs. Nuna Sena Mini Playard Travel Crib
The whole point of a travel crib is to be able to transport and use it as you travel. As far as the Guava is concerned, it’s definitely lightweight enough to allow you to do that. And with the Nuna Sena, it’s less than 18 pounds. It’s certainly doable to take with you and even store away when you don’t need it. This since it folds up neatly and fits into its carry bag.
In some cases, you may want to keep the travel crib out in your home throughout the day. For that, it’s important to some parents or caregivers that the travel crib looks closer to a piece of their living room furniture than a brightly colored baby accessory with cartoon characters printed all over it.
Luckily, both the Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib and the Nuna Sena Mini Playard Travel Crib are designed in this way. However, there are still plenty of qualities that set them apart from one another.
Guava Family Lotus Everywhere 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.
Where some travel cribs can sometimes seem like they box in your child and make them feel closed off from the rest of the house and from you as well, the Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib has a design that actually does away with this notion.
The all-mesh sides allow your baby to see out from every angle while allowing plenty of breathability. In addition, there’s also a zippered part of one side. It can be unzipped and stay open to give your baby a way to crawl in and out of the travel crib.
Though it’s also convenient for you to be able to get on the floor and bond with your baby by being part of their travel crib experience along with them, which can sometimes get them used to it more easily.
It also boasts the ability to be set up in just 15 seconds. And when you’re ready to take it on the go once again, you can use the travel bag as a backpack, if you want.That can make actually transporting the Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib that much easier to take along with you on your travels.
Since it’s lightweight, you can also pick it up and move it between rooms with ease. So, it’s obviously a travel crib to consider for your own baby or toddler.
Features
- Set-up And Take Down: The Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib can be set up in just 15 seconds and you can take it out and fold it to easily fit in its travel bag.
- Dimensions: When set up, it’s 45 x 32 x 25 inches, and when folded, it’s 24 x 7 x 11 inches.
- Age/Height Limits: The travel crib is recommended for babies and toddlers under 35 inches tall.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website or on Amazon and in-store at Buy Buy Baby.
Pros
- It’s rated with the GreenGuard Gold Standard, which means that the materials used are non-toxic and safe for your baby.
- Moving it around and carrying it is a breeze since it’s so lightweight.
- The zippered opening allows you to easily place your smaller baby in the travel crib.
- When folded down, the Lotus is a lot smaller than a lot of other travel cribs when in the same position.
Cons
- It can be difficult to get the travel crib in the travel bag, though it does fit.
- Securing the mattress to the crib does take a little time, especially the first few times you do it.
- The special size of the travel crib and mattress mean you have to buy their special sheets, which can be inconvenient.
Reviews
“We take a minimalist approach to parenting and resisted getting a travel cot… but this is now on our “best gear” list because: 1.) it packs down to a small backpack; 2.) it’s easy to set up and break down; 3.) the mattress is quiet (no noisy plastic waking the baby up); 4.) the mattress sits firmly on the ground (no movement waking the baby up.” – DG on Amazon.
“I cannot say enough good things about both the Lotus crib and Guava Family! My husband and I ordered the crib in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Europe. I had heard good things about the Lotus and liked that we could carry it onboard the airplane and have something available if (God forbid) we got stranded at an airport on a layover. The crib sets up so quickly and is VERY easy to take down and pack away. It is lightweight and really fulfilled all of our expectations and more!” – Dana Senaha on Amazon.
“I absolutely love this portable crib. I have arthritis and the Lotus crib is so much easier for me to set-up and travel with. It’s easily marked where the fold points are and it does not need a lot of forcing to fold open or down. I love being able to lay down and cuddle with my son as he falls asleep and zip the opening up when I’m done. No other portable crib does this which, in my opinion, makes the Lotus worth its weight in gold.” – P. M. Paul on Amazon.
Nuna Sena Aire Mini Playard Travel Crib
Since it’s part of the Nuns Sena brand, you kind of have to expect that the Nuna Sena Aire Mini Playard Travel Crib is designed to have a sleek look that will blend in with your home instead of standing out like a neon-colored mass in your living room.It also has a vented mesh mattress and mesh sides all around to allow optimum airflow, much like the Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib.
But this one also has a bassinet that easily folds into the frame, so there’s no awkward taking apart of the travel crib and you won’t be stuck with multiple parts of it once you collapse it down.
It has a zig-zag leg design to help it pop up securely and with the simple one-handed pull, you can fold it back up for storage. And since it has legs, as opposed to sitting directly on the ground, you avoid any drafts your baby would experience otherwise.
Plus, those legs are skid-proof, which means no noisy sliding when your baby is trying to nap. When it all comes down to it, aren’t naps one of the main reasons you’re going to need a good travel crib anyway?
Features
- Set-up And Take Down: The Nuna Sena Aire Mini Playard Travel Crib is designed to have a one-handed pull to be able to fold it up, while the sturdy legs make it possible to have it up and unfolded in seconds.
- Dimensions: When open, it’s 26.4 x 34.6 x 24.8 inches, and when folded up, it’s 30.3 x 10.4 x 10.4 inches.
- Age/Height Limits: It’s advisable for use from birth up to 18 months of age.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website or on Amazon and in-store at Pottery Barn Kids.
Pros
- The one-handed fold makes it easy to fold up the playard on your own without any extra help.
- Its mattress has a zipper and contains breathable pads on the inside to help keep your baby cool enough without overheating in the middle of the night.
- The edges are padded to help prevent pinched fingers. This can sometimes happen with babies and travel cribs.
- The cover of the mattress has a zipper is machine washable.
Cons
- Since it’s so low to the ground, it may be hard for some parents or caregivers to bend down each time to pick up the baby or place him or her in the travel crib.
- Some might find that the mattress isn’t as soft as it should be for optimum comfort.
- It may be difficult for some to fit the crib in the storage bag properly.
Reviews
“Really well made and sturdy. Is easy to pack up and easy to set up. I love the bassinet mattress. I spent time to look around and I did not like others travel cribs that the bassinet mattress seems to be really low in the crib. I would recommend it.” – Adrugera on Amazon.
“This is the perfect crib/bassinet/pack n play. We live in a trailer and are planning to use this for our newborn up until she’s two years old. It’s the perfect size for our small room and it’s nice and sturdy.” – J. Pederson on Amazon.
“I have always hated fiddling with contraptions, but the Nuna just pops open and closed with one easy fold. Easy to get in and out of the bag, and stows easily in the back of my car. It is sturdy and the mattress is firm but soft enough for baby as he or she gets a little older.” – E. B. MItchell on Amazon.
The Verdict
When it comes to the Guava Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib vs. the Nuna Sena Aire Mini Playard Travel Crib, the most logical choice to fit most families’ needs is going to be the Guava Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib.
While it’s true that both options are small enough for legitimate travel and can be used with both babies and toddlers, the details of the Lotus, like the zippered window and its lightweight, make it a stronger contender in this case.
It is also advisable for babies and toddlers under 35 inches. This essentially means slightly under three feet. And for some, that can allow you to use the travel crib for a long time, getting the most use out of it.
Final Thoughts
Whether there’s a particular brand you trust the most or certain factors you prefer to consider above all else, the most important thing is to find a travel crib that will be useful to your little one. At the same time not breaking the bank or not lasting as long as it should.
With the Guava Family Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib, you definitely get those kinds of qualities. All this for a price that may just be in the range of even new parents.
But in the end, it’s going to have to be a travel crib that you feel the most comfortable with and have zero doubts about. Especially if you plan to get daily use out of it and use it for as long as possible. Hopefully, though, this tilted you in the right direction.
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