Why Do You Need a Travel Crib?
A travel crib is a useful purchase if you’re planning on taking a vacation with your child, or even for sleepovers at a family member’s house. Remember that a full-size mattress isn’t ideal for children until they’re about eight years old. Although many hotels will supply a crib it is still useful to have your own option. So, what is the Best Travel Bed for Toddler and Baby use?
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Typically, travel cribs will either fold out or inflate. They are robust and easy to set up. Also, they have safety features that allow you to watch your infants. In the case of toddlers, there are usually curved sides to prevent them from rolling out.
In this post, we will discuss whether a travel crib is the same as a pack n’ play? Whether you should buy a travel crib for a baby and how long they last. Plus a review of the Best Travel Bed for Baby and our overview of the Best Travel Bed for Toddler use. Ultimately, we will help you decide which is the right travel bed for your child.
If you want to learn more about other helpful baby or toddler travel essentials check out these articles about the Most Popular Travel High Chair Seat, or the Best Diaper Bag for Travel, or how to pick a Lightweight Travel Stroller for Toddler or the Best Travel Car Seat for Toddler.
Is a Travel Crib the Same as a Pack n’ Play?
A travel crib is similar to a Pack n’ Play but more comfortable.
The latter has a thinner mattress and is not intended for long-term use. If you’re on the road with a child or staying over somewhere for a while, a travel crib is a better option.
However, Pack n’ Plays can be a great option for infants because their mesh sides allow you to watch them. Just bear in mind they may not sleep as well as on a travel crib.
How Long Does a Travel Crib Last?
Travel cribs are designed to last for a long time. Many parents say that their toddlers prefer them to their standard beds.
However, you will likely need to buy two travel beds for your child. The first will be when they are smaller infants and the second will be when they grow a little older and become a toddler. That in-between stage is often complicated for parents but a travel crib makes life easier.
Should I Buy a Travel Crib?
A travel crib is a worthwhile investment if you know that your infant will spend a lot of time away from home.
This doesn’t necessarily mean going on vacation. Perhaps their grandparents like to babysit regularly or you want an easy option when you go on a day trip. They’re even useful to have at home for sleepovers.
A travel bed is one of the most useful travel accessories for toddlers and babies.
Travel Crib for Baby
Travel cribs for babies are designed with special safety features for your infant’s security.
Most of the best travel beds for babies have mesh sides so you can see in. They’re almost always made from non-toxic materials. However, you should always double-check this.
Your baby will be comfortable resting, playing, and sleeping in a decent travel crib.
Best Travel Bed for Baby
There are many options for travel beds. Let’s take a look at the 5 Best Travel Bed for Baby options.
1. BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib is a popular product that’s very quick to set up.
Many parents rave about the thicker mattress that BabyBjorn designed to be extra comfortable for your infant. Made from Pu, the mattress is durable and long-lasting.
The crib also has an airy design so you can watch your baby and make sure that they’re safe. Meanwhile, it’s light and portable at just 13 lbs. This travel crib comes with its bag for extra portability.
However, there’s no pretending it isn’t expensive. At $299 on Amazon, this is a premium option.
2. Lotus Travel Crib
Like all the best travel beds for infants, this option from Lotus is lightweight. The compact, light backpack carrying case is designed to be easy to fly with.
The Lotus Travel Crib weighs the same as the BabyBjorn (13 lbs) but costs substantially less. The Lotus Travel Crib retails for about $239 on Amazon while offering many of the same features. That’s why it’s the preferred option for many parents.
The crib fabric is 100% polyester so you know it’s safe for your child. However, the mattress isn’t quite as thick as the BabyBjorn Travel Crib.
3. Phil & Ted’s Traveller Crib
Are you looking for the lightest travel crib you can find?
Phil & Ted’s Travel Crib for Baby is a winner in this category because it’s just 6 lbs. This is lighter than most infants!
As a result, it’s very compact and easy to carry when you’re on the move. Phil & Ted designed this travel crib for both indoor and outdoor use. The materials are also breathable and approved for contact with a baby’s skin.
It retails for about $140 on Amazon. Some buyers observed that it’s not the sturdiest crib because of the lightweight.
4. Luckydove Travel Bassinet
Maybe you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a fancy brand.
If that’s the case, Luckydove has you covered. This is one of the best travel beds for babies and it only costs $55 on Amazon.
Incredibly, the Luckydove Travel Bassinet weighs less than 3 lbs but comes with a lot of great features.
It’s easy to fold and set up. Meanwhile, there’s a mosquito net and breathable fabrics so it’s perfect for hotter climates. Furthermore, the mattress belies the price. It utilizes special non-toxic materials to create a comfortable micro-climate for your infant.
The Luckydove is the best travel bassinet for a baby in this price range.
5. Munchkin Brica Fold N’Go Travel Bassinet
The Munchkin Brica Travel Bassinet is even cheaper than the Luckydove at about $45 on Amazon.
Despite the price, it’s still a decent product. It has all of the regular features that you’d expect of a travel crib and is comprised of safe materials.
It weighs less than 3 lbs but has a solid steel frame that locks when the product is in use. This product folds completely flat and is very easy to carry because it’s so light.
The downside is that overall it’s a bit flimsier than some other options.
Travel Bed for Toddler
As your child grows from a baby into a toddler they will become more mobile and their needs will change. Toddlers are larger and heavier than babies, so you will need a larger and more sturdy travel bed.
There are two main styles. Inflatable travel beds that require a pump to set up. Then there are fold-out beds which are also popular. Some parents claim that these beds are useful when their children are too big for cribs but too small for a standard bed.
Children also enjoy the novelty of sleeping in a travel bed. Meanwhile, parents can rest assured that their loved one is resting in a hygienic, safe, and comfortable space.
What is the Best Travel Bed for a Toddler?
Getting the best travel bed for a toddler is one of the most important toddler travel essentials because children spend so much time asleep, even on vacation or when traveling. A toddler travel bed will come in handy for a sleepover with grandparents or when traveling on a family vacation. So, let’s review the 5 Best Travel Bed for Toddler use.
1. Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed With Safety Bumpers
The Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed for toddlers is available on Amazon for about $75.
It’s exceptionally light at just 8 lbs but is surprisingly robust. You can inflate this travel bed in just 30 seconds so your tired child won’t have to wait. Meanwhile, Hiccapop describes this travel crib as 25% taller and longer than the nearest competitor.
Furthermore, it’s very safe and meets all child safety standards. The product has 4-bumper protection for enhanced security and is effectively puncture-proof.
Some parents have complained about faults with the mattress. However, Hiccapop offers a lifetime guarantee and will replace any travel cribs that arrive with damage.
2. EnerPlex Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed
Another popular travel bed for kids is the EnerPlex Inflatable crib that costs about $70 on Amazon.
It’s made from PVC and comes with a travel bag for ease of portability. Like the Hiccapop, it’s puncture-proof and inflates very quickly. EnerPlex even supplies a 12v pump for your convenience.
There are also all of the safety features you would expect from a decent travel crib for toddlers with bumpers and raised sides. It’s not the lightest travel bed at 12 lbs, but it’s not a back-breaker.
Buyers overwhelmingly consider this great value for money and one of the best travel beds for kids.
3. Regalo My Cot Pals Small Single Portable Toddler Bed
Now let’s look at a different style of a travel bed. This offering from Regalo is a fold-out portable travel crib. The Regalo My Cot Pals Small Single Portable Toddler Bed costs about $60 on Amazon.
The advantage of this style is that it doesn’t require a pump. Simply fold it out and it’s ready. However, the downside is that there are no protective sides to stop your toddler from falling off. But the shallow height means that it’s still safe.
Meanwhile, it is cheap and light at just 7 lbs with a maximum weight capacity of 75 lbs. It comes with a fitted sheet and a pillow for travel.
Regalo supplies a travel bag so you can carry it wherever you want. It’s comfortable and sturdy with a steel frame. This travel crib also cleans very quickly. Just wipe it down with a wet cloth.
4. Regalo My Cot Extra Long Portable Travel Bed
The Regalo Extra Long Portable Travel Bed is effectively a larger version of the previous product. It’s six inches longer than the smaller edition at 54”. Despite this, it still weighs just 7 lbs.
It has a maximum weight capacity of up to 80 lbs which is just five more than the smaller version. Some may question whether it’s worth paying more for the Extra Long version. But if your child is taller than about 42″ they would be more comfortable on this extra-long travel bed, which costs about $93 on Amazon.
However, if you have an older toddler or young child, this travel bed will be usable for longer. Regalo claims it’s suitable for kids from the age of 2-8 years old.
5. Little Sleepy Head Toddler Inflatable Bed
Another popular inflatable travel bed for toddlers, this offering from Little Sleepy Head costs about $72 on Amazon.
The Little Sleepy Head Toddler Inflatable Bed weighs just under 10 lbs but has a remarkable maximum weight capacity of 300 lbs. If you want to lie down with your child and read them a story, this inflatable bed is perfect!
Little Sleepy Head supplies a pump that inflates the bed in under a minute. It deflates even quicker. It’s very easy to use and exceptionally safe.
Some buyers have complained about air leaks but this appears to be a rare issue with most inflatable beds. Most of these brands have decent customer service and will resolve these problems.
What is the Most Popular Travel Bed for Children?
Overall, there are many different options of travel beds to choose from. If you are traveling with a baby the best option is to use a portable travel crib or a travel bassinet which are safest for infants. Once your child grows into a toddler and is heavier and more active then it is best to choose an inflatable toddler travel bed or a portable travel bed for toddlers that is foldable and available in various lengths.
Many of the items reviewed above would be a great choice for baby and toddler travel essentials. We hope this review will help you choose the best travel bed for toddler use depending on the specific travel needs of your family.
For more about family travel check out these posts:
What Is The Best Age To Travel With Kids?
Lightweight Travel Stroller for Toddler
Most Popular Travel High Chair Seat
Must-Have Toddler Travel Essentials
What to Consider Before you Travel with a Car Seat
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