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Looking for the best portable crib? Regardless of where you’re going, they’ll make you and your little one’s life so much easier. We’ve scoured through hundreds of different products to find out which ones are worth buying.
What’s the Best Portable Crib?
Comfort should be a priority for your child. When you bring a portable crib instead of relying on the ones provided at accommodations, you can have peace of mind that your child can enjoy safety and comfort.
Searching for the best crib takes time and effort. Thankfully, we’ve covered the hard part for you. Our selection of the best portable crib is based on the experience and insights of hundreds of families and our trusted team.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall Portable Crib: Babybjorn Travel Crib
- Best Portable Crib for Plane Travel: KidCo Peapod Plus Infant Travel Bed
- Best Flat Fold Portable Crib: Chicco LullaGo Portable Bassinet
- Best Portable Playard: Graco Pack N’ Play On the Go Playard
- Best Travel Bassinet: Munchkin Brica Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet
- Best Backpack Travel Crib: Lotus Travel Crib
- Best Luxury Portable Crib: 4Moms Breeze Plus
Why You Need a Portable Crib
The most obvious reason why you need a portable crib is that it makes vacations, traveling, and visiting loved ones a lot easier. However, while you can just lay your child on a blanket when you’re at the beach or in a park, the blanket will not protect your baby from moisture or discomfort from uneven surfaces.
When you have a reliable crib, you won’t have to worry whether or not your child will have a comfortable place to sleep in a hotel or another person’s home. Your baby will also feel more rested because their sleeping environment is familiar.
Portable cribs give parents a lot of benefits, even if they don’t always use them to go out. For instance, if you live in a home that’s not large enough to accommodate a standard crib, a portable crib is versatile enough to help you save space since it can easily be disassembled when not in use.
More than that, a portable crib gives babies their most important need: safety. Despite being portable and lightweight, the best portable crib is still sturdy enough to use every day.
Although it’s important to supervise your children at all times, you can enjoy a certain level of confidence in the security a portable crib can give your little one. More than that, you’re also sure your child is sleeping in a clean space compared to the cribs issued by hotels.
Best Portable Crib: Our Top 7 Picks
Undeniably, getting around with your child will be much easier when you have a lightweight, compact, and easily transportable crib.
To help you pick the best portable crib for your baby, we’ve narrowed down our list into the best product per category. This way, you can choose the best one that matches your needs.
1.Best Overall Portable Crib: Babybjorn Travel Crib
- Easy to assemble
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Soft mattress
- Need to check-in separately at the airport since it does not fit most luggage
- Mattress sits low
- Expensive
If you’re an avid traveler, it’s a dream to jet-set around the world with your child. However, the hassle of lugging around baby gear can be a nightmare. Thankfully, this won’t be an issue with the Babybjorn Travel Crib.
You don’t even need to read the instructions to figure out how to set up this crib. Simply unzip its case, pull out the frame, and snap it into place. One of the best things about this crib is the stability it offers. The frame won’t slide around or wobble because it has a wide base.
The breathable mesh also improves airflow and makes it easy to watch your child from all angles. Parents also appreciate the padded top edges since it makes it easier and comfortable for them to lean on the crib to soothe their baby.
2. Best Portable Crib for Plane Travel: KidCo Peapod Plus Infant Travel Bed
- Breathable
- Easy setup
- Affordable
- Not meant to be used on the beach
- Folding takes practice to get right
The KidCo Peapod Plus Infant Travel Bed is a must-have with its compact size and easy fold mechanism. This portable crib can easily fit into any suitcase or be attached to the back of your backpack. It can even fit in the overhead compartment of planes.
Compared to other portable cribs, this product is very affordable, but it still packs a lot of advantages, such as durability. This crib is also easy to pack and unfold.
Even if you arrive at your destination late, you can set up your baby’s bed in less than a minute and get your little one ready for sleep. This product has flaps on the side, improving airflow and acting as an insect screen for outdoor use. The sleeping pads are also very easy to remove if you want to clean them.
3. Best Flat Fold Portable Crib: Chicco LullaGo Portable Bassinet
- Fast assembly and disassembly
- With travel tote
- Sturdy
- Materials are only meant to be hand washed
- Only 2 mesh windows, instead of a 360-degree view
- Mattress sits low
One of the best options for families who are always on the go, whether it’s across the world or to grandma’s place, is the Chicco LullaGo Portable Bassinet. Produced by one of the most popular brands in Europe, this product is a solid crib that meets the needs of families who want practicality.
More than its easy assembling feature, this product also boasts safety to give parents peace of mind. It has metal legs and has a sturdy build made up of sleek materials.
The feet are also anti-slip, so you won’t have to worry about it moving around. The bassinet has two mesh windows, so it’s not the best option for parents who want a 360-degree view of their child.
Although the rest of the crib is still very breathable, only the mesh sides will ensure the baby can still breathe even if they press their face on the side of the crib. Despite this, the soft walls make up for it.
4. Best Budget Playard: Graco Pack N’ Play On the Go Playard
- Compact
- Affordable
- Raised a couple of inches from the ground
- Intuitive wheel design
- Hard to disassemble
- Heavy
During the first years of your baby, you have to prioritize their safety. However, this is hard to do when traveling. The Graco Pack N’ Play On the Go Playard is designed with durability, safety, convenience, and affordability in mind. One of the upsides of this crib is it’s very breathable.
The setup of this portable crib is easy, although first-timers may take longer to figure it out. Admittedly, a lot of reviews find this portable crib hard to take down, which can be an issue if you’re in a rush.
The frames are made with sturdy metals, which are only covered with a canvas-like fabric. This can hurt your child if they bang their body on it. Surprisingly, it has a very comfortable mattress, considering how affordable it is.
5. Best Travel Bassinet: Munchkin Brica Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet
- Can only be used on the floor
- Subpar materials
- Very portable
- Easy to assemble
- Affordable
Although this portable crib is too wide to fit in regular-sized suitcases, it’s still very easy to carry because of how flat it is. So if you’re looking for a portable crib that will make taking your baby out of your house more hassle-free, this is a great choice.
The Brica Fold N’Go Travel Bassinet is very easy to disassemble compared to other portable cribs we’ve found. It closes with a simple two-button push, it folds on itself, and there’s also a small Velcro to hold it close.
It’s important to note that this portable crib is not designed to be used on the bed or sofa, just the floor. This may be an issue for a family who has pets that can easily jump on the crib.
Although this crib isn’t made with the most luxurious material, its ultra-portability and price point make up for it.
6. Best Backpack Travel Crib: Lotus Travel Crib
- Extremely lightweight
- Chemical-free design
- Backpack carrying case
- Thin mattress
- Sheets sold separately
The Guava Lotus Travel Crib is one of the most highly rated cribs today, and considering its lightweight construction, safe design, and ease of use, it’s no question why it’s a much-loved product.
Many parents think it’s normal to break a sweat when setting up a portable crib, but this product will prove you wrong. You can set it up in just two minutes, and the only time-consuming part is securing the mattress on the frame.
Although this portable crib is harder to disassemble than it is to set up, it’s still very easy compared to other products.
The clean design of this crib is also worth noting. The Guava Lotus Crib looks sleek and will seamlessly go together with your other suitcases. Nobody will ever know you’re lugging a crib around. This crib is designed to sit directly on the floor to offer more stability.
7. Best Luxury Portable Crib: 4Moms Breeze Plus
- Easy to assemble and dismantle
- Versatile use
- Spacious
- Sturdy
- Heavy
- Subpar bag design
- Does not come with sheets
If the best feature you want your portable crib to have is comfort, this is the best product for you. On top of that, it comes with a removable bassinet and changer, therefore making it a fully loaded crib that’s perfect for newborns and infants.
It can also double as a changing station. Although this crib comes with a travel bag that can easily be slung over your shoulder, it’s still very heavy.
This portable crib isn’t designed to be always on the go and to carry on long distances. Despite its bulkiness and weight, this crib is also very easy to dismantle. One of its major upsides includes the one-hand setup mechanism.
This allows you to hold your baby in one hand and set up the crib in the other. All the latches will automatically click into place, and all you need to do is set up the Velcro fasteners.
How to Pick the Best Portable Crib for You
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Before you buy a portable crib, make sure to consider all the important factors to ensure your complete satisfaction.
Safety
Every parent wants to prioritize the safety of their child. All the recommended best portable cribs on this list comply with safety standards. However, some products have additional safety features like soft walls, anti-slip legs, and velcro, making them a better choice than others.
Portability
The main characteristic of portable cribs is that they should be easy to transport. Any portable crib that’ll make traveling hard isn’t worth the investment, no matter how comfortable it is. Choose a crib that’s lightweight and compact but still big enough to give your child comfort.
Age range
Most portable cribs are suited for kids of all ages and sizes. Look at the maximum weight limit of the crib and its size before buying it. If you’re buying a portable crib for a newborn, it’s recommended to get a bigger product so your baby won’t outgrow it in just a few months.
Comfort
What is your best portable crib if your baby isn’t comfortable enough to sleep in it? When your baby gets good sleep, you will, too. Always double-check the softness of the mattress, as well as the size of the portable crib. Airflow also plays a significant role in comfort.
So, What’s the Best Portable Crib?
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Overall, our verdict for the best product is the Babybjorn Travel Crib. Not only is it lightweight, but it’s also sleek and durable enough to last for years.
However, if you’re on a tight budget for the best portable crib, the KidCo Peapod Plus Infant Travel Bed is a great option. Despite costing less than $100, it will make traveling with your kid easier.