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Best Travel Cribs

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Daniel Ganjian , M.D., Pediatrician, Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.  American Academy of Pediatrics, How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained , July 2022. American Academy of Pediatrics, Suitable Sleeping Sites: Safe at Night & Naptime , June 2022. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Safe Sleep – Cribs and Infant Products .

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Best Travel Cribs

The best travel cribs are super portable to make your job as carrier-of-all-the-stuff a tad easier., by jen labracio.

Traveling with babies and kids can be so rewarding, but there’s one thing you need when you get going: gear. To make things easier, you may want to have a travel stroller (or maybe your usual travel system will work just fine) and a travel car seat , but no matter how lightly you want to pack, your little one will need a safe place to rest. The best travel cribs are super portable to make your job as the baby gear schlepper a tad easier.

Babylist’s Top Picks for the Best Travel Cribs

• Best Lightweight: Babybjörn Travel Crib Light
• Best Affordable Lightweight: Chicco Alfa Lite Lightweight Travel Playard
• Best for Flying: Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib & Play Yard
• Best Affordable: Graco Pack ‘n Play Portable Playard
• Best for Toddlers: Newton Baby Travel Crib and Play Yard
• Most Versatile: UPPAbaby REMI Travel Crib & Playard
• Most Portable: Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot
• Best for Small Spaces: Bugaboo Stardust Playard
• Best for Car Travel: Maxi-Cosi Swift Playard

In This Article

How we chose the best travel cribs.

• Our Top Picks

What Is a Travel Crib?

Do you need a travel crib, what to look for in a travel crib, babylist’s picks for the best travel cribs, best lightweight travel crib.

Babybjörn Travel Crib & Organic Sheet Bundle - Dark Green

Why we love it.

Weighing in at just 13 pounds, the Babybjörn Travel Crib is one of the lightest travel cribs on the market, making it especially ideal if you’re a family who’s routinely on the go. Top features include an incredibly easy setup (it unfolds and breaks down in one motion, and there are no loose parts to worry about), breathable mesh sides and a firm but ultra-comfy mattress that parents rave about. The mattress and the fabric frame are both machine washable, so it’s easy to clean. And when the crib is folded in its carrying case, it will fit within any airline baggage compartment. Wheels up, with baby in tow!

Keep in Mind

You’ll want to stop using this travel crib around three years old or until your little one is able to climb out of it. But unlike many other travel cribs, there’s no weight limit for the Babybjörn, since the crib’s mattress rests on ground. This means you’ll get more time out of this travel crib than most.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Very happy with this travel crib – lightweight, packable, set up is incredibly easy, and it’s simple to disassemble for cleaning. The thing that set this crib apart for other similar travel-appropriate pack-and-plays for us was the thicker mattress – our 9 month old slept just as well in this travel crib as she does at home. Great product, we would highly recommend!” -BH

Additional Specs

Best Affordable Lightweight Travel Crib

Chicco Alfa Lite Lightweight Travel Playard - Dove

A lightweight travel crib is a sound investment if you’re a family who’s frequently on the go or if you plan on using it for multiple children, but many cost upwards of $300, especially after you add on accessories like sheets. Chicco’s Alfa Lite is a stellar lightweight travel crib but is about half the price of other similar options. And don’t worry—you won’t be sacrificing on features or quality. It weighs 13 pounds, is easy to open and close, folds down into a zippered carrying bag (with a large shoulder strap) and even has a zip-down side for easy access to your little one.

The Alfa Lite is Greenguard Gold Certified. Some parents mention that the mattress is on the thinner side.

“This travel playard is perfect. The design is sleek and the safely measures are advanced. The side opening zipper is buckled to the leg so no little hands can magically unzip themselves. The mattress pad also gets buckled in place. It took seconds to set up and take down. The travel playard makes your life so much easier while traveling and doesn’t take up much of any space in the car. 100/10 recommend buying!!!” -Sophia K.

Best Travel Crib for Flying

Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib & Play Yard

If you’ve ever traveled with kids, especially via plane, you know the value of having one less thing to tote around. Meet the Lotus: the travel-crib-turned-backpack that no traveling family should leave home without. This ultra-lightweight crib folds seamlessly into a compact, backpack-style carrying case, leaving your hands free to deal with the other 142 things they’ll be tasked with for attempting to leave the house with your littles in tow. (This feature comes in especially handy in airports.) We also love the unique zip-down “door” feature of the crib’s mesh side—it makes getting down on baby’s level for cuddles, feeding or play super easy, then quietly zips back up and locks into place.

Like the Babybjörn Travel Crib, the Guava’s mattress is flush to the ground, meaning there’s no weight limit usage recommendations here, either. Some parents report that the mattress is fairly thin, however.

“The Lotus crib is one of the best products we have. It is lightweight, folds and assembles in just a few snaps, and has mesh sides. The fabric comes completely off and is machine washable.” -Kristin

Best Affordable Travel Crib

Graco Pack 'n Play Portable Playard - Reign

If you’re looking for simple, sturdy travel crib that will stand the test of time but won’t break the bank, this Pack ‘n Play from Graco fits the bill. Although it’s basic, the features are anything but—there are a ton of things that you (and your little one) will love. We especially appreciate the sturdy frame, the roomy area for play and sleep and the push-button fold for quick and easy breakdown. And at around $70, this travel crib is perfect for using as an extra playard around the house and for keeping at the grandparents’ house or anywhere else you know you’ll be visiting on a regular basis.

You can’t attach any extras to this travel crib, like a bassinet or changing table. And some parents complain that the mattress is on the thin side, so that may be something to consider if you’re planning on using it for more than just the occasional weekend away. It’s also fairly heavy, so you won’t want to use it if you’re traveling by plane or anywhere else where you’ll need to carry it around frequently.

Best Travel Crib for Toddlers

Newton Baby Travel Crib and Play Yard - Grey (2023)

As your baby grows into a toddler , many parents still need the safety that the confines of a crib provide—especially while traveling. But what happens when your toddler is too big for their travel crib but too little for a bed? Enter the Newton. The mattress is about two times larger than most travel cribs, making it ideal for an older toddler who may be sized out of a smaller playard. It’s also 100 percent breathable and washable, made with the same Wovenaire technology used in the brand’s much-loved crib mattress. It’s flush to the ground, so there’s no weight limit, and it’s super comfy and GREENGAURD Gold Certified.

The playard weighs in at about 17 pounds, so while it’s not the lightest on the market, it’s still fairly easy to travel with and the weight is for a good cause. Assembly and breakdown are easy and the crib comes with a travel bag for easy storage. And it’s not just for the toddler years; there’s a bassinet insert for use from day one. Oh, and when you are ready to graduate your toddler from the travel crib, check out these great toddler travel beds .

Because of the Newton’s larger sleep space, it’s a bit bulkier than some of the other travel cribs on our list. The travel bag only has a handle, not a shoulder strap or backpack straps. And the crib is too large to store in the overhead compartment of an airplane

“I despise traditional pack n play style things. Newton’s playard is innovative and will definitely grow with a child from infancy through the preschool years! My 4.5 year old can still sleep in it comfortably with plenty of space. I really appreciate the thought that went into this product.” -Mona

Most Versatile Travel Crib

UPPAbaby REMI Travel Crib & Playard - Charlie

And speaking of multifunctional products, the Remi from UPPAbaby is the best choice if you’re looking for an all-in-one travel crib and playard to use both at home and when you’re on the go. There’s a ton of functionality built in to this smartly designed (and beautiful) playard. It’s Greenguard Gold Certified and includes a removable bassinet, a zip-down side panel, a triple layer air mesh mattress and a smooth, simple fold that takes one hand and only a few seconds. There are also lots of accessories to add on. A few of our favorites include the changing station , organizer and canopy .

The Remi is expensive, and even moreso when you start adding on accessories. It’s also fairly heavy, weighing in at about 20 pounds. This isn’t a big deal if you’re planning to use it mostly at home and for the occasional overnight trip, but if your family travels frequently and you need to bring along a place for your baby to sleep, it may not be your best option.

“Incredibly easy to set up. Our baby just started crawling and we don’t have a good play yard set up yet, so this was great to put him in a for the meantime. We purchased it instead of a Graco pack and play because of the zipper access and mattress quality. Love it!!!” -Rachel

Most Portable Travel Crib

Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot - White Sand

Pop-up tent meets travel crib in the Aeromoov. This 11-pound playard works just as well for a day at the beach or the park as it does for an overnight at grandma’s and is our top pick if you’re looking for one piece of gear you can use both indoors and out. The origami-style fold takes about two seconds (literally), and once it’s folded down, the whole thing slips into a bag and is less than five inches wide. It’s easy to stash for travel or throw over your shoulder and carry if you need to bring it along for an outdoor adventure. (There are also lots of useful accessories available like a sunshade and a mosquito net.) Another feature we love: there are two levels, one upper level bassinet-style for newborns up to about two months and a the main lower level for older babies and toddlers.

If you’re using the crib indoors and your little one moves around a lot, the fabric makes a “swishing” sound that’s a bit loud.

Best Travel Cribs for Small Spaces

Bugaboo Stardust Playard - Grey Melange

Simple, streamlined and seamless. The Bugaboo Stardust is one of the smaller travel crib + playards on our list, but it packs a big punch. Unlike most travel cribs that open from the center of the base and feature fold-out legs, the standout feature here is the accordion-style fold. It makes it quick and easy to open and close by either pushing or pulling each side. You can even fold the Stardust with the mattress still inside—a pretty big deal and a huge time-saving (and sanity-saving) feature.

The Stardust weighs about 14 pounds and has a compact design that’s ideal for spaces that can’t handle a giant playard, either at home or when you’re on the go. There’s also a bassinet attachment for younger babies, a really comfortable mattress and all-around mesh panels.

The maximum weight limit for the Stardust is similar to the other travel cribs on our list, but because of smaller size, your little one may outgrow it in height sooner than they would with other playards. It’s also on the pricier side.

“I’m a first time mom and it feels like I have tried all the baby products out there. We were in the market for a new pack n’ play so I recently purchased this for my 5.5 month old and it is a game changer when it comes to portability and ease. I’ve found other products like this are bulky and difficult to store, but the Stardust is slender, lightweight and unfolds in one second. (No exaggeration.) I would highly recommend this product for travel, sleeping or playtime - in fact, we’re looking forward to traveling with it over the holidays!” -AlexT

Best Travel Crib for Car Travel

Maxi-Cosi Swift Play Yard - Classic Graphite

Weighing in at just over 18 pounds, the Maxi-Cosi Swift is too heavy and bulky for regular air travel. But it’s also quite a bit lighter than many of the standard playards on the market, so we still wanted to consider it for our best-of list. That’s why think it’s an ideal choice if you’re a family who travels frequently by car. While you won’t want to lug it around on the regular, it’s easy enough to load and unload from any vehicle. And the setup and breakdown? It’s an actual dream, especially during travel when you have 14 other things to do after you set up your little one’s sleep space. Parents rave about how easy it is—it actually folds in one step using only one hand. Other pros to love include a super sturdy design, a comfortable mattress and a bassinet attachment that comes included at no extra cost.

As noted above, the Swift weighs about 18 pounds, so it’s not the lightest travel crib of the bunch, but isn’t the heaviest, either.

“We have tried a handful of play yards and the difficulty of putting them down and back up is what always frustrates us. The swift is truly like no other. It takes less than 5 seconds to set it up and less than five seconds to break it down. Not only is it so easy but it’s also so aesthetically pleasing!!” -Momof3

• We analyzed results from Babylist’s Best Baby Products survey, which polled 6,000 Babylist users and asked them to share the baby products they love the most and why.
• We utilized insight from the Babylist editorial team, including Gear Editor Jen LaBracio, an expert in the baby space for over six years and a mom of two who has written hundreds of baby gear guides and personally researched and tested hundreds of baby products, including many travel cribs.
• We reviewed customer reviews from hundreds of real Babylist parents.

A travel crib is a portable crib you can use for sleep or play when you’re away from home with your baby or toddler. While you can use most playards for the same purpose, travel cribs are specifically designed with travel in mind; they’re lighter, more compact and easier to set up and break down than your average playard. Travel cribs generally accommodate newborns to toddlers about three years old.

Whether or not you need a travel crib depends on how often you travel and where you’re heading on your next adventure.

Many hotels and even some rental homes may supply a travel crib. Using a baby gear rental company is an option, too. But if you’re staying somewhere that doesn’t supply a crib, you don’t want to rent or you simply prefer to be in control of what your baby sleeps in while you’re away, investing in a travel crib is probably a good idea.

Besides being a place to rest, travel cribs are also a safe place for your little one to play, especially when you’re away from your usual surroundings and potentially dealing with a non- babyproofed space. (We’re looking at you, sharp table corners and exposed electrical sockets.) You can even use some travel cribs as a napping spot on days spent at the beach or park.

Travel cribs can be expensive. A travel crib is also something you’ll use for years, especially if your family travels frequently. Think through these features before you buy.

• Weight. This is one of the most important features to look for in a travel crib. A lightweight travel crib is easier to lift and carry than a heavier option. To figure out if this is important to you or not, think through how often you’ll be traveling and which modes of transport you generally use. Do you travel infrequently and often by car? Plan to use your travel crib only for a trip to the grandparents’ once a year? Then your travel crib’s weight may not be hugely important to you. Are you planning several trips by plane where you’ll need to bring your travel crib along? Then the weight of the travel crib you choose should jump to the top of your priority list.
• Size and portability. Similar to weight, the size and overall portability of your travel crib are important features, but also dependent on how often you travel and how you get wherever you’re going. If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll want a travel crib that’s not only lightweight but portable, too. Look for a compact crib and something that has either backpack straps or another easy way to carry it through someplace like an airport or train station. If not, however, a slightly larger travel crib or one that doesn’t come with built-in carry straps may be just fine.
• Longevity. How long you’ll be able to use your travel crib is a big factor to consider while shopping. One thing to consider is the crib’s design. Although not outwardly labeled this way, there are two basic types of travel cribs: cribs with raised mattresses and cribs where the mattress lies flush with the floor. Most travel cribs with raised mattresses have weight maximums. This means that if you have a larger, heavier child, they may exceed the travel crib’s weight long before you feel comfortable letting them sleep in a regular bed or even a toddler travel bed while you’re away from home. Travel cribs where the mattress sits directly on the floor, however, often do not have weight maximums. While your little one still may outgrow the crib by height, these types of travel cribs often can be used for a longer period of time.
• Ease of breakdown and setup. Travel with babies and toddlers is no easy feat. Look for a travel crib that sets up and breaks down quickly and easily so you can spend less time grappling with gear and more time enjoying your vacation.
• Materials and breathability. Look for a travel crib with a breathable mattress, breathable mesh sides and one that’s made from soft, comfortable materials. If it’s important to you, you may prefer a travel crib that’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified or uses organic materials. Removable and machine washable sides and covers are also nice-to-have features in case of a mess.
• Budget. Travel cribs can get pricey, especially if you want one that’s extremely lightweight and portable. Thinking through how often you’ll be traveling and what types of features will make the most sense to you can help you determine your budget.

Jen LaBracio

Senior gear editor.

Jen LaBracio is Babylist’s Senior Gear Editor, a role that perfectly combines her love of all things baby gear with her love of (obsessive) research. When she’s not testing out a new high chair or pushing the latest stroller model around her neighborhood, she likes to run, spin, listen to podcasts, read and spend time at the beach. In her past life, she worked for over a decade in children’s publishing. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their two boys, Will and Ben.

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The 17 Best Travel Cribs & Bassinets in 2023 [Toddlers & Babies]

Erin Miller

Content Contributor

188 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 26 U.S. States Visited: 28

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

37 Published Articles 3322 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

What is the difference between a crib and a bassinet, why use a travel crib or bassinet, things to consider with travel cribs and bassinets, the 7 best travel cribs under $150, the 4 best travel cribs under $300, the 6 best travel bassinets, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Going on holiday with your little one means finding the right equipment to make them feel at home, wherever they are. Travel cribs and bassinets give your baby somewhere safe and secure to sleep. This helps them to remain calm and gives you the chance of a peaceful night’s sleep, even when you are on vacation.

There are many to choose from on the market, and below we outline what you should look for and the best options you can buy right now.

Travel cribs and bassinets both provide a cozy, safe sleeping area for your baby, both at home and on vacation. While they both have many uses for parents on the move, there are differences between the 2 options that you should consider before you buy.

What Is a Travel Crib?

A travel crib is a lightweight and portable alternative to the traditional wooden crib your baby may use at home. Designed to be taken anywhere with you, a travel crib has soft sides and a collapsible structure, making it easy to fold up and pack away when in transit.

Made from durable and breathable materials, these kinds of cribs can double up as a safe play space for your little one, both at home and away.

What Is a Travel Bassinet?

A bassinet, on the other hand, is smaller, more compact, and designed to better suit the needs of newborns and very young babies. These safe sleeping areas are perfect for babies who cannot yet sit up unaided and will keep them snug while they sleep close beside you.

Most travel bassinets have soft sides that can be folded up for ease of transport and handles for you to carry. Some can even be used as an inner lining for the bassinet that attaches to your stroller .

Some hotels may offer to provide you with a crib or bassinet in your bedroom. Vacation apartments or Airbnbs may also have separate infant sleeping facilities, but you will need to check before you book.

However, you may not want to put your baby in a crib that has previously been enjoyed by somebody else, or you may be staying somewhere that doesn’t offer additional facilities.

Whatever your reason for wanting one, here are some compelling reasons why you should indeed use your own travel crib or bassinet on your next trip.

Help Your Baby Sleep Better

Young infants can become very unsettled when they are taken away from their usual routine. Having a travel crib that they use regularly will feel familiar to them , even if they are vacationing with you a long way from home. You can also swaddle them in their favorite blanket or throw in a special toy to help your little one feel relaxed and settled.

They Can Be More Hygienic

If you are taking your own travel crib with you, you know exactly how clean it is before you set your baby down to sleep in it. You can also be sure that you have your own sheet that fits the crib properly or any other special items that your baby likes to sleep with.

You Can Keep a Watchful Eye

Travel cribs have mesh sides that allow you to see your baby as they sleep or play. This means that you can keep a close eye without disturbing them, all the time knowing that they are safely placed in a secure crib on the floor.

Give Your Baby a Safe Space To Play

When you need a moment to yourself, or simply want to give your baby some downtime, your travel crib also makes an excellent playpen . Secure, visible, and always within easy reach, you can pop your baby in the crib with his or her favorite toys and let them play. The crib can be used as a playpen at home, too, making it an even more worthwhile investment.

If your baby is very little, you may want to consider a travel bassinet instead. These lightweight and incredibly portable safe spaces make cozy beds for babies who are not yet on the move. Safer than just laying your baby on your bed, you can keep your baby comfortable and close at hand without worrying about them rolling or falling.

Hot Tip: Like travel cribs, travel-sized bassinets can once again be very useful in your own home. Keep your baby next to you by the sofa, sleeping in the kitchen, or even just as a spare sleep space for taking with you when you visit friends and family.

Not all baby travel cribs and bassinets are the same, so before you invest, consider the following:

Size and Weight

With the focus being on travel, your crib or bassinet needs to be made of lightweight material that can be folded up small enough to carry with you. It will also need to be large enough to comfortably house your baby without them being squished when sleeping. It should also be able to fold down small enough to be able to be stowed away in transit easily.

Materials and Durability

Travel cribs and bassinets are designed to be incredibly lightweight, of course, but they also need to be durable and hard-wearing. With this in mind, most of them are made from high-grade nylon and breathable mesh to withstand the movement of your baby, as well as the bumps and knocks caused by travel.

A travel crib, in particular, will last your baby well into the toddler years, so it will need to be durable enough to go the distance, as well as sturdy enough to withstand opening and closing over long periods.

Your Child’s Age

Travel cribs and bassinets are designed to accommodate babies and toddlers of different heights, weights, and ages. Your bassinet will only suit your baby in the first few months, while your travel crib could be with you for a couple of years.

Check out the best recommendations for your child’s age, weight, and height before you buy , and make sure you know what the maximum age recommendations should be. Be aware that as soon as your toddler can attempt to get out of the travel crib, they are way too big for one.

Hot Tip: Travel cribs may be unsuitable for tall toddlers as they won’t feel comfortable sleeping in a restricted area. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations and measure them against the size of your child before you buy it.

Folding and Portability

Getting your travel crib upright and locked into position can take a bit of practice, but pretty soon, you will become an absolute expert at it. Making sure you can fold it back down and stash it back in its carry bag will become equally as important, too.

Before you purchase, check out the weight of the crib as well as the folded dimensions to ensure that you will be able to carry it with you on your journey realistically. Better still, if the crib comes with a carry bag that has a strap, you can simply stow it over your shoulder and go!

Safety and Comfort

As well as being lightweight, portable, durable, and made to last, your travel crib or bassinet also needs to be proven to be safe for your little one. Check out the reviews and compare different makes and models before you commit, and always settle for the best quality travel crib or bassinet you can afford to buy.

Cheaper models may have very thin mattress bottoms, which may not be comfortable for your baby or toddler. More importantly, they may not be made to withstand the most curious of tiny fingers or the lifetime of assembling and disassembling that your travel crib is required to go through.

1. A Roomie Travel Crib That’s Bigger Than Most

• Joovy New Room2 Portable Playard

Designed to provide parents with peace of mind when your baby is on the move, this traditional-style travel crib is strong enough to contain your toddler while still being plush enough to offer babies of all ages an excellent night’s sleep.

Complete with its own fitted mattress with a cotton sheet, the Room2 is slightly bigger than some other cribs on the market , yet it still folds small enough to be carried in transit in the matching travel bag included. For your convenience, the large mesh sides provide a perfect 360-degree view both in and out, and with nearly 10 square feet of interior space, this is not just a great travel crib — it is a pretty awesome play space, as well.

Designed and built by the baby-loving experts at Joovy, the Room2 is an affordable and incredibly practical playpen and travel crib that is well suited to older babies and toddlers on vacation. Newborns can also be accommodated, but you’ll want to invest in the additional bassinet attachment for your convenience.

What We Like

• Has a soft, comfortable mattress

What We Don’t Like

• Quite a heavy travel crib

2. A Travel Crib Lighter Than Your Baby

• phil&teds Traveller Crib

This incredibly lightweight travel baby crib weighs just 6 pounds and has a super compact design that opens out to become a comfortable, breathable, and useful sleep and safe space for both you and your baby to enjoy.

Designed to be strong and sturdy, despite its featherweight proportions, the full mesh sides allow for easy viewing and complete ventilation. There is a side opening with easy zipper access so your bigger baby can crawl in and out as and when they want to, and a self-inflating mattress and fitted sheet for use when it is time to hit the hay.

Being able to fold up small enough to carry on most airlines, this crib is a winner for families heading away on vacation. Being made by one of the most innovative providers of baby gear out there , it is no surprise that the Traveller Crib looks incredibly stylish, is uber-cool and functional, and even has top-quality fabrics, making it soft and gentle on baby’s delicate skin.

• Small enough to pack in your luggage
• The mattress could be thicker

3. Award-winning Design That Creates a Darkened Environment

• SnoozeShade Pack N Play Crib Canopy and Tent

Designed for parents by a mom herself, this breathable, net canopy for play yards, travel cribs, and playpens is designed to provide a calm, dark, and distraction-free environment for your little one.

Perfect for trips away where bright sunshine or busy bedrooms might throw your baby’s sleep habits out of whack, this simple canopy is like a tent for your baby’s bed.

Free from complicated attachments, and small enough to fold and carry with you wherever you may go, the Snooze Shade simply stretches over the travel crib and attaches using nothing more than Velcro. It also offers excellent protection from mosquitoes, bugs, and cats.

• Blocks out 94% of light
• Can get warm inside

4. Unique Design From a Big Name Brand

• Fisher-Price On-The-Go Baby Dome

This supercute travel crib is perfect for younger babies and makes a safe and secure cocoon for them to enjoy midday naps or nighttime sleep close to mom or dad.

Suitable for babies under 20 pounds and those that are not yet able to push up on their hands and knees, this is an excellent addition to your newborn baby inventory, and perfect for those first few nights away.

The Baby Dome is particularly useful for parents visiting warmer climates or those planning on spending time outdoors. With a canopy offering UPF20 protection and a bug shield, this is a soft, cozy, and protective shell for your little one to sleep in.

The overhead play bar comes with 2 colorful toys to keep your baby amused, and the dome itself folds up, ready for you to pick up and go when you are ready to move on. Cute, comfortable, and perfect for the little person in your life, this offers your baby their own safe space, even when they are very small.

• Has an adjustable sun canopy
• Quite heavy to carry

5. Folding Feet and Wheels for a Compact Folder

• Pack ‘n Play On The Go Playard with Bassinet

Be sure that your little one is comfortable on the go with the Pack ’n Play travel crib from brand leaders Graco. Featuring 2 fantastic features in 1, this portable sleep station has a removable full-size bassinet and a travel crib for older babies. There is also a supercute toy bar that features a selection of soft toys to keep your baby amused.

Incredibly easy to set up, this model features the signature Graco push-button fold that makes for super speedy assembly when you need it , and fast fold-ups when it’s time to move on. It also comes with a convenient carry bag and fold-up wheels that make for a 20% more compact fold.

Suitable from birth using the bassinet, you should remove this completely when your baby can push up on their hands and knees, and the main crib can be used until your child can climb in and out. Made from durable and wipeable nylon and mesh, you and your baby can enjoy this safe sleep station on the go.

• Has a removable bassinet
• Not the easiest to clean

6. A Fully Washable Playpen for Peace of Mind

• BABY JOY Baby Foldable Travel Crib

For use, both indoors and out, this easily portable travel crib is perfect for use in the home, in the garden, at the beach, and even on vacation. With its very own custom bag with carrying handles, it can be carried with you, wherever you are heading.

You’ll be set up in seconds with the push of a button, and your little one will love sleeping on the comfortable and completely washable mattress. Parents will also be relieved to know that the mesh surround is detachable and safe to pop in the washing machine (should any accidents occur).

When your baby is old enough to crawl and walk, the side can be zipped down to make a fun and easily accessible play space, as well as offer an alternative access point for parents to set the baby down for the night.

• Easy access through the side door
• The mesh walls could be more durable

7. Simple Assembly and Easily Collapsible

• Flisko 2 in 1 Travel Crib & Bassinet

With a lightweight design and compact size, this is a great, multi-purpose travel crib for parents on the go. The simple folding mechanism is quick and easy to use, while the carry case converts into a backpack, meaning you can keep your hands free when traveling.

With 2 levels, you can choose between a lower-level playpen or upper-level bassinet for newborns. The playpen’s side zipper can be opened to create a crawl-through door for your little one and an alternative access point for you. With breathable mesh fabric walls, you can keep an eye on your baby and be sure that they will stay cool with a healthy airflow.

The plush, insulated foam mattress is perfect for nights away from home , whether used in the crib or bassinet.

• Easy to set up and break down
• The included sheet can shrink after washing

1. Folds up in Handy Backpack Carry Case

• Lotus Travel Crib

Offering a modern take on traditional travel cribs, the Lotus Travel Crib is suitable for babies from 0 to 3 years old. The unique zippered bottom panel transforms the crib into a safe and fun space for your toddler to enjoy, then a cozy crib when it’s time to go to bed.

Designed to be super portable and perfect for taking on vacation, this crib can be set up in around 15 seconds , and when you are done with it, you can carry it in the included backpack, keeping your hands free.

Your little one will love the freedom that the Lotus crib offers, and you will like the way it keeps your baby safely contained when you need it to. Most of all, this lightweight, portable, and easy-to-set-up travel crib will give you the reassurance you need when traveling away from home.

• Can be transported as a backpack
• Can be difficult to get back inside the carry bag

2. Airy Design for Good Supervision

• BABYBJÖRN Travel Crib Light

Weighing in at 11 pounds, this travel cot from the brand leaders at Babybjörn is a little more expensive than some of the others of the market, but its innovative design and impressive build quality make it worth every last cent.

The sides of the cot are made from mesh material, allowing air to circulate and giving you a great view of your baby, whatever he or she is up to. With its unique click and fold frame, the Travel Crib Light can be set up in just seconds, and the upside-down design means it will remain stable and safe, even as your baby gets bigger.

Suitable for babies from birth to 3 years old, it comes with a comfy mattress and a waterproof, breathable cover to help your baby sleep peacefully wherever they may be. When not in use, you can leave it set up as a safe play space for your little one, or fold it back up to stash in its very own practical carry bag.

• On the expensive side
• Doesn’t come with a fitted sheet

3. Expands From a Travel Crib to a Play Yard in Seconds

• Skip Hop Portable Playard and Foldable Expanding Travel Crib/Playpen

Offering an innovative 2-in-1 solution for parents on the go, this expandable travel crib can easily switch from a quiet sleeping space to a fun-filled play yard in a matter of seconds. The crib mattress and sheet can be used for nap time and night time, then unzip the sides to use the comfy, wipe-clean mat as a playpen as the entire crib expands up to 60% to make a perfectly square play yard.

The mesh sides allow for excellent ventilation and will ensure that you can see your baby at all times, whether they are fast asleep or wide awake in there. Suitable for babies from newborn to 3 years old, this is a travel crib that really will grow with your child to last them even longer.

• Expandable for more room
• Quite heavy for a travel crib

4. Easy 1-Push Open, 1-Pull Close

• 4moms breeze GO portable travel playard

Complete with its very own super cool-looking carry bag, the 4moms GO portable travel crib and play yard is an excellent choice for use both at home and away for an overnight stay or on your next vacation.

Suitable from birth until around 30 pounds, your baby can sleep, play, and chill out in this sturdy and well-built travel crib and play yard. Wipe-clean, breathable fabrics help to keep the crib hygienic, and the mesh sidewalls allow for easy viewing both inside and out.

One of the best features of this particular model is the super-easy “push open, pull close” mechanism that allows mom or dad to set it up in just a matter of seconds . Simply push down on the central hub to open and pull it back up to close while the automatic latches click into place, making a safe, secure, and super-cozy crib and play area for your little one, wherever you may be staying.

• Has one-handed setup and breakdown
• Not a standard size playpen, so it doesn’t fit universal sheets

1. Amazon’s Choice for Bassinet

2in1 stationary&rock mode bassinet one-second fold travel crib portable newborn baby.

Perfect for parents that want their little one to sleep close by, either at home or away, this bassinet is super easy to set up and incredibly comfortable for your baby. With a rocking mode to soothe your baby to sleep and a stationary mode for when they do drift off , you should all be able to get some sleep after a busy day on vacation.

With its very own carry bag, the MiClassic Bassinet can easily be stowed in the trunk of your car, kept at Grandma’s house, or even taken on a plane. The unique 1-second open and fold system means it is quick and easy to put up and take down again, and the breathable mesh sides will keep your baby safely within sight at all times.

This is a tremendous little bassinet for babies on the go — those who like to be rocked to sleep while still being close to mom or dad.

• Has a soothing rocking mode
• Quite a low bassinet

2. Nap Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere

• Munchkin Brica Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet

This cute and cozy portable bassinet is perfect for keeping your baby safe and sleeping soundly both at home and away. Suitable for babies up to 3 months old or 15 pounds, this is a great addition to your newborn baby equipment that offers a comfortable and safe space for your little one.

Lightweight and incredibly portable, this travel bassinet can be set up and folded down in a matter of seconds, and the carry handle makes it super easy to take anywhere with you. The locking frame and durable sidewalls keep it feeling strong and sturdy, while the breathable, mesh sides help the air to flow around your baby  and allow you to see them at all times.

The specially-designed firm mattress and fitted sheet will allow your baby to sleep soundly, and while this should not be used on an elevated surface, this is a good travel bassinet for overnight stays and vacations with your newborn.

• Lightweight and easy to carry
• No mesh-covered top

3. The Bassinet That Is Also a Diaper Bag and Changing Station

• Scuddles 3-1 Portable Bassinet for Baby – Foldable Baby Bed

This fabulous little baby bed offers everything you need as a parent on the go . As a portable changing station, a travel crib, and a diaper bag, you and your little one will be set for any kind of vacation adventure.

The same size as a regular diaper bag, you can store diapers, creams, spare clothing, wipes, and all of your usual baby gear in the smart-looking pockets and carry bag. When it is time for a change, the travel crib can be used as a clean, hygienic changing station that protects your baby from dirty surfaces or hard floors.

At bedtime, the cozy sleeping area has an extra thick pad that can be used as a mattress, and the sturdy sides will keep your baby safe and sound as they sleep. Suitable for babies up to 3 months old, this is a brilliant idea for parents taking their newborn away with them.

• Has an insulated bottle pocket
• No padding on the bag straps

4. Lightweight, Versatile, and Can Be Used Outdoors

• Dream On Me Karley Bassinet

Made of lightweight polyester with a strong metal frame, the Dream On Me Karley Bassinet combines all the useful features of the stroller and a travel crib and is perfect for taking on overnight stays, leaving at Grandma’s, or simply as an extra crib in your own home.

Suitable for babies from birth up until they weigh around 25 pounds, you can use this portable bassinet as an extra sleep space in your home, a safe space in the garden, or a changing station with additional storage.

With a double canopy and a soft, comfortable sleeping pad, your baby can sleep soundly either on the integrated stand or on the floor, and the compact and quick folding mechanism means you can store the crib away when not in use.

• Has an adjustable double canopy
• Thin mattress

5. Conveniently Folds Into a Backpack

• Lulyboo Bassinet To-Go Metro

This wonderfully portable little baby bed can go anywhere with you. Have your baby asleep close by at home or in your hotel room, or use it to let your baby join you outside on your next adventure. The 2-position canopy will protect your baby from the sun and wind , and the machine-washable fabric can be removed for cleaning while also being waterproof along the bottom.

Whether you chose to use this bassinet as a travel crib, a co-sleeper, a playpen, or even just a changing station, the affordable price tag and the ability to be quickly folded and carried as a backpack, make this an excellent choice for parents on the move.

Suitable for babies up to the age of 3 months old or weighing less than 15 pounds, the hanging toy bar will keep your baby amused and the cozy cocoon with mattress and canopy will give them a safe space to sleep in.

• Has a folding design that turns into a backpack
• Quite short for taller babies

6. Keep Your Baby Close and Protected

• Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Portable Infant Lounger

This small and portable bassinet keeps your baby comfortable and close to you while offering a safe space for lounging or sleeping.

The mesh sides ensure that you have full visibility of your baby as they sleep, while also keeping the lounger well-ventilated. The low but sturdy sidewalls mean you can easily reach your newborn for soothing, changing, or generally monitoring the well-being of your baby throughout the day.

Suitable for newborn and very young babies, the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest also features a removable, washable sheet and cover, and the whole thing folds up compactly, so it is ideal for travel.

• Fits comfortably in a queen bed
• The sides could be sturdier

Taking your baby away with you is an exciting time. Having everything you need to keep them comfortable is the key to a successful trip, and having their own space to sleep and play in will help your little one enjoy their time away even more.

Get a good night’s sleep with a safe and secure bassinet or full-size travel crib, specially designed to fold up small for easy transportation, wherever you are headed. These robust but portable sleep spaces also make useful playpens and extra beds when back at home, too.

All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our  Medical & Legal Disclaimers .

Frequently Asked Questions

What do babies sleep in when traveling.

A travel crib or travel bassinet is the best option for your baby to sleep in while traveling. A bassinet will be more suited to newborns up to the age of 3 months or so, but this varies depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. A travel crib, on the other hand, will be suitable from 3 months right up to toddler age.

Can a toddler sleep in a Pack 'n Play?

Generally, most playpens or play yards also double up as suitable sleep environments for toddlers. It is best to check with the product manufacturer as this can vary by make and model.

Do hotels have cribs?

Not every hotel will have a crib, so it’s best to call ahead and check. That being said, if you have the space and the budget, it is well worth investing in your own travel crib to ensure that your baby is sleeping in a familiar and hygienic environment.

What are the best travel cribs and bassinets?

Some of the best travel cribs and bassinets include:

• MiClassic Bassinet

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The 7 Best Travel Cribs of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Pass on the family tradition of wanderlust

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TripSavvy / Jhett Thompson

A secure and comfortable travel crib is an essential accessory for parents who want to travel with their little ones without restriction. Sleepovers with friends and family, local road trips, and even international adventures—the world is your oyster with the right travel crib. Some can be used as a permanent sleeping place for your baby or toddler, while others adapt throughout the first stages of their life from bassinet to cot or playpen. Things to consider include how long you want to use the crib, what you want it for (and, therefore, whether lightness or size is the greater priority), and how much you’re willing to spend. 

To help you find the travel crib best suited to your requirements, we tested 19 of the most popular options in the TripSavvy lab. Each one was scored for ease of setup, portability, quality, durability, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

Final Verdict

How we tested, other travel cribs we tested.

• What to Look For

Why Trust TripSavvy

Best overall, maxi-cosi swift play yard.

• Ease of Setup 4.8 /5
• Durability 5 /5
• Portability 4.5 /5
• Quality 5 /5

Attractive and well made

User friendly

Multi-stage extends usable life

On the heavy side

The Maxi-Cosi Swift was a clear winner for us due to its ingenious design that combines three baby essentials—bassinet, cot, and playpen—in one high-quality product. The mattress unzips to fit the newborn bassinet, then zips together again to create an extra thick, comfy mattress for the toddler cot and playpen. This versatility means you can use the travel crib day and night through all stages of your little one’s growth from birth up until approximately 3.5 years—saving you plenty of money in the long run. 

The manufacturer’s description claims that the crib takes one second to fold or unfold; however, our tester timed assembly at three minutes and disassembly at less than two. We did find it incredibly easy to set up, earning the crib a near-perfect score for this element of the testing process. At 15.4 pounds, it isn’t the lightest cot on this list and is probably not the most convenient choice for air travel. However, we love that its full size and sturdy construction mean it could double as your permanent crib. 

We also fell for its beautiful design and high-quality fabric—in fact, our tester called it the most stylish pack-n-play they’d ever seen. We felt it was durable and likely to last a long time, with a convenient carry bag that makes it ideal for taking with you on your next road trip or staying at Grandma’s house.

Dimensions: 41.7 x 33.9 x 29.9 inches | Weight: 15.4 pounds | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 33 pounds

Best Budget

Munchkin travel bassinet.

• Ease of Setup 5 /5
• Durability 4.5 /5
• Quality 4.5 /5

Low-maintenance care

Easy to pack

Allows plenty of ventilation

Relatively limited window of utility

Available online for a fraction of the price of our overall winner, the Munchkin Brica Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet is the perfect fit for those on a budget. It’s also a very different product, intended for occasional use only during the newborn stage. Munchkin recommends stopping using the bassinet when your baby reaches three months, 15 pounds, or can push up on their hands and knees—whichever comes first. Nevertheless, we found it almost unbelievably easy to set up, with assembly taking one minute and disassembly taking less than 30 seconds. 

With side walls constructed of breathable fabric and mesh panels for maximum airflow, the bassinet is also incredibly lightweight (less than 3 pounds). Its tubular steel frame is held in place by a four-point Safe-T-Lock system but folds flat for effortless transport. We felt it would be ideal for air travel—although we wished it came with a carry bag to help keep it clean. We thought it was relatively sturdy and easy to spot-clean, though the removable mattress pad comes with a machine-washable sheet.

Dimensions: 30 x 21.25 x 11.75 inches | Weight: Under 3 pounds | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 15 pounds

KidCo Peapod Travel Bed

• Durability 4 /5
• Portability 5 /5

Fast, auto-setup

Suitable for 6 months to 3 years

Solid defense against the elements

Material feels a bit thin

If you’re looking to spend under $100 on a product that still guarantees good quality and an extended lifespan, we recommend the KidCo PeaPod Travel Bed. It weighs less than 3 pounds and is incredibly lightweight and easy to carry using convenient shoulder straps. Once opened, the tent-like travel bed pops up on its own. We found that, including the time taken to attach the removable sleeping pad, it took less than two minutes to assemble and disassemble, and we felt that it would also be a great fit for outdoor uses such as baby's first camping trip and the beach. 

The tent crib features a large zippered panel for easy access and walls made of lightweight mesh. These are great for maximum airflow and also double as an insect screen. The material is coated for UV protection, while anchor straps help to secure the tent against breezes (or active occupants!). We felt it would hold up well to the toddler years and be easy to spot-clean when necessary. Choose yours in colors ranging from Midnight to Cranberry or Tangerine.

Dimensions: 46 x 18 x 28 inches | Weight: 2.45 pounds | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 3 years

Best for Playtime

Chicco alfa lite lightweight travel playard.

• Value 4.5 /5

Quick, straightforward setup

Smart features

The mattress could be a bit thicker

For a travel crib that doubles as an on-the-go play yard, we love the Chicco Alfa Lite. It assembles in just three minutes with a snap-open motion that locks the legs in place and takes less than a minute to disassemble. We found both steps so intuitive that the instructions were unnecessary. The zip-open side panel was a particular highlight for us, allowing the gentle placement of younger babies and the freedom to come and go for older children. Best of all, the zipper is lockable from the outside to prevent wandering at night. 

The full-size mattress creates ample space for playtime and is made extra secure by buckling underneath the cot to eliminate any risk of suffocation. If you need to move the cot around, we found it easy to do so with side handles that provide a good grip. Both the materials and the structure felt solid, and the crib survived our drop test undamaged. When folded back down into its zippered carry bag, we found it pretty light, too. Finally, the GREENGUARD Gold Certified materials are removable for machine washing.

Dimensions: 43 x 29 x 25 inches | Weight: 13 pounds | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 30 pounds

Best 2-in-1

Baby joy travel crib 2-in-1 playpen.

• Portability 4 /5

Smart design with age-appropriate features

Easy care instructions

Not particularly easy to carry

Those searching for a travel crib that can act as a generously sized play area will appreciate the Baby Joy Travel Crib 2-in-1 Playpen. We timed setup and takedown at approximately three minutes each, with most of that time used to attach the mattress’s Velcro straps. The actual cot is incredibly easy to unfold and lock into place. It’s designed for babies from birth to 3 years, with breathable mesh walls offering excellent visibility from across the room. A zippered side door provides easy access for crawling and toddling children. 

We particularly liked how stable this crib is. With aluminum tubes reinforcing each corner, it felt rock solid even when we dropped a 25-pound sandbag into it and threw it around. We found it hard to tip over, even for an adult. Materials are high quality, while the mattress cover and crib fabrics can all be removed and washed as needed. The only downside was that the crib lacked portability. We felt an over-the-shoulder strap would have been more useful than the short carry handles included and that it was too wide for convenient air travel. 

Dimensions: 45.5 x 31 x 27 inches | Weight: 11 pounds | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 33 pounds

Best Splurge

Uppababy remi portable playard.

Buy Buy Baby

Doubles as a main crib

Stood up to durability tests perfectly

Plenty of "keep cool" design details

The heaviest option on this list

The UPPABaby Remi Portable Playard retails for roughly seven times the price of our budget pick; however, its excellent quality and intuitive design make it a worthwhile investment for frequent travelers or those who plan to use it as a primary sleeping space. It’s intended for babies up to 18 months old and comes with a zip-on bassinet attachment that allows easy bedside access to your newborn. Setting up the crib frame takes a matter of seconds and can be completed with one hand. 

We did find that figuring out the bassinet attachment took us several minutes—however, once learned, this process would be much shorter. The crib also features a zip-open panel for easy access, mesh walls for clear views and optimum ventilation, and a triple-layer mesh mattress for ultimate breathability. We found it very sturdy even when moved around and subjected to our sandbag tests. The quality of the materials is top-notch. It is relatively heavy (20 pounds)—however, a good quality carry bag with handles on the top and bottom makes transportation easy.

Dimensions: 40.5 x 28.5 x 26 inches | Weight: 20 pounds | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 20 pounds

Best Bassinet

Chicco lullago anywhere portable bassinet.

Transports like a dream, open or closed

Easy to maintain

A relatively short window for use

We love the Chicco LullaGo Anywhere Portable Bassinet for its high-quality design, which stood up well to our durability tests. It features a firm, flat sleep surface with mesh side panels for maximum visibility and ventilation, with metal legs that snap into place and a convenient shade canopy. It took us less than a minute to set it up and the same amount of time to fold it flat and fit it into its low-profile carry bag. At just 12 pounds, it’s wonderfully light—so much so that you can easily move it from one area of the house to another to keep an eye on baby during naptime.

Other thoughtful features include a mesh storage pocket for keeping essentials handy and a waterproof mattress with a fitted sheet. Best of all (during a stage when accidents happen often), all fabrics zip off for machine washing. For added peace of mind, the bassinet is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means it’s been independently tested for low chemical emissions to ensure your little one is breathing the cleanest air possible.

Dimensions: 30 x 28 x 18 inches | Weight: 12 pounds | Maximum Weight Recommendation: 20 pounds

With an impressive 4.86 out of 5 average rating, the Maxi-Cosi Swift Play Yard came in as our top pick. It features a three-in-one concept that takes your child just about anywhere from birth through approximately 3.5 years of age, and it comes with a carrying bag. Another excellent choice is the Munchkin Brica Travel Bassinet , which prioritizes value for money and ultralight portability.

First, we timed how long it took to assemble the crib and evaluated how easy the setup process was. Where relevant, we checked how simple it was to adjust it to its different stages (from bassinet to cot, for example). We assessed whether the mattress would fit a standard crib sheet or required a special size; then, we moved the crib across the room while fully assembled to see how easy it was to do so and whether all the parts remained securely in place. We also examined each feature and shook the frame to determine its sturdiness. 

Next, we placed a sandbag in the crib to replicate a baby or toddler (depending on the weight the product was certified for). We checked how the added weight affected the crib’s stability, then dropped the sandbag from 6 inches to simulate a toddler jumping up and down. Finally, we timed how long it took to disassemble the travel cot. Once packed away, we tested how easy it was to carry the crib before dropping it from waist height to test its durability further.

Each product was scored from 1 to 5 for ease of setup, portability, quality, durability, ease of cleaning, and value.

Chicco Dash Instant Setup Playard : This was a solid crib with high-quality materials—however, we found it so difficult to attach the mattress's Velcro straps that we gave up, and it's too bulky and heavy for easy travel. 

Graco My View Travel Crib With Stages : Compact and well-made, we liked that this crib was quick to assemble. It lost points due to its relatively small size, and the bassinet section doesn't fit in the carry bag.

Pamo Babe Deluxe Portable Nursery Center : This crib initially impressed us by offering a bassinet mode, a travel crib/play yard mode, and a changing table. However, it started to collapse during testing, which made us question its security. 

4moms Breeze GO Playard : We assembled this crib without instructions and liked its sturdiness and simple mattress design. However, we felt the price was high for relatively few bells and whistles. 

Dream On Me Nest Portable Play Yard With Carry Bag And Shoulder Strap : Although four separate testers tried, we could not successfully assemble this crib, which we found to be frustrating and useless. 

What to Look For in a Travel Crib

Weight and dimensions.

Travel cribs generally come in two styles. "Full-size" cribs that last through to the toddler years often double as a play yard, and smaller bassinets are meant exclusively for newborns. When choosing which one to purchase, consider your needs and whether the extended lifespan of a larger crib might make the trade-off of it being a little less portable worth it. The best option for you depends on your child's needs and how you plan on traveling—cribs for air travel will need to be much lighter than those packed in the car. 

How much you can expect to pay for a travel crib depends on the style and brand you go for. For example, our category winners range in price from just under $50 to nearly seven times that much—but what you get for your money differs considerably, too (one’s a foldable bassinet, the other’s a bassinet, crib, and play yard that could be used permanently). When deciding how much to spend, consider what you can afford and the long-term savings of purchasing a product that can be used throughout your baby’s early life, from newborn to toddler. 

Other Features

Other features to look out for range from the bassinet and changing table attachments to zippered side panels that provide easy access to the crib when you want it to double as a play yard. Any parent knows the value of baby equipment that’s easy to clean, so look for wipe-down surfaces and removable, machine-washable fabrics. Setup shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes, and if it’s possible to do it one-handed, so much the better. Finally, the best cribs fold down for easy over-the-shoulder or backpack-style carrying, keeping your hands free for everything else. 

You should always consult the manufacturer’s guidelines before cleaning your travel crib since best practices differ from one model to the next. However, most can be spot-cleaned with warm water and a soft cloth, while the best feature fabrics can be removed and machine-washed when necessary. Many come with waterproof mattresses that can also be wiped clean. If yours doesn’t, after-market mattress protectors are often available, although you should always consult an expert before adding anything to your baby’s sleeping environment.

Some travel cribs fold flat and are small enough to pack in your suitcase. Others are compact enough to count as carry-on luggage and can be stowed in an overhead compartment. Often, even if your travel crib is substantially bigger, you can take it as checked luggage. Many airlines allow you to take a travel crib as an additional piece of checked luggage for free. However, rules vary, so check specific airline regulations for flying with children before deciding whether to take your crib with you.

Some parents choose to invest in a pack-n-play-style travel crib as their child’s permanent sleeping place. Otherwise, having a travel crib as a backup is worth it if you travel regularly and don’t want the hassle of always having to check whether your hotel or vacation rental can provide a cot (or if you simply want the peace of mind of knowing the cot’s history and quality). Many parents also purchase one to keep at a place their child regularly sleeps—a grandparent or shared custodian’s house, for example, or even in another room of their own home.

While some travel cribs can double as a pack-n-play, the main difference is that travel cribs are typically lighter and more compact when stored to facilitate portability when you most need it, such as embarking on your infant's first flight . Pack-n-plays are generally portable, just not to the same extent as these specialized models.

Jessica Macdonald is TripSavvy’s Africa travel expert and a regular contributor to family travel articles. A mom of two who’s always up for the next adventure (from road-tripping around South Africa’s national parks with an 18-month-old to hiking up Scottish mountains with a 6-week-old), she has traveled extensively with her kids and personally tested many different brands of travel cribs.

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Added to Cart

Lotus travel crib.

Starting at $229.95

• Backpack Portability — The 3D Z-Fold™  allows the Lotus Travel Crib to be small enough to carry hands-free

Current Price $229.95 Original Price $279.95

• Lotus Travel Crib (Fabric/Mattress/ Frame)

Airport-Friendly Backpack

Current Price $292.85 Original Price $366.85

FunShade Color:

• Lotus Travel Crib (Fabric/Mattress/Frame)
• 100% Organic Cotton Crib Sheet
• Nap-Ready Fun Shade (SPF 55)

Current Price $344.75 Original Price $445.75

• Plush Quilted Sheet
• Mosquito Net

Lotus Crib Organic Cotton Fitted Sheet

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Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib FAQs and Details

Guava 3d z-fold technology™.

The 3D Z-Fold™ allows the Lotus Travel Crib to be small enough to carry through airports and, at 15lbs, the Lotus is 50% lighter than traditional, raised-mattress style portable cribs.

Key Features:

Easier to Carry Travel Backpack

Airport-Friendly Packed Size

Side zipper door for better connection, sturdy, ready-for-play (and toddlers) frame, portability & dimensions.

• 50% smaller folded size: 24" L x 12" W x 8" H
• Setup size: 45.5" L x 31.5" W x 25.5 H
• Lightweight & durable design: 15 lbs/6.8 kg (including carry bag)

Age & Use

For ages newborn to three (or until your child can climb out). The Lotus Travel Crib does not have a weight limit, as the mattress is supported by the floor.

Safety & Materials

• 3D Folding, Aluminum Frame
• Breathable ClearView™ Mesh
• Washable Fabric & Mesh Cover
• Low-VOC, Insulated Mattress

Certifications:

• US Federal Standard for Play Yards (16 CFR 1221 / ASTM F406)
• Consumer Product Safety Info Act (H.R. 2020 / CPSIA 2008)
• Playpen Regulations (Canada)
• GreenGuard™ Gold Certified

60-Day Trial & 2-Year Warranty

We get that buying something for your little one online might feel risky, so we’ve tried to make it as easy for you and other parents as possible with our 60 Day Worry-Free Guarantee.

60-Day/Night Trial

Buying baby products can be tough, that's why we offer a risk-free 60-day trial. If you (or your family) haven’t fallen in love with your Guava product, return it for a full refund. Easy as that!

Easy Returns

Returns are easy. Send an email to our customer service team with your order ID to get a prepaid return label. Then print & attach the label to your box. Drop off at a shipping location and we'll handle the rest! Refunds are typically processed in 3-5 days of receipt.

All products have a 2 year warranty

Our warranty covers any defects in manufacturing to ensure that your product remains in full operational condition. Of course, normal wear & tear is not covered.

Our warranty is only valid for the original purchaser of a new product and doesn't apply to any product purchased used or 2nd hand as the warranty is not transferable.

Free Shipping & Returns

Fast, Free Shipping

Fast, free shipping to your door for any order over $50 within the contiguous United States!

60-Day Trial & Free Returns

Buying the right travel crib is tough. Try the Lotus Crib in the comfort of your own home for 60 days/nights. If you haven’t fallen in love, return it for a full refund. Easy as that!

Guava Family Guarantee

• 60-Day/Night Trial Buying the right travel crib is tough. Try the Lotus Crib in the comfort of your own home for 60 days/nights. If you haven’t fallen in love, return it for a full refund. Easy as that!
• Easy Returns Returns are easy. Send an email to our customer service team with your order ID to get a prepaid return label. Then print & attach the label to your box. Drop off at a shipping location and we'll handle the rest! Refunds are typically processed in 3-5 days of receipt.
• Close Drawer Guava Family Guarantee Back to Shopping
• 60 day trial
• happiness guaranteed
• free shipping & returns

What Accessories are Included?

Carry hands-free as backpack (or luggage style). Built to stand up to years of travel.

• Airport-friendly packed size
• Ergonomic, padded backpack straps
• Easy access, clam shell opening

Why we made a travel crib, not just a packable crib

Traveling with your little one is a great way to share new experiences with them (and to see family), but most baby products aren't designed to be easy to carry through the airport, on flights, or on road trips..

• Fast Setup Time
• Lightweight
• Ultra Portable

"I flew cross-country by myself with our baby girl. The Lotus Travel Crib was light and easy to carry on my back."

- Rhiannon M.

What makes the Lotus Travel Crib different?

Unzip the lockable side door, help your little one fall asleep or turn the travel crib into a crawl-friendly playard.

The aluminum frame and overbuilt hinges will stand up to years of toddler and travel abuse.

Comfy Mattress for Your Little One

An insulated, waterproof mattress made out of high quality padding for more comfort and protection.

Included Easier to Carry Travel Backpack

To keep your hands free while traveling, the Lotus Carry Bag converts to a comfortable backpack.

Lighter Than Others

At 15lbs, the Lotus is over 50% lighter than traditional, raised-mattress style portable cribs.

The 3D Z-Fold™  Technology allows the Lotus Travel Crib to be small enough to carry through airports.

Watch how it works

Why is a floor-resting mattress better, we know what you’re thinking: why is the mattress on the ground aren’t travel cribs supposed to raise a baby up well, here are just a few reasons that parents have loved our floor-resting design..

• No 'Shake' Effect Supporting weight higher up in raised mattress cribs can cause them to shake or squeak when your little one tosses and turns leading to a ‘startle’ effect that wakes some kids up.
• Carry and Move Easier The mattress support structure in traditional raised platform cribs adds to the total packed size and weight making them harder to travel or store in your home.
• Better Connection Sleeping in a new place can be scary and unknown, so with the door unzipped you can cuddle or nurse your little one to sleep. That way they (and you) feel safe & secure.

This is a decorative video and does not provide additional information about the products. You can pause or stop the video with the pause button.

What is GreenGuard™ Certification?

It’s surprising, but some products for little ones, including playards, still contain harsh materials. That didn’t fly with our team, so we had the Lotus tested, and certified, GreenGuard™ Gold.

What's NOT in a Lotus Travel Crib

• No Phthalates
• No Formaldehyde
• No Flame Retardants

Product Details

Weight & Dimensions

• Weight 15 lbs/6.8 kg (including carry bag)
• Mattress 41.5" L x 23.5" W x 1.4" H
• Setup 45.5" L x 31.5" W x 25.5 H
• Backpack 24" L x 12" W x 8" H

Safety Certifications

• GreenGuard™ Gold Certification

What is your return policy?

Since we only sell the Lotus Crib online, we’ve created a very low pressure, 60-day & risk-free trial for you to check out your purchase of the Lotus Crib.

This time allows you to see the product in person without any risk as we’ll pick up the shipping fees both to your home and back (other than HI & AK) to our facility if you choose to return the purchase.

How can I see the crib in person since it’s not offered in stores?

Since we only sell the Lotus Crib online, we’ve created a very low pressure, 60-day & risk-free trial for you to check out your purchase of the Lotus.

What type of testing has been done to guarantee the Lotus is safe?

The Lotus Everywhere Crib meets all required safety standards including:

• ASTM F-406: US federal standard for Non Full-Size Cribs & Play Yards
• Consumer Product Safety Information Act (CPSIA 2008)
• Playpens Regulation (Canada)

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• Travel Products
• Family Travel

The 8 Best Travel Cribs of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We tested 19 travel cribs to find which one is the best for portability and safety.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

Our Testing Process

• Others We Liked
• Tips for Buying

You May Also Need

• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Whether you have a family trip coming up , need something for the occasional overnight visit , or are shopping for a baby registry , a good travel crib is essential. Sometimes called playards, these foldable contraptions offer a secure place for your child to sleep or play when you're on the go.

According to neonatologist Michael H. Goodstein, MD, FAAP, they're "a safe alternative to a crib, as long as the product is consistent with the mandatory guidelines established by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission)." But, beyond safety considerations, not all portable cribs are created equal.

Travel cribs vary by size, weight, features, and functionality. We tested 19 models to narrow it down to the most user-friendly, portable, durable, and easy-to-clean options.

Best Overall

Maxi-cosi swift play yard.

With an adjustable mattress and easy folding mechanism, this sturdy crib grows with your child and can be taken on any excursion.

It's not the lightest option we tested.

Clocking nearly perfect scores in all our tests, our top choice is the Maxi-Cosi Swift Play Yard. Even after six months of use, we loved how lightweight this portable crib is, making it super easy to set up and take down. Though the leg-folding mechanism is a little different than most models, we assembled it in less than three minutes and packed it back up in under two. It also has all the comfort and safety features we'd want in this type of product. The mattress lays flat on its own, you don't need to hook Velcro straps to keep it down, which is great for saving set-up time. The supportive yet bouncy design barely budged when we dropped a 25-pound sandbag on top, and the frame held strong too.

We're also big fans of the bassinet feature. For newborns and infants, you can detach the mattress from the bottom and raise it up for easier access to your baby. Then, when your child grows, lower it back down to prevent them from climbing out.

At 18 pounds, this travel crib is on the heavier side. However, it seems durable and long-lasting. The high-quality materials appear stain-resistant. All things considered, we think the price is right on point.

The Details: 41.5 x 33.5 x 31 inches (overall) | 33 x 11 x 12 inches (packed) | 18 pounds | 35-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Best Budget

Munchkin travel bassinet.

This lightweight, compact sleeper is incredibly easy to set up and pack up, a perfect option for traveling with newborns.

It doesn't come with a carry bag, and the weight capacity is 15 pounds.

On a budget? Check out the Munchkin Brica Travel Pod. This on-the-go sleeper can be set up in one minute and packs back up in less than 30 seconds. At just three pounds, we were also impressed with the lightweight design. When it folds down, it's super small and doesn't take up a lot of space even though it doesn't come with a carry bag. The lightweight, compact design is undoubtedly convenient, but bear in mind the capacity is 15 pounds. In other words, you'll need something bigger once your child is about 6 months old.

The Details: 30 x 21 x 12 inches (overall) | 3 pounds | 15-pound weight limit

Best Splurge

Uppababy remi portable playard.

This durable, splurge-worthy crib is super easy to assemble and packs into a conveniently compact bundle.

It's somewhat heavy (but super sturdy), and the carry bag is sold separately.

If you're open to splurging on a high-quality travel crib, UppaBaby won't disappoint. It's incredibly easy to set up, you just pull it out of the box and snap it into place. When folding it back up, the frame wraps into the mattress to create a conveniently compact bundle. After six months of use, we found it to be a great option to even leave up as an extra home crib.

We also appreciate the safety features, including padded edges, hidden zippers, and an elevated bassinet attachment. It's also pretty light and portable. So, while the price is steep (and you'll have to buy the carry bag separately), in the end, we think it's worth the investment for its durability and overall features.

The Details: 40.5 x 28.5 x 26 inches (overall) | 28.5 x 11 x 10 inches (packed) | 22.5 pounds | 20-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples

Best Compact

Kidco peapod plus.

The ultra-lightweight, compact design is easy to take on the go and folds up into its carry bag in seconds.

It's not recommended for children under 6 months and the bottom of the crib is made of fabric that can be slippery.

For something more compact, consider the KidCo PeaPod Plus. We were able to set up this sleeper and fold it back down in almost no time. The ultra-lightweight design folds effortlessly into its included bag, and the carry straps make it easy to take on the go.

The tent-like design can be used indoors or for outdoor naps in your backyard, on the beach, or on family camping trips . While it's not the most structured, it holds its shape enough to provide a safe sleeping spot for a small child. Despite the compact size, bear in mind it's designed for kiddos between 6 months and 5 years.

The Details: 46 x 34 x 22 inches (overall) | 19 x 19 x 3.5 inches (packed) | 3.5 pounds | 100-pound weight limit

TripSavvy / Jhett Thompson

Best Lightweight

Chicco lullago anywhere portable bassinet.

This remarkably lightweight-yet-sturdy bassinet is easy to set up, move from room to room, and bring on the go.

The maximum weight is 20 pounds, and it doesn't come with a carrying case.

We were able to assemble and fold up the Chicco LullaGo in under a minute. This travel bassinet is remarkably lightweight yet still sturdy. After six months of use, it's holding up well and is a great option with a minimalist design. Though we wish it came with a carrying case, it's easy to move from room to room or bring on the go. We also like that all the covers are conveniently machine-washable.

Dr. Goodstein warns against using this product past the newborn stage, as the elevated platform isn't designed for larger infants. "When the babies are too old, they can fall out of it," he says. "It's just not safe."

The Details: 30 x 28 x 18 inches (overall) | 28 x 18.5 x 5.5 inches (packed) | 12 pounds | 20-pound weight limit

Best Playard

Chicco alfa lite lightweight travel playard.

This playard boasts easy setup, a sturdy design, and various safety features to keep your kiddo secure during naps or playtime.

It doesn't fold down as small as other options we tested.

The Chicco Alfa Lite can be assembled in three minutes and folded back up in less than 60 seconds. Thanks to the helpful 'push' buttons and intuitive design, you don't even need to consult the instructions for set-up and take down. Though the legs fold out with ease, the frame also feels sturdy, like it'll hold up well over time.

Designed for on-the-go sleeping or safe, secure playing, this playard has lockable side zippers and a mattress that buckles to the base. You can also unzip the side to let your child climb in and out during playtime. The mattress is a little flimsy, but other than that, we have no complaints. After six months of use, we love that this is even a good option to set up during playdates.

The Details: 43 x 29 x 25 inches (overall) | 21 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches (packed) | 13 pounds | 30-pound weight limit

Best for Car Travel

Baby joy travel crib 2-in-1 playpen.

This lightweight, ultra-portable crib is a breeze to set up and can easily fit in a car trunk for family road trips.

The handles are somewhat short, making it hard to avoid dragging it.

The Baby Joy Travel Crib takes a mere three minutes to set up and folds up in a flash. It folds and unfolds easily, kind of like a camp chair. Once you know where the lock button is, the frame is incredibly simple to put together. After six months of regular use, we love that this can be used inside for naps and even outside for contained playtime.

The entire thing seems high-quality, which is impressive, considering the very reasonable price tag. Weighing only 11 pounds, it's one of the lightest options we tried. While we appreciate the included case, the short handles make it hard to avoid dragging it on the ground when carrying it — for shorter folks, at least. This portable crib folds up pretty compactly but is still probably too tall for an overhead bin, which is why we recommend it for family road trips .

The Details: 45.5 x 31 x 27 inches (overall) | 23.5 x 20.5 x 7 inches (packed) | 11 pounds | 33-pound weight limit

Best Stability

4moms breeze go playard.

Set-up is straight forward and quick and the crib's material is durable and stable.

It's on the heavier side.

With less than four minutes to set up and only two minutes to take down, this is one of the easiest travel cribs to use. Once unfolded, you simply drop in the mattress and attach it to the frame using velcro straps to keep it stable and secure. The first time we assembled this crib, we didn't even need to read the manual because it was such an intuitive process.

In addition to its ease of use, this is one of the most sturdy and high-quality of all the travel cribs we tested. The material doesn't shift around at all and the slight suspension and shocks improve safety for any kiddo. We also love that it comes with its own travel case that helps keep the crib compact and organized while on the go. For anyone looking for an entry level travel crib that's simple and sturdy, this is a high-quality and reliable option.

The Details: 43 x 30 x 29 inches (overall) | 23.2 pounds | 30-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Leticia Almeida

Travel + Leisure editors selected 19 travel cribs to try firsthand. We started by timing how long it took to assemble them based on the brand's instructions, noting any hiccups they ran into along the way. After assessing the features and materials, we lifted them up and moved them around the room to see how light and portable they were once assembled.

To evaluate the sturdiness, we shook the frames and dropped a sandbag into the center to see how well they could support a small child standing up or jumping around. Finally, we timed how long it took to fold down the cribs and put them in their carrying cases, noting how heavy they were when packed up. Each model was scored for ease of setup, portability, durability, ease of cleaning, quality, and value, and those with the highest average ratings were selected for this roundup.

Other Travel Cribs We Liked

KidCo Peapod Portable Travel Bed : This tent-style sleeper quickly pops open, and the padded base is a cinch to snap on. While the fabric is somewhat thin, it's super lightweight and easy to carry, too. However, in the end, we just liked the other KidCo model better.

Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Harmony Portable Infant Lounger : We liked the small, lightweight design of this product. But since it's technically a lounger rather than a crib, it's really designed to be a safe place to set your infant down — not necessarily a place to sleep. When in doubt, check with your pediatrician before using it.

Pamo Babe Deluxe Portable Nursery Center : While this crib was incredibly easy to set up, we thought it lacked durability as it had a tendency to collapse as it grew closer to the weight limit.

Tips for Buying a Travel Crib

Put safety first.

Whether for travel or nightly sleep, safety should be a top priority when buying a crib. Per the CPSC's current guidelines , the mattress should be relatively firm to prevent rolling. And you shouldn't add extra padding or bedding until your child is at least 12 months old, as the materials can pose a suffocation risk.

"Get a travel crib that is current from a major brand," says Dr. Goodstein, "and use the mattress that's included." He adds that, aside from a sleep sack, you really don't need anything other than a mattress and a tight-fitting crib sheet.

Know the important features 

Travel cribs come with various features — some for safety and others for comfort or convenience. This may include user-friendly foldability, a carrying case, a firm mattress, padded edges, concealed zippers, or breathable mesh sides.

"Some have a bassinet feature, which is convenient for new mothers (not bending over) and small/younger newborns," says Dr. Goodstein. "With or without, they should be used properly, following the weight, age, and developmental limitations set within the product instructions and warnings."

Consider the type of trip you're taking

When browsing options, consider the type of trip you're taking and where you plan on using the crib. If you're traveling by plane , some (but not all) airlines allow you to check portable cribs for free (along with travel strollers and car seats). But if you're not checking baggage, make sure it's small enough to pass as a carry-on.

Some small travel cribs can be folded up super compactly and even tucked inside a suitcase. But larger options that come with their own carry bags will usually need to be toted around separately. If you just need something for the occasional overnight, you have more flexibility in terms of size.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference between a travel crib and a regular crib is that the former is typically foldable and relatively lightweight. But as long as it has a proper mattress and sides that prevent rolling off, you can use a travel crib as a regular crib.

"The newer ones, for the most part, should be fine," says Dr. Goodstein. "If you're going to use a sheet in there, make sure it's a fitted sheet for that specific type of crib."

Travel crib mattresses are roughly 38 x 24 inches, which is the size of a mini crib mattress. Getting a fitted sheet in the proper size is crucial, as loose fabric can be dangerous for sleeping babies. "These little ones don't have good head [or hand] control — they can't brush something off of their face," explains Dr. Goodstein. "Something as light as a sheet can cause suffocation."

Some travel cribs fit into overhead compartments, but it varies by model. While it's different for each airline, the maximum dimensions for carry-ons is usually 22 x 14 x 9 inches, so be sure to measure the packed-up size before your trip.

While most airlines will check strollers and carseats for free, travel cribs are considered luggage and will be charged as such. Be sure to check with your specific airline in advance to determine what baby gear is complimentary.

Traveling with a toddler takes more than a portable travel crib. These products will help your next adventure with your little one go smoothly, whether you're taking a roadtrip or flying internationally.

Veer Cruiser Stroller Wagon : Packed with features typical of strollers, this compact beach wagon has two seats, each of which can haul up to 55 pounds.

Joolz AER+ Baby Stroller : If you're looking for an extremely compact stroller that can be easily stored at home or on flights, look no further than the Joolz AER+ Baby Stroller. It looks great, rolls smoothly, and has plenty of padding for your little one.

Graco Contender Slim Convertible Car Seat : This ultra-lightweight car seat is also very slim and portable, making it a great option for any compact or larger vehicles you might rent for your next adventure.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Theresa Holland is a toddler mom and seasoned commerce writer specializing in travel, baby gear, and furniture. For this story, she compiled our in-house testing insights and combed through product specs to create a comprehensive roundup of today's best travel cribs. She is personally familiar with the offerings from UppaBaby, Munchkin, and Chicco.

In creating our list of best travel cribs, we also spoke to an expert in the care of newborns, neonatologist Michael H. Goodstein , MD, FAAP.

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Product Comparator

Best travel cribs.

When you're ready to travel with your baby, whether for an overnight jaunt or a weeklong vacation, a portable travel crib can really come in handy. We surveyed more than 3,000 Pampers Parents to find out which travel cribs were their favorites. Find out which products made the list.

8 Best Travel Cribs

There are many options to choose from when it comes to travel cribs. Here are the portable cribs that Pampers Parents voted as the best:

1. Graco Travel Lite Crib

Why pick this one? The Graco Travel Lite Crib is the number one choice among Pampers Parents, and for good reason. This travel crib converts to accommodate three different stages, growing along with your little one. You can use it as a bassinet for your newborn, as a crib for your infant, and finally as a play yard for your young toddler. The travel crib is lightweight, coming in at under 20 pounds, making it easy to take with you for travel, play dates, or family visits. Simply fold it into the carrying bag when it’s time to head out. Once assembled, it’s easy to wheel from room to room. You might also appreciate that when used as a play yard, the Graco Travel Lite Crib is 20 percent smaller than most other play yards on the market, making it ideal for small spaces such as apartments. The travel crib's airy mesh sides ensure plenty of ventilation for your baby’s safety and comfort. No part of the travel crib is machine-washable, but the mattress pad and the crib itself can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Highlights: Included is a canopy with removable plush toys that your baby will enjoy looking up at before he snoozes. The travel crib is available in three different designs: Manor, Montana, and Ramley.

Price*: about $119.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

2. HALO 3-in-1 DreamNest Bassinet, Portable Crib

Why pick this one? This 3-in-1 portable crib from Halo can convert into a rocking bassinet, travel crib, or cot, making it a versatile product. It’s designed with all-around breathable mesh fabric, which is great for your baby’s comfort, and makes it easy to see your baby from any angle. Since your baby lies directly on the taut mesh fabric, there’s no need for an additional mattress when using this travel crib, and this can be a huge benefit when you’re on the go and traveling light. However, some Pampers Parents noted that the mesh stretched with prolonged use, making the crib less stable when the baby moved around. To engage the rocker function when the crib is in use as a bassinet, simply step on the foot pedal. With the included cot legs, the crib can be converted into a toddler cot when the time comes. When not in use, the entire travel crib and all its accessories fold into the carrying bag for easy portability. A matching changing table can be purchased separately. The changing table clips onto the crib for more comfortable diaper changes.

Highlights: The mattress fabric is removable for machine-washing.

Price*: about $249.99 on Amazon.com

3. Lotus Travel Crib

Why pick this one? This travel crib may be one of the fastest to set up—you're done in just 15 seconds, Lotus claims. It’s also the second-lightest travel crib on our list, weighing only 12 pounds. The backpack-style carrying case allows you to keep your hands free when you're transporting it, a big advantage at airports, for example. The travel crib/play yard comes with a thin foam mattress, and has mesh panels to promote airflow. A zippered door on the side lets you easily reach your little one and allows him to crawl out for playtime. However, some Pampers Parents noted that the zipper is rather noisy, so you wouldn’t want to use it while your baby is sleeping.

Highlights: The travel crib is GreenGuard Gold certified, which means it was manufactured without the use of chemicals or substances such as formaldehyde, arsenic, or mercury.

Price*: about $209.00 on Amazon.com

4. Dream On Me 2-in-1 Portable Folding Stationary Side Crib

Why pick this one? Though this portable crib from Dream On Me is made from solid wood, it’s still light enough to transport and it folds up easily. The crib includes safety wheels with locking casters so you can easily move the crib from room to room, and lock it safely before placing your baby inside. Keep in mind, this won’t be the kind of crib that you can easily travel with, so its use is limited. The crib’s mattress support can be adjusted all the way down or halfway down. The manufacturer claims that in the upper position, the crib can be used as a changing station, which may be the case; however, for some parents it may be difficult reaching into the crib for a diaper change. Note that the mattress isn’t included, which is a definite downside, as it can be difficult to find the right size portable crib mattress .

Highlights: Available in five finishes: natural, cherry, espresso, black, and white. The crib is manufactured without the use of phthalates, latex, lead, and BPA.

Price*: about $114.99 on Amazon.com

5. Flisko 2-in-1 Travel Crib & Bassinet

Why pick this one? This travel crib functions as a bassinet as well as a crib, so you can get plenty of use out of it. It’s ideal for traveling with your infant or baby as it’s lightweight enough to carry with one hand when it’s folded in the carrying bag. It’s also easy to set up and disassemble in just minutes. The firm mattress offers comfortable support for your baby and can go in the bottom of the crib, or in the bottom of the bassinet depending on what configuration you’re using. The mesh fabric is easy to see through and there’s a zippered opening on the side of a play yard for when you want to let your little one crawl out.

Highlights: A fitted sheet for the mattress is also included so you don’t have to search for the right size.

Price*: about $94.95 on Amazon.com

6. BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light

Why pick this one? This travel crib is the lightest on our list and comes with a convenient carrying case. Setup is simple and disassembly isn’t that hard either. All it takes is some folding, and voila — next thing you know you’re sliding the crib into the carrying case. It also includes a mattress, which easily folds in half to fit into the carrying case as well. The travel crib features breathable, see-through mesh fabric, which is free of any toxic chemicals.

Highlights: It’s available in black, blue, or silver. Both the travel crib fabric and the mattress cover are machine-washable.

Price*: about $299.99 on Amazon.com

7. Baby Delight Go With Me Nod Deluxe Portable Crib & Playard

Why pick this one? This portable crib and play yard from Baby Delight gives you options for your little one: Use it as a portable crib when you’re on the go or use it as a play yard inside or outside your home. It folds up compactly for travel, and can be assembled easily when you’re ready. The crib is made of breathable, easy-to-see-through mesh so you can keep an eye on your little one. There’s even a zippered panel for when you’d like to let your little one crawl out of the play yard. The carrying case doubles as the mattress, which can be safely attached to the inside of the travel crib when it’s assembled. Some Pampers Parents noted that it was difficult to find sheets to fit the mattress.

Highlights: The cover is removable and machine-washable.

Price*: about $149.99 on Amazon.com

8. Delta Children Folding Portable Mini Baby Crib

Why pick this one? Whether you’re heading to Grandma’s house for an overnight stay, or just need a crib to fit a tight space, this portable crib from Delta is a good choice. The crib folds up easily and can be wheeled anywhere. This may come in handy if you’d like your baby to sleep in the same room as you and are tight on space. The crib comes with a mattress that can remain inside the crib even when it’s folded, limiting the amount of room taken up while it’s in storage. The mattress height is adjustable so you can lower it as your baby grows to prevent her from climbing out. The mattress is hypoallergenic and waterproof, and is made of nontoxic materials. However, it may difficult to find sheets for this particular size mattress.

Highlights: The crib is available in natural, cherry, and dark chocolate wood finishes, and in white or gray painted finishes. The crib is made of sustainable wood from New Zealand.

Price*: about $102.49 on Amazon.com

How to Choose the Right Portable Crib For You

A portable crib can be a lifesaver if you plan to travel with your baby or are tight on space at home and are looking for something smaller than a regular crib. Many of the cribs on our list also double as a portable bassinet and/or play yard, which means you can get extra use out of the product. To decide which is best for you, it helps to consider whether you just plan to move your portable crib from room to room, need the crib to fit the trunk of your car when it’s folded, or need it to be compact and lightweight enough to be stowed in an airplane overhead bin. These are the kinds of questions to ask yourself before making a purchase:

Can the crib be converted into a bassinet, cot, or play yard?

Does the crib or play yard have mesh sides?

Does the play yard have zippered sides for easy access?

Is a mattress included?

How easy is it to find a fitted sheet for the mattress?

Does the baby lie close to the floor or higher up for easier access?

Is the mattress height adjustable?

How easy is it to assemble and disassemble?

Does the product come with a carrying case?

Are the fabrics machine-washable?

Is the product lightweight enough?

How compactly does the portable crib fold?

Is the footprint of the crib large or small enough for your needs?

The Bottom Line

There are many different options when it comes to choosing a travel crib for your little one. You could go with the more traditional wooden crib that folds up for storage and may even fit into the trunk of your car. This style could work well as a crib you can move from room to room, or to set up at the grandparents’ home for overnight stays. Or, you may prefer a more compact portable crib that doubles as a play yard and folds so small that it’s even great for airplane travel. Whichever option you select from this list, you’ll be making a great choice. A travel crib can be an essential piece of baby gear that you can't live without.

Recall Notice

Before buying a product, always check that it’s approved and hasn’t been recalled on sites like the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). *Prices are correct at the time of writing.

• Healthy Children: How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained
• Consumer Reports: Crib Buying Guide
• Consumer Reports: Play Yard Buying Guide

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Best Portable Baby Bed for Travel: 11 Best Travel Cribs for 2023 (Tried, Tested & Researched) + 1 to Avoid

Make travel with a baby or young kids easier with the best portable baby beds and baby travel cribs of 2023. This is a tried, tested, and researched list of the 12 best travel cribs to keep your little one safe and comfortable while away from home.

11 Best Portable Baby Bed & Baby Travel Bed in 2023 (Newborn to 3 Years Old)

Top 5 picks.

• Lightweight and compact, with its own easy to carry bag.
• Easy to setup and takedown quickly.
• Sturdy construction that sits well, without tipping or wobbling.
• Comfy mattress that is comparable to the Guava Lotus and better than many other pack and play mattresses.
• Breathable, with mesh fabric around the sides to allow airflow.
• From a known brand with a strong history of safety and quality.
• Machine washable, including the mattress cover.
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified textiles.
• Durable carry bag with heavy duty zippers and straps
• Carrying case converts to a backpack, giving you another way to carry it when you're at the airport or transferring locations in country
• Side zipper door is great for babies who fall asleep in their parents arms or strollers, and need easy access to be transferred to their travel crib without (hopefully) waking up
• Comfy mattress for baby (a waterproof mattress, at that!) with low VOCs
• Very lightweight, weighing in at only 15 pounds (including travel bag), and manageable for many adults to carry it
• Extremely fast set-up, on par with the BabyBjorn travel crib
• 360 degree mesh sides ensure excellent airflow, a huge plus in hot destinations
• Free from harmful chemicals and materials, including no PVC, fire retardant chemicals, lead, phthalates, formaldehyde, arsenic, mercury, or cadmium.
• Greenguard Gold certified
• Bassinet compatible, although it comes at an extra charge
• Great resale value when you're done with it
• No upper weight limit, given that it's a floor resting mattress
• Super lightweight, just 7.5 pounds when in "cot mode" stored in the the travel bag or 11.5 pounds for all modes
• Polyurethane foam free, using a unique baby-safe air mattress
• Easy to fit in a suitcase for travel, reducing stress of possible damage when checking your travel crib
• Includes play pen and crib mode, as well as stand alone bassinet and bedside sleeper adaptation
• Oekto-Tex certified fabric
• Optional mosquito net
• Easy to open and close/collapse with only one hand needed to push open and take the down frame
• Comes with a carry bag
• Newborn attachment (bassinet) included in the Breeze Plus
• Can use both the Breeze Go and Breeze Plus from birth with newborns and as baby grows
• Included flip changer for quick diapering and clothing changes (Plus only)
• Bassinet and changer are easy to attach and detach
• Excellent quality materials and construction from a known and trusted brand
• Fire retardant free
• Mesh sides for adequate airflow and visibility
• Modern and sleek looking, with neutral colors that will look good in any space
• Lighter than most pack and plays (although not as light as a travel crib)
• Super easy way to provide a safe space for your baby when you need to put them down for a bit
• Comes with a bassinet insert, unlike most travel cribs where you have to buy the bassinet as an extra purchase
• Quality travel carrying case will stand up to abuse from airlines, and convenient when you want to store it away
• Mattress sits on a fabric panel base, not on the floor like many travel cribs
• Suitable from newborn to age two
• Convenient pop-up system sets up in seconds
• Incredibly sleek and compact, with a modern design that’s unobtrustive
• New to the market, and meets latest safety standards
• Bugaboo is a trusted and beloved brand
• Strong sustainability goals and policies from Bugaboo
• Mesh sides for increased airflow

What is a Lightweight Travel Crib or Travel Bassinet?

A lightweight travel crib or travel bassinet provides a safe, comfortable place for a child (newborn to age 2 or 3) to sleep while away from home.

The most basic of them are essentially a super lightweight and portable pack and play or bassinet. However, some also come with additional features, such as a bassinet insert for newborn babies, or a side panel that can be zipped open for easy access to little ones.

Some portable baby beds can also be used at home, in lieu of or as a bedside bassinet or bedside sleeper for the first year of life. Generally speaking, they’re well suited to families living in small spaces vs using a full crib , or for families who want a portable baby bed they can move around their home or take with them when they travel.

Different Types of Travel Cribs

Which travel crib you ultimately buy should be somewhat determined by the type of portable baby bed you need. Are you traveling across town or are you flying across the world ? Do you plan to mostly transport it in your own car? Or will you be relying on planes, trains, automobiles or ships/boats?

For an all round lightweight travel crib, my top picks are the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light and the Guava Lotus Crib – they’re ultra easy to set up and collapse again, and they pack up small enough and are light enough to actually travel with them.

If you’re planning to mostly stick local, and you simply want a portable baby bed that works for moving around your home, and then getting packed up in the car to go to the grandparents house or on a bit of a road trip, the BabyBjorn and the Lotus travel crib will work. However, I also really like the Bugaboo Stardust , Uppababy Remi , and the 4moms Breeze Go or Plus for this purpose, and they both have the added bonus of not having floor-sitting mattresses. Both are extremely easy to set up and pack away in the carry bag, and are very portable for this style of travel (in your own car), although less appropriate in my opinion if you’re flying somewhere, and even less so if you’re country-hopping or city-hopping.

Finally, there is the travel bassinet style of portable baby bed. The Bugaboo Stardust , Uppababy Remi , AeroMoov , Phil & Teds Traveller , and 4Moms Breeze Plus all come with a removable bassinet insert for newborns and young babies . The Guava Lotus has the option to purchase a travel bassinet attachment or insert.

Alternatively, you can purchase a purpose-built travel bassinet, such as the Chicco LullaGo, which works at home and when you’re away.

Why Buy a Portable Baby Bed or Baby Travel Crib?

I’ve travelled both with and without our own baby travel bed, and after both experiences, purchasing our own portable travel crib was well worth it when travelling with a baby or toddler under the age of two to three years old.

So why is it worth it to invest in your own travel crib or portable baby bed?

• It offers a familiar sleeping environment for your little one , even when you’re in unfamiliar surroundings. While I wish all kids were great travellers, in truth it comes down to a case-by-case (or kid-by-kid) basis. Anything parents or caregivers can do to make the unfamiliar more familiar when on the road or sleeping at a friend’s or family member’s house is likely to help everyone get a good night’s sleep. That includes familiar fitted sheets, their own crib (which they’ve slept in before), and the same sleep sack you use at home, plus any extras like the same white noise, if you use it.
• It reduces first come, first serve stress at hotels and resorts. Most hotels have a first come, first serve policy when it comes to borrowing baby gear on vacation. While it may work out just fine, there’s always a chance you’ll show up at the hotel, only to find they don’t have a crib or pack n play for you to borrow. Additionally, having your own baby bed means you control how well it is maintained, cleaned, etc.
• It lets you put baby to sleep immediately upon arrival . On trips when we have relied on borrowing a hotel crib, there have been times when we’ve arrived with an exhausted, screaming child only to have to wait 30 minutes to an hour before the hotel staff are able to get their baby bed to our hotel room. When we travelled with out own travel crib? Instant bedtime when we arrived.
• It’s cheaper to have your own travel crib in some countries. This isn’t applicable to all hotels, resorts, or destinations (Switzerland…cough, cough…Liechtenstein), but we’ve visited some countries where it was standard to charge €30 per night to rent a baby bed from the hotel! For a 10 day trip, that would have added up to €300. Since we were traveling with our own baby travel bed, we skipped that cost and were able to re-sell our BabyBjorn travel crib after the trip for excellent re-sale value.
• If offers more flexibility in terms of hotel vs holiday apartment rental . Since having a kid, we’ve found a holiday apartment rental often offers us more suitable amenities (a microwave, in particular) for longer stays than a hotel. The problem? Most holiday apartments don’t offer a suitable baby bed, and if they do, it’s impossible to know if it adheres to safety standards and proper maintenance. Bringing your own travel crib fixes that

Personal Experience & How We Chose The Best Travel Crib: Parent Tested Travel Cribs and Baby Travel Beds

Of the 12 best travel cribs I’ve chosen for this article, I’ve personally owned and tested 5 of them: the 4moms Breeze Go / Plus , Bugaboo Stardust , BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light , Guava Lotus Travel Crib , and the Phil & Teds Traveller travel cribs.

I have yet to personally try the KidCo PeaPod , AeroMoov Instant , Chicco Alfa Lite cot , Chicco LullaGo Bassinet , UppaBaby Remi , or Graco’s Pack ‘n Play® On The Go™ Playard . I included these recommendations solely based on my research.

12 Best Portable Baby Beds & Baby Travel Crib (Newborn to Age 3) + 1 to Avoid

Babybjorn travel crib light (best overall [tie] & best for most families).

Ratings Based on Our Testing: Portability: 9 Ease of Use: 10 Mattress Pad: 9 Quality & Durability: 10 EcoFriendly & Non Toxic: 7 Washability & Cleaning: 10

My pick for the best overall travel crib, and the best travel crib for most families and most short trips, I’ve personally tested the BabyBjorn travel crib light on a 6 country European trip, as well as in my living room.

Weighing only 11 pounds, the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light is incredibly easy to set up and put away. It conveniently folds down into a high quality carry bag that’s easy to carry and fit in small spaces (such as on trains or in taxis), and is durable enough to withstand being transported as checked luggage.

The mesh sides allow ample airflow and 360-degree visibility of your child, and there’s no maximum weight limit given it’s a floor-sitting mattress. It also uses Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified fabrics, so you know your baby isn’t sleeping on a surface with harmful chemicals. It is also fire retardant free .

The BabyBjorn fabric is also very easy to wash, and dries faster than some other travel cribs I tested, including the Guava Lotus and the Bugaboo Stardust.

Deciding between the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light vs Guava Lotus Travel crib for the best portable crib for travel was an impossible choice, and in testing they largely held their own against each other across the different testing criteria.

In truth, they’re both excellent choices, and best suited to different types of trips. Based on my experience and testing, the BabyBjorn is best suited to most vacations, whereas the Lotus Travel Crib is better suited to really off the beaten path travel. Whereas the Lotus Travel crib will also do well on most vacations (a trip to a resort, a trip to Europe, etc), the Babybjorn wouldn’t do as well on off the beaten track trips, such as 3 months backpacking around SE Asia (the Lotus is a better choice for that style of travel due to the backpack system for the travel bag).

Both would be well suited for use at home and on short trips to visit family or friends as well.

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Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib and Portable Playard (Best Overall [Tie] and Best for Off the Beaten Track Travel )

Ratings Based on Our Testing: Portability: 10 Ease of Use: 9 Mattress Pad: 9 Quality & Durability: 10 EcoFriendly & Non Toxic: 8 Washability & Cleaning: 9

Guava Family’s Lotus Travel Crib (aka the Everywhere Crib) is my other choice for best crib for traveling parents, whatever “travel” means to your family.

As with the BabyBjorn, it’s incredibly lightweight (15 pounds for the Lotus vs 13 pounds for the BabyBjorn ) and fits well in its travel bag, although I will say I had to do a bit more wrestling to get it into it’s carrying case compared with the BabyBjorn.

A standout feature of the Guava Lotus is the convertible straps on the travel case. You can either carry it with a handle or convert it to a backpack with shoulder straps, which I found comfortable enough to wear even as a very short person (I’m 5 foot tall). This makes this travel crib well suited to off the beaten track travel or budget backpacking-style trips, where you may be opting for cheaper modes of transportation and need to carry it longer distances on your own.

Other features of the Guava Lotus that the BabyBjorn doesn’t have include an optional bassinet (sold separately), which is handy if you have a newborn, and a zip down side panel. The side panel offers easy access to a newborn for nursing or sliding into the crib when asleep (when not in bassinet mode), and offers older babies the freedom to come and go from the playard during the daytime if they’re at the crawling and exploring stage.

While the Guava Lotus doesn’t use Oeko-Tex certified fabrics, it is Greenguard Gold certified (a certification that means it’s low VOC, specifically) and is also free from fire retardant chemicals.

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Phil & Teds Traveller (Lightest Travel Crib)

Ratings Based on Our Testing: Portability: 10 Ease of Use: 7 Mattress Pad: 7 Quality & Durability: 8 EcoFriendly & Non Toxic: 9 Washability & Cleaning: 7

The Phil & Teds Traveller crib is the most compact and lightest weight travel crib I’ve used, and I’m generally a fan of it, with some caveats.

Being extremely lightweight is the outstanding feature on the Traveller crib. It weighs just 7.5 pounds when it’s in “cot mode” in its travel bag – significantly less than other lightweight travel cribs such as the Guava Lotus or the BabyBjorn travel cribs . Want to bring everything in the travel bag (cot and playpen mode, bassinet mode, and bedside sleeper mode)? It’s still only 11.5 pounds, including the bag.

When we traveled with our Phil & Teds Traveller crib (we tested it over a period of 6 months while traveling through 5 countries on 8 flights, 1 road trip, and in 3 Airbnbs and 2 hotels, as well as at home), we put it in our suitcase rather than carrying it separately.

With the different “modes,” the Traveller is also the most versatile of portable baby beds. It includes a standalone bassinet, an adapted bassinet that lets you use it as a bedside bassinet sleeper, a cot, and a playpen with side zipper door for older toddlers.

While the weight and the versatility are highlights of this product, it comes with a trade-off in terms of ease of use and mattress comfort. It sets up with a tent pole type system, so isn’t as fast to put together or take down as the others on this list. It also uses a self-inflatable mattress, which worked well for us when travelling with an under-1, but some parents feel it’s too firm for older babies/toddlers (our daughter always seemed to have a comfortable sleep on it for what it’s worth).

The Phil & Teds uses Oekto-Tex certified fabric, and doesn’t have a polyurethane foam mattress, which is quite unique among travel cribs and pack and plays. Unlike many of the other travel beds on this list, Phil & Teds makes an optional mosquito net available to purchase – great if you’re heading somewhere where malaria, zika, or dengue fever is a concern.

4moms Breeze Go (Best for Trips Across Town and Road Trips)

Ratings Based on Our Testing: Portability: 6 Ease of Use: 10 Mattress Pad: 9 Quality & Durability: 10 EcoFriendly & Non Toxic: 7 Washability & Cleaning: 6

The BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light , Guava Lotus Travel Crib , and Phil & Teds Traveller are all well-suited to going on a proper vacation by airplane.

The 4moms Breeze Go isn’t particularly well-suited to a vacation requiring air travel, but it’s a great portable baby bed to use closer to home, moving around your own home or throwing it in your car for an interstate road trip or trip across town to visit friends or family.

The 4moms Breeze has two models: the Go and the Plus . The Go and Plus are built on the same sturdy frame, but the Go is simply a playard without accessories and add-ons, and the Plus comes with a bassinet and changing table attachment.

The big highlight of the 4moms Breeze is how easy the frame is to set up and take down. I can do both in seconds. It has mesh sides for airflow and visibility, is fairly lightweight (23 pounds) as far as proper pack and plays go (vs lightweight travel cribs) and fits well in the storage bag.

In my opinion, the extra weight for the Breeze (23 pounds) vs the Phil & Teds (7.5 pounds) or BabyBjorn (13 pounds) makes the Breeze less suitable for a vacation where you’re flying, or need to hop from city to city or country to country. The travel bag itself isn’t particularly durable or suited to being checked as luggage (my old Breeze was checked on a short flight to LA, and got quite ripped in transit).

However, as far as true pack and plays are concerned, it’s quite light and it is so so easy to use. I think this is a great portable crib for moving around your house or throwing in your car to visit a friend or family member on holiday, and it’s something you’ll use at home and on the road, making it great value.

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Bugaboo Stardust Travel Crib (Best for Small Spaces)

Ratings Based on Our Testing: Portability: 7 Ease of Use: 10 Mattress Pad: 9 Quality & Durability: 10 EcoFriendly & Non Toxic: 8 Washability & Cleaning: 9

Another incredibly easy to open and fold pack and play, the Bugaboo Stardust has a narrower footprint than many travel cribs and pack and plays, making it a great option if you need to use it in a smaller space, such as small apartment, hotel room, or tiny house.

At 25″ wide, it’s the narrowest among my top choices for the best baby beds for travel by at least 5″. It’s also shorter at just 38.8″ long.

In addition to being incredibly easy to use and taking up a small footprint, the Bugaboo Stardust is sleek and looks great.

As with the 4moms Breeze , I don’t think the Bugaboo Stardust is particularly well suited as a baby travel bed for airplane travel, based on my testing and experience with it.

The travel bag is quite large, and the sum of the dimensions suggest it wouldn’t qualify as standard size luggage for most US carriers (note: airlines are often gracious with new parents with stuff like baby travel beds and other gear, but you’ll never know if that will be the case until you arrive at the airport and speak to a gate agent).

This is also a difficult travel bed to use for shorter parents. I am 5 foot tall, and can’t reach the playard floor when I bend over my Stardust. Further, the travel bag is challenging to carry due to my height, as it drags on the floor unless I hoist it up and keep my elbow bent, which isn’t comfortable for too long.

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KidCo PeaPod Prestige (Best for Camping)

Weighing in at just 2.6 pounds, KidCo’s PeaPod Prestige offers an alternative to a travel crib. Functioning more like a pop up tent, the Prestige is a new addition to KidCo’s PeaPod lineup of products, designed to offer your little one at little more space and head room.

KidCo markets the PeaPod as an indoor/outdoor baby bed, and as such it has some smart features that you might want to use when camping or using outdoors. For one, it’s fully enclosed, with the mesh sides allowing for the usual air flow and visibility, as well as keeping bugs out. The fabric also offers some UV protection.

There’s also a sun shade system , which you can roll up out of the way and lock in place with straps that close using a snap-like system using magnets.

On the plus side, however, it’s incredibly lightweight and fits in a suitcase while stored in it’s own storage bag. I also like how the mattress pad actually sits under the pod, so there’s no loose fabric inside the pod itself.

On the downside, the PeaPod isn’t designed for use with a newborn: KidCo lists the age range from 6 months to 4 years old (on their website) or 1 year to 4 years (on one of their videos about the product).

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AeroMoov Instant Travel Cot (Alternative #1)

Another pop up style travel cot, the Aeromoov Instant opens instantly (as the name would suggest), similar to how the PeaPod opens. More importantly? It closes easily, too.

Weighing in at just around 5kg (~ 11 pounds), it’s not the absolute lightest, but the ease of use is high. It also comes with a bassinet mode, which zips in at a higher level for easier access to the youngest babies up to 6kg (13 pounds).

One thing I love about the AeroMoov is they sell optional accessories including a sun shade and mosquito net. Most pack and play manufacturers advise parents not to use third party accessories with their products, as they may not be safe. However, they then don’t make the accessories parents want, such as mosquito nets and sun shades. That’s not the case with AeroMoov, since they actually make and sell a number of practical accessories.

The AeroMoov also folds away into a travel case with shoulder strap, making it easy to transport. I unfortunately have yet to try this one myself, so I can’t comment on how easy it is to carry or transport.

Overall, the AeroMoov looks like an awesome travel crib, and I expect I’ll rate it quite highly when I have a chance to try it in person. As I haven’t personally tested it yet, it’s in my “alternatives” section for now.

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Chicco Alfa Light Lightweight Travel Crib (Alternative #2)

This is another travel crib I’ve yet to try myself, but would really like to test out, as it has some great features lacking on alternative products.

Most interestingly, the mattress pad on this crib has a removable, washable cover that comes with when you purchase it. This is lacking in most of the other products on the market, which means the mattresses can stain quite easily over time, and get generally pretty gross if you’re not diligent about cleaning your playard .

It also has a zip-open side, similar to the Phil & Teds and Guava Lotus .

In terms of portability, the travel bag on this crib looks quite lightweight, similar to the 4moms Breeze carrying bag. I’d hesitate to send it as checked luggage on an airplane without an additional, heavier duty bag to protect it from rips and punctures.

Weighing in at 13 pounds, it’s comparable to similar lightweight baby travel beds. Finally, it has Greenguard certification (Gold), which I always appreciate.

Chicco LullaGo Travel Bassinet (Alternative #4)

The Chicco LullaGo portable bassinet is a great option for the youngest babies, and is something you can use at home, and then take to go if you travel to a grandparent’s house or hotel. The carry bag seems too lightweight to use for checked luggage, and I’d suggest this product is best for mostly using at home, with occasional travel. Greenguard Gold certified.

Uppababy Remi (Alternative #5)

Uppababy is one of the leaders in making non toxic baby gear, and the Remi is a great option if you’re looking for a non toxic play yard for home and travel.

Like the Phil & Teds Traveller , the Remi avoid polyurethane foam mattress with a foam-free air mattress that is washable and comes with an organic cotton cover. It’s also Greenguard Gold certified.

Included in the Remi is a zip-on bassinet, and the play yard also has a size zip door similar to the Phil & Teds and the Guava Family Lotus , making this a great option for all ages and stages (until they outgrow it and it’s time to stop using a pack and play).

In terms of portability and traveling with it, Uppababy sells a travel safebag for the Remi. If you buy and use the bag while traveling, Uppababy will cover any damage caused by the airlines while in transit via their TravelSafe program (you have to register your trip in advance).

At 20 pounds, it’s certainly not the lightest travel crib. And I wouldn’t take this with me on a round the world trip, or even country hopping through Europe. However, for a multi-use pack and play that you can use at home, and confidently check with an airline (via the Travel Safe program) on an occasional trip? I think it’s a great option!

Graco® Pack ‘n Play® On The Go™ Playard (Alternative #6)

Graco’s Pack ‘n Play® On The Go™ Playard is another solid option for using mostly at home, and taking on the occasional trip. Weighing just over 21 pounds, and with a carry bag that doesn’t appear to be heavy duty, I’d recommend this for road trips rather than airplane trips. However, the price is enticing, especially if you’re only taking 1 or 2 trips per year.

Which One Don’t I Recommend? The Dream on Me Travel Light Playard (Alternative #3)

At first glance, the Dream on Me Travel Light Playard looks like a more affordable version of the BabyBjorn travel crib . In fact, it looks pretty much the same to a casual observer, and it’d be quite easy to buy this product, thinking you’ve scored a deal.

Unfortunately, the Dream on Me Travel Light Playard isn’t intended for sleeping. It’s only meant to be used for play, making it an extra piece of luggage to take on your trip – and you still need to find somewhere safe for your baby to sleep.

In my view, parents are better off purchasing one product that can be used for play and sleep, which is why I don’t recommend the Dream on Me Travel Light as a travel crib (since…it isn’t actually a travel crib!).

Things to Consider When Shopping for Travel Cribs

Portability when travelling.

In theory, bringing your own portable baby bed or portable crib will make your life easier when you’re on vacation. In actuality, not all travel cribs are super convenient to transport.

Important criteria include the size and weight of the travel crib, whether if fits in carry-on luggage or standard-sized checked luggage, and how well designed the carry bag is for parents of different sizes and shapes.

My top pick for portability when traveling is the Guava Lotus travel crib , followed closely by the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light . The Phil & Teds Traveller scores better on portability than either the Guava Lotus or the BabyBjorn, so if you really need light and compact, consider the Phil & Teds. However, I prefer the Guava and BabyBjorn due to the fact that they score better overall on other criteria.

Ease of Use

Ease of use includes how easy it is to setup and fold down, how well it can be put away back into its carry bag.

My top picks for ease of use are the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light and the 4Moms Breeze Go / Plus . The Bugaboo Stardust and Guava Lotus are both close followers – they are super easy to set up and tear down, but require a bit more wrestling to get back into the travel bag.

I think there are some others on my alternatives list that would likely score high on ease of use, based on my research. Namely, the PeaPod , AeroMoov , and Chicco Alfa all look quite easy to use. However, as I haven’t personally tried them I can’t confirm or offer a direct comparison to the 5 products I do have personal experience with.

I will, however, caution particularly short parents against getting the Stardust. I am 5-foot tall, and struggle to bend over my Stardust play yard and reach the play pen floor. I think it’s an excellent choice for average height and tall adults to use, but for us petite-in-height parents, it’s not the best choice based on my personal experience.

Mattress Comfort

Believe it or not, pack and play mattress pads are supposed to be firm, just as a baby’s crib mattress needs to be firm , especially during that first year. However, pack and play mattresses are firm and quite thin, leading some parents to wonder whether they can make their pack and play pad more comfortable .

Don’t do this! They are meant to be thin for safety, and you shouldn’t add any additional padding into the pack and play. You also shouldn’t replace the original mattress that comes from the manufacturer with a different one, and you should only use pack and play sheets meant for your model, sold by the same manufacturer (not normal crib sheets !).

Of my top 5 best travel cribs, all of them have fairly comparable mattresses in terms of comfort based on a side by side comparison, except for the Phil & Teds Traveller (which is firmer than the others, being an air mattress).

The BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light , Guava Family Lotus Crib , Bugaboo Stardust , and 4Moms Breeze Go / Plus all have fairly comparable mattresses from a comfort point of view.

Washability and Dry Time

Dry time is important with a travel crib or other portable baby bed, because it’s likely your only safe option for baby sleep when you’re in a different place. If your baby has a vomit explosion (as mine often did when traveling) or a diaper disaster, you might want to give the whole thing a wash, and give it time to dry, before the next nap.

I tested washing and dry time on some of the most popular travel cribs, and found the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light offers the shortest dry time when compared to the Guava Lotus and Bugaboo Stardust . All 3 washed well, but the BabyBjorn dried faster than the others I tested: important when it’s time to get baby back in the bed for nap time!

Non Toxic and Eco Friendly Travel Cribs

It’s always my preference to purchase baby gear that is free from harmful chemicals such as PFAS chemicals, fire retardants, VOCs from polyurethane foam, and others.

Some of the travel cribs I’ve included on this list fit the bill, and others don’t. When one of the baby beds listed has notable features in terms of being non-toxic or eco-friendlier, I’ve pointed it out in the description.

Of note, the BabyBjorn travel playard uses Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified fabrics, and the Lotus travel crib is Greenguard Gold certified. The Bugaboo Stardust follows the EU’s REACH standards, and Bugaboo has a well-thought out sustainability program and is doing important work in its push to become carbon neutral.

Both the Phil & Teds Traveller and the UppaBaby Remi avoid polyurethane foam mattresses by using baby-safe air mattresses.

Bed Size and Weight Limit / Age Range

Most play yards top out at a consistent weight limit, around 30 pounds . However, some of the floor-sitting mattresses (BabyBjorn, Guava, Phil & Teds) don’t have an upper weight limit.

In my personal experience, your child is likely to age out of using these portable baby beds before they hit the weight limit. They’re more likely to get too tall, or start trying to climb out of the crib , making it unsafe to use. Once your little one is consistently standing in their pack and play , you’ll need to pay close attention to ensure it’s still safe to use, and consult your user manual.

Travel Bed Safety Guidelines

• Always check with your user manual and the manufacturer to ensure the pack and play is rated for sleep in the country you buy it in. I’ve done my best to ensure the information above is correct, but things can change, and you should check before letting your baby sleep in it.
• When you purchase a new travel crib or portable bed for baby sleep, register the product with the manufacturer to ensure you’ll be notified if there are future recalls. While I don’t recommend purchasing used, if you do, check the recall list beforehand.
• Follow all safe sleep guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics while using a travel crib or portable bed for baby.
• Consult your user manual or instruction manual for safety guidelines, including correct usage, when to discontinue use, and how to ensure safe use.
• Set it up away from windows, loose cords (such as those used in hotels for blinds and curtains), electrical cords and tripping hazards, heat sources, etc.
• Be sure you understand whether your model is safe for supervised sleep (i.e. during the daytime when an adult is awake) or overnight sleep (i.e. the adult is asleep).

A baby needs a safe sleep environment for every sleep, including a firm mattress, and its own place that is approved for overnight sleep. A travel crib or travel bassinet approved for overnight sleep is a suitable option for traveling families.

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Travel Crib Tips for Safe Sleep Away From Home

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What is a travel crib, are travel cribs safe, what should i look for when buying a travel crib, is it okay to buy a used travel crib, how can i help my baby sleep in a travel crib, can you travel with snoo.

Whether you’re heading to a long-awaited vacation, visiting family, or you simply need an extra sleep space in your home, travel cribs are a must-have item for many parents. But before you buy the trendiest travel crib—or borrow a nearly-ancient play yard—you’ll want to make sure it’s as safe and functional as it can be. Here’s what parents should look for when buying a travel crib.

A travel crib is another name for a portable crib. Travel cribs are compact, lightweight, and especially designed for easy transport. Sometimes “play yard” and “travel crib” are used interchangeably, but they’re not always the same. For example, play yards tend to feature mesh sides or another non-rigid construction. While travel cribs can mimic that, some portable cribs are wood and foldable. Generally, travel cribs and play yards can be used from birth to age 3.

Yes. Fortunately, the safety standards for travel cribs were upgraded over 10 years ago, so models currently sold in America have passed rigorous stability, entrapment, and structural integrity tests. (The same is true for play yards .) But for even more peace of mind, I recommend looking for travel cribs or play yards with a JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certification, which means they are checked annually to prove they meet or exceed all safety standards for infant products. Of course, it’s imperative to use travel cribs safely , which means always…

Place your baby on the back. All babies under a year old should be put on their back for all naps and night sleep.

Make sure the travel crib is empty. Keep the travel crib free of all loose bedding , pillows, loungers, and stuffed toys.

Use the proper mattress. Only use the play yard mattress provided by the manufacturer—and never double up or add a soft topper. Remember, your baby’s mattress needs to be firm, whether they’re snoozing in a full-size crib, a bassinet, or a travel crib!

Only use a well-fitted sheet. Portable crib fitted sheets need to be tucked under the mattress, so the sheet can’t snap up and become a suffocation risk.

Keep the sides up: Never leave a baby in a mesh play yard with the side lowered or your little one could get trapped between the side and the floorboard.

Remove the changing table. If your play yard features a raised changing table, remove it when your child is in the play yard so they don’t risk entrapment .

Know when to retire your travel crib. Discontinue using the play yard or travel crib when your little one can easily climb out.

While safety, of course, is number one, there are other points to consider when buying a travel crib, such as:

Sturdiness: If you’re able, test out the travel crib before buying. You’ll want to feel first-hand how sturdy it is. Does it feel a bit wobbly when you press on the top? If so, choose another.

Functionality: Buying a play yard for an infant? Look for one with a bassinet feature where you detach the mattress from the bottom and safely raise it up so you can more easily lift your baby in and out of the crib. At the same time, you’ll want to make sure your portable crib has enough space for a toddler to rest and play comfortably when it’s time to lower the mattress.

Size and weight: For many, the point of a portable crib is to be able to travel with it, so be sure it’s easy to fold and carry. If you’re a frequent flier, you also want a travel crib that’s small enough to meet airline size requirements— and light enough to lug through the airport!

Weight limit: While travel cribs with mattresses at floor-level might not have a weight limit, most other travel cribs/play yards have a recommended weight max of around 25 to 30 pounds. Either way, it’s always smart to double check.

Ease of use: The last thing you want to do when you arrive at your destination with a cranky baby is take 10 minutes to assemble the travel crib! For example, look for play yards that unfold at the push of a button…and lock into place easily.

Maintenance: Many portable cribs feature removable, machine-washable fabric that can be a gamechanger when dealing with diaper blowouts and other unexpected oopsies.

While it may be tempting to borrow a travel crib or a play yard—or buy one used—proceed with caution. Nearly two million play yards have been recalled before new federal safety standards were put into place in 2013, so anything older could be dangerous. Plus, it wasn’t until 2022 that replacement mattresses used in play yards and portable cribs were required to meet the same safety requirements as the original mattress! Before then, babies were at risk for getting trapped and suffocating in a gap between the mattress and the side of the play yard.

As a pediatrician, I lean toward buying new so you know for-sure your travel yard isn’t missing any parts and meets the most recent safety standards. But I also know that buying new can be hard for some families. So, if you are buying a secondhand travel crib or are borrowing one, keep the following in mind:

Look for important numbers. If the travel crib is missing a label that includes the manufacturing date (or lot code) and manufacturer’s contact info, don’t buy it .

Check for recalls. Found the label with all the travel crib’s manufacturing info? Great. Now check to see if it’s been recalled .

Inspect for damage. Make sure the mesh of the play yard and the top rails are free of tears, holes, or loose threads . Check for missing or loose parts and ensure the travel crib is fitted with the manufacturer’s original mattress.

If you know ahead of time that your baby will be snoozing in a play yard or travel crib during a trip, arrange to have them sleep in one at home first. The more familiarity the better! Speaking of familiarity, recreating your baby’s sleep surroundings is key, too. That means, dim the lights about 30 minutes before night-night, play the same white noise your little one loves, and wrap your baby in the same sleep sack or swaddle they’re used to. If your baby has been sleeping in SNOO and swaddled in a SNOO Sack , use SNOObie or SNOObear to recreate SNOO’s white noise—and use the Sleepea 5-Second Swaddle in the travel crib. Sleepea is the exact same expert design as the award-winning SNOO Sack, minus the “wings” that secure SNOO sleepers into the bassinet.

If your baby has been blissfully sleeping in SNOO , you may be wondering if SNOO is portable. While SNOO is not a travel crib, many SNOO users do travel with their beloved bassinet! If you’re considering traveling with SNOO, know that, when packed and reboxed , your SNOO will take up about 8 cubic feet in your trunk. At the same time, SNOO can likely be checked as oversized luggage on your flight. (Call ahead!) But if packing and traveling with SNOO is impossible, don’t worry! Babies tend to sleep okay on trips without their SNOO…as long as:

Your stay is under one week.

Your baby has slept well in SNOO for one to two months.

You continue to swaddle your baby .

You use a strong white noise machine while away.

More on Baby Travel:

• How to Help Children With Jet Lag
• Dr. Harvey Karp on Stress-Free Flying With a Baby
• Sleep Tips for Holiday Travel
• Help Your Baby Sleep in Any Hotel Room
• Travel Toys to Occupy Tots on the Go
• How to Handle Travel Nightmares When Flying With Kids
• United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs Business Guidance & Small Entity Compliance Guide
• CPSC: Play Yards Business Guidance & Small Entity Compliance Guide
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Playpen Safety
• Kids in Danger: Product Hazards – Play Yards
• Safety Standard for Crib Mattresses. Federal Register . February 2022
• Consumer Reports: Is It Safe to Buy a Used Car Seat, Stroller, or Crib for Your Baby?

About Dr. Harvey Karp

Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block . His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.

View more posts tagged, sleep

Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Submit your questions here.

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

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In the 48 contiguous United States, customers will be charged $59.50 + tax for the shipment of SNOO back to Happiest Baby. Added charges will apply for shipping to and from Alaska and Hawaii.

* An additional $185 shipping fee will be applied to SNOO purchases sent to Hawaii and Alaska.

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The Best Travel Strollers for Your Summer Adventures

I love travel strollers. I test strollers as a part of my job , but whenever I'm not testing something new, I switch to these fantastic, lightweight strollers, even if I'm not traveling! They've become my go-to everyday strollers since my kid turned 1 and could face forward on our walks. They're quick to fold and easy to throw in the trunk of my small sedan, and I can carry 'em with one hand while balancing my kid and unlocking the door with the other. They're great for actual travel too. Whether you're on a road trip or a plane ride, these lightweight travel strollers are the ones I love most after weeks of testing.

Be sure to get our tips on how to buy a stroller first. If you're curious about more parenting gear, check out our related guides, including the Best Baby Monitors , Best Breast Pumps , Best Baby Gear , and Best Strollers .

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Best Overall

No stroller is as easy to fold as the Nuna TRVL . Just the other day a fellow mom asked me what stroller it was, saying she'd never seen a stroller fold like that before. The 14.6-pound Nuna quickly folds forward onto itself into an upright position, sticking the belly bar in the air for you to grab and go, whether you're in the airport or piling into the car after a day at the zoo. It comes with a travel bag, which you can stuff into the lower storage basket and then use when checking the stroller onto a plane. Speaking of, the storage basket’s sides are a little low, but it was a perfect size to fit my favorite diaper bags .

I really love this stroller for the hand fold. I used to live in an apartment with a staircase between me and the rest of the world (my car! the street! any useable sidewalks!) and having a lightweight, easy-to-fold stroller made getting out of the house or coming home from a walk so much easier. For my next little one, I'm buying Nuna's car seat and using this system from day one, since Nuna's TRVL line is compatible with its car seats . It offers a smooth ride even with the lightweight frame, though you do have to look out for big bumps on the sidewalk.

13.6 pounds without handlebar, 14.6 with the handlebar. Comes with a travel bag.

Best Budget Travel Stroller

The Zoe Tour V2 stroller has a lot of what I like about the Nuna, with a slightly worse fold and not as nice of a finished folding position. But it's $200 cheaper! It also comes with cup holders for both parent and baby, and even a little snack bowl for my kid (these are so often extra upgrades you have to pay for on other strollers). You do have to choose either the belly bar or the kid cup and snack holders—you can't have both. The belly bar is handy to lift the stroller with when folded.

The Tour V2 looks nice, though the materials feel a little rough and the build doesn't feel as sturdy. But the seat was still plenty comfy for my kid, and this compact stroller was easy to maneuver around. It's the lightest stroller I have tested and recommend, though the difference isn't that noticeable compared to other strollers that weigh between 13 to 15 pounds. You can also buy car seat adapters from Zoe to make the Tour V2 compatible with car seats from Graco, Chicco, Nuna, and others.

13.4 pounds. Comes with a parent drink holder, baby drink holder, and baby snack bowl.

Best Carry-On Stroller

Most planes will make you check your stroller at the gate. The ones that won't require a stroller within carry-on dimensions; many travel strollers fold too long and wide to fit perfectly. But the Silver Cross Jet 5's folded position looks like a piece of luggage, folding down to 10 x 14.5 x 24.5 inches with a handle sticking straight up like on a traditional carry-on. You can lug it around like luggage when folded, which is super handy when you let your toddler run wild so they nap on the plane. It has a cover to make it look more suitcase-like too. It's still a few inches larger than carry-on luggage—most airlines are looking for 8 or 9 inches by 15 and 22 inches for overhead bin luggage—but the Jet 5 might honestly pass for a carry-on when you wheel it past the flight attendant. You'll need to pop the handle off to fit it in the overhead compartment, which is easy to do.

The build materials are fantastic and the stroller is sturdy, but I did find this one more challenging to unfold than any other stroller I've tested. You have to snap the supports together and while they have handles, my small hands struggled to snap them into place while holding the stroller up. It's easier with two people, but even my husband found it difficult. There’s a seat that reclines into a bassinet-like mode with an included piece of fabric to keep the baby in place, but it didn’t feel secure enough for me to want to use with a newborn.

15.9 pounds. Comes with a travel cover and rain cover.

Best for Infant Travel

Any trip you're taking with an infant will require a car seat. That's true for road trips, air travel, quick Ubers from your hotel, or even just going home to the hospital (baby's first big trip home!). So why deal with a stroller and a car seat when you can have two in one? The Doona Car Seat & Stroller had me kicking myself that I didn't try it sooner. I was so stressed out trying to make a car seat and stroller pair on a budget, and I should have just bought this all-in-one for the early days and then bought a real travel stroller when my kid grew out of it. Another idea for kid number two!

The Doona is 17 pounds, which isn't light once the baby is in there, but it doesn't feel too heavy. It's easy to switch from stroller to car seat mode once you get the motion down to click the legs back up or out again. The Doona's seat and handle are a little low compared to normal strollers, so tall parents might not like it as much, but it's a great pick to go from car to airport to plane and back again without needing more than one gadget. Just remember—infants can't be in a car seat for more than two hours at a time.

17 pounds. Comes with a car seat base.

Best for Taller Kids

The Bugaboo Butterfly is like the Nuna TRVL with a similarly easy fold, but the seat is a little taller and my 70th-percentile-height 2-year-old has plenty of headroom when he's sitting in it (and room to grow into it too). I like that the extendable canopy is larger, giving my son better coverage when we're on a day trip to the zoo or walking around the park on a sunny afternoon. My kid doesn't like to wear hats, so I'm dependent on my stroller's canopy to protect his poor little head. The Bugaboo's frame doesn't feel as sturdy as the Nuna TRVL though.

It has a slightly shorter, more compact fold than Nuna's strollers, almost perfectly hitting carry-on luggage size. It's still a little wide— 17 inches when carry-on luggage usually can only be 14—but it has a better shot than most other strollers. It's rated to be IATA (International Air Transport Association) compatible, so it should fit in most overhead compartments. Bugaboo also has adapters to make this stroller work with popular infant car seats from Maxi Cosi, Graco, Cybex, and others. The Butterfly has a carry strap rather than a handle when folded, which is fine but not quite as convenient to grab—it often got stuck inside the stroller for me. You can also grab the handle but avoid the center button.

16 pounds. Comes with a rain cover.

★ Easier fold, smaller canopy: The Nuna TRVL LX ($550) also has more headspace for bigger kids like the Bugaboo Butterfly. The Nuna has a softer seat and I find the fold a little easier , but the Bugaboo offers a better canopy and is slightly more compact.

A City Stroller I'd Travel With

This is not a travel stroller. The Thule Shine ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) is a city stroller, meaning it's a little more compact than your usual everyday stroller, but still has all the capabilities of a full-size stroller. It has a toddler seat that can face both inward and outward and works with third-party car seats with adapters (sold separately).

That said, I like it for travel since it's much smaller than other traditional strollers, like the Uppababy Vista V2 or the Nuna Mixx Next, while still packing similar features. Thanks to the adjustable handlebar, it wasn't too short for my 6'3" dad, and it folds compact enough to almost pass for a travel stroller. It's super easy for city strolling thanks to its slim size and would be a fun stroller to bring on a longer trip where you'll be walking a lot. I'd happily tote it around Europe for a few weeks if I ever get the guts to take my kid on such a long flight. You'll have to check the Thule Shine and it doesn't come with a travel bag, but Thule sells one ($80) . Thule also has a rider board ($130) for older children to hop onto, letting this stroller easily transform into a double stroller. The rider board can get in the way when folding, but it's easy to remove when you aren't using it.

21.6 pounds. Comes with a rain cover.

Honorable Mentions

There are a lot of strollers out there. Here are a few more I like but aren't my top recommendations for one reason or another.

Joovy Kooper for $200 : This stroller is the cheapest I've tested, and I like that it comes with a full snack tray—something you won't find in almost any other travel stroller. It folds down flat rather than upright.

Colugo The One for $395 : This is a fine stroller with similar features to the above picks, but I like the Zoe Tour V2 better for the price, or I'd rather pay $50 more for the Nuna TRVL. That said, Colugo has great stroller accessories I've used with non-Colugo strollers.

Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 for $430 : This is another city stroller like the Thule Shine, but its nearly flat fold reminds me of a travel stroller. It comes with a car seat attachment that works with many popular car seat makers, so it's a great pick if you want something to work with a car seat right away and still has a great, lightweight fold. It has fantastic wheel suspension, similar to a jogging stroller but with much smaller wheels.

Thule Spring for $400 : This stroller reminded me of the Baby Jogger with its three-wheel design and nice suspension, but folds a lot taller and thicker. It does stand up on its own if you put the handle at a middle height, which is nice. It's touted as a compact stroller for a reason—it's not lightweight or travel-friendly like our other picks. But it still has a nice size and handling if you want something more compact for everyday use.

What to Look for in a Travel Stroller

Shopping for a stroller can be intense. They're not a small investment, and you want them to last until your kid grows out of them (usually once they hit 50 to 55 pounds). If you're trying to pick a travel stroller in a pinch, or are feeling overwhelmed by the options, here are some guidelines that can help.

• Is there a five-point harness? Five-point harnesses are the standard for securing your baby in the stroller via the straps. Every pick we recommend above has one. This is a feature you want and should be included.
• Do you need car seat compatibility? If you're traveling with an infant, you'll either need a bassinet mode or the ability to connect your car seat to the stroller. You can DIY a travel system by pairing any stroller with a compatible car seat. Many strollers we recommend have car seat attachments you can buy that work with popular brands, but some aren't so flexible. (Uppababy's car seats only work with its strollers.)
• Do you want a travel pram? A travel pram or bassinet is the lie-down flat mode that allows newborns to lie on their back while you walk. It's a nice mix-up from always being in a car seat—especially since infants can't stay in a car seat for more than two hours at a time. I haven't liked most bassinet modes I've tried on travel strollers since they feel a little flimsy and not as secure as I'd want an infant to be, but we're testing more soon and will update this guide with more recommendations.
• Are these umbrella strollers? There's a mixed category of strollers sometimes called lightweight, travel, or even umbrella strollers. Umbrella strollers are less popular and are known for their rounded umbrella-like handle. This guide focuses on more general travel strollers, but we plan to test a few of these.
• Do you need a double stroller? If you have two kids, you might be wondering if you're screwed. You're not! If I had two kids, I'd get a stroller I can add a rider board to, like the Thule Shine (if one of my kids is old enough to ride it). If not, the Zoe Twin V2 ($530) is a double stroller version of the Tour V2, and is a great price for two kids (and can still use Zoe's infant car seat attachment).
• Can you bring it on the plane? Many major airlines, like American Airlines and British Airways, require you to gate-check strollers, which means you can still use them at the airport, but can't put them in overhead space. Some airlines like United, Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic allow a travel stroller (often called a “collapsible stroller”) as carry-on luggage as long as it fits the size requirements of carry-on luggage, which is usually around 8 x 14 x 22 inches. None of the travel strollers I've tested so far fit into these size constraints, but the Bugaboo Butterfly and Silver Cross Jet 5 have a compact size when folded that gets closer than most (as long as you remove the Jet 5's handle, that is).

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