Best Baby Travel Cribs to Take On Your Next Trip

Travel Cribs are not all created equal. Gone are the days when the Graco Pack N’ Play was your only portable crib option. Companies seem to be popping up left and right that make traveling with a baby easier than ever. Are all cribs created equal? No. So what do you need to look for?

• Weight
• Safety
• Material
• Comfort
• How long can you use it?
• Do you need to check it?

I’ve tried countless cribs, or at least it feels like it. At one time I owned three travel cribs. How is that even possible? Well, they just kept getting better and easier to travel with. Thankfully I was able to sell a few and get some cash back, but still. Figure out what you want in a crib before you buy and just stick with it.

BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light

The BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light went to China (twice) with us back in 2010 and 2011. I loved the thick mattress and easy to open construction. It packed up like a suitcase, which we could check on the plane, and it wasn’t too heavy. This is by far the most comfortable travel crib I have ever seen.

• Price:$239.99
• Age:newborn to age 3
• Safety: meets global safety standards. All textiles closest to the baby have been tested and approved in accordance with Oeko-Tex Standard 100, class 1.
• Specs: 
  • Unpacked: 32 x 44 x 24 in
  • Packed: 19 x 24 x 6 in
  • Weight: 13 lbs
• Colors: Black or Silver
• Machine Washable? Yes. 
• Sheet included?No, not unless you get a combo package
• Checked baggage fee? Yes. It is too big to carry on the plane.

Phil & Ted Portable Traveller crib

The Phil & Ted Traveller came on the market after we returned from our trips to China and Japan. It quickly became my favorite crib to travel with especially when I was traveling alone with my boys and had only so many arms to carry things. The Traveller can fit in an overhead compartment of a plane and it can fit in a car seat bag with your car seat. Most airline agents won’t bat an eye, but a few will make you take it out. Some airline agents will actually check the crib separately for free.

This crib does not set up as quickly as the instructions say they will, but it is narrower than the BABYBJORN travel crib, which makes it easier to set up in small hotel rooms and tight spaces.

• Price: $199.99
• Age: newborn to age 3 (max. weight 75lbs)
• Safety: Globally safety certified including Okeo-tex certified sheet
• Specs:

• Unpacked: 51″ x 25″ x 31″
• Packed: 24 x 8.6 x 8.6″
• Weight: 7lbs/

• Colors: Black or Silver
• Machine Washable? Yes.
• Sheet included? No.
• Checked baggage fee? No. Can fit in overhead storage on a plane or in another bag.

If you like the shape of this crib, you may also like these similarly designed brands that are now on the market.

• KidCo Travelpod Portable Bed
• Fisher-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard (comes with a changing station and incline sleeper for infants)
• Delta Children Viaggi Playard

Lotus Everywhere Crib

I never got the chance to try out the Lotus Everywhere Crib created by Guava Family before my boys got too big, but I have friends who swear by it. They love that the crib folds into a backpack so they can keep their hands free for other things. Guava family used to offer a similar crib with an inflatable mattress. Unfortunately that mattress was prone to getting holes in it, so they switched it out for a different mattress, which makes it very similar to the Phil & Ted Traveller; it just packs up differently.

I do love that safety is also a big priority for this brand. According to the website, “The Lotus Everywhere Crib has been thoroughly tested for chemical emissions and is certified to the GREENGUARD GOLD standard, making it the only travel crib in the world to have received this rigorous certification.” They also make a Lotus Bassinet for babies.

• Price: $204.00
• Age: newborn to age 3
• Safety: certified to the GREENGUARD GOLD standard
• Specs:

• Unpacked: 45x32x25”
• Packed: 24x7x11”
• Weight: 11lbs

• Colors: Black
• Machine Washable? Yes.
• Sheet included? No.
• Checked baggage fee? No. Can fit in overhead storage on a plane or in another bag.

Just for infants

If all you need is a small bassinet for your room or while you are traveling, there are four decent options on the market for you to check out. Please note that we have not used these personally, but they do come with good reviews and are brands known for their quality products.

• Phil & Teds Nest
• Summer Infant Travel Bed
• BRICA Fold N’ Go Travel Bassinet
• BabyHome Air Bassinet
• KidCo Dream Pod infant bassinet

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one of those links I will receive a small commission. All images are property of the manufacturer unless otherwise stated. All images courtesy of BabyBjorn, Phil & Ted, and Guava Family.