(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...Best Baby Travel Beds for families on the go
Are you planning a family holiday with your new baby?
One of the must have items for families on the go is a portable cot, as your baby will need a place to sleep while you are away from home.
If you are wondering which are the best available, you’ve landed in the right place. In this article, we will review the best portable bassinets on Amazon.
If you are in a hurry, check out our summary table below.
Portable Cot Reviews Summary Table
| Product Image | Product Name | Weight | No. Amazon Reviews | Star Rating | Check out on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Graco Pack 'n Play Playard | 20.3Lb or 9.2kg | 2,3900+ | [usr 4.7] | Check Out on Amazon.com |
 | Graco Pack 'n Play On The Go Playard | 21.2Lb or 9.6kg | 3,550+ | [usr 4.7] | Check Out on Amazon.com |
 | BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light | 13Lb or 5.8kg | 430+ | [usr 4.5] | Check Out on Amazon.com |
 | Lotus Travel Crib and Portable Baby Playard | 13Lb or 5.8kg | 675+ | [usr 4.6] | Check Out on Amazon.com |
 | Fisher-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard | 15Lb or 6.8kg | 350+ | [usr 4.6] | Check Out on Amazon.com |
 | Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages | 19.1Lb or 8.6kg | 900+ | [usr 4.7] | Check Out on Amazon.com |
Benefits of having the best travel crib
1. Toddler travel bed
If you are planning a trip with a small child, either infant or toddler, providing the safest portable crib possible is a must.
Before you book your holiday, make sure that the accommodation you choose, is “kids friendly”. Nowadays, some Airbnb places are listed as kids friendly but they are not. Just make sure you check.
Plus, if you don’t like the idea of your baby sleeping in any fold away crib, just bring your own.
2. Portable baby bed for camping
A portable baby bed is a great idea for any kind of travels, including camping.
Choose a camping crib that is small, lightweight and compact to ensure it fits inside your tent and takes little amount of room.
3. Occasional Sleepovers
A foldable infant bed will be useful if you are planning to leave your little baby with someone to look after him while you are out.
Make sure you pick a portable crib and playpen, which can also provide a suitable playtime space for your child, if you are leaving them at somebody else’s place.
4. Dinners away from home
Have you ever been invited for diner at a friends’ house and your baby does not have a place to sleep?
Luckily there are easy fold baby beds that can be set up and closed within seconds.
So you can be sure your baby is sleeping safely, and you can enjoy your time with friends.
5. Portable cribs for grandma’s house
If your baby is being looked after by grandma on a regular basis, it may be a good idea to get a baby travel sleeper that can be moved around at ease.
After all, your baby will be sleeping many naps at Grandma’s place. Hence, having a portable napping bed that can be used as his regular place to rest, will guarantee comfort and maintaining a routine away from home.
6. cribs for small spaces
For some families where space is sometimes an issue, choosing a small portable crib as they every day go crib for baby is a great alternative.
Some portable infant sleepers are smaller than playards and full size cribs, so you can be sure your baby will sleep safe and comfortable in his small baby bed.
Choose a crib alternative for small spaces that suit your family needs based on size, shape, ease to fold and weight.
7. Ideal as a second sleeping place
If you live at a place where you need to climb stairs to access the bedrooms, owning a mini crib can be an affordable alternative to save you some trips up and down.
Many moms who live in a two storey house, choose to have a portable toddler bed to have baby close to them during day time.
Portable Crib Reviews
Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard
The Graco Pack ‘n Play playard is a highly popular portable cot among parents, as it is reliable and offers value for money.
This portable travel bed weights 20.3Lb (9.2kg), just like an umbrella stroller; which makes it ideal to carry around. It has automatic folding feet and it totally compacts when folded. This is a good feature to consider if you have a small amount of room left in your car.
It is also a crib with wheels, a desirable feature to easily move the lightweight pack n play around once it is open.
A benefit of the Graco pack n play models is that they double as a travel playpen, for extra convenience. Plus, because it is made of strong materials, it is resistant and durable.
This is one of Graco’s best pack and play models, offering the advantage of easy assembly and close, as it features the Graco signature push-button, which makes folding it a breeze.
It includes a pack n play bag and air mesh on all sides, so it is super safe for baby.
Key features
- Light pack and play
- Compact crib
- Fold and unfold via Graco push-button
Pros
✓Resistant and durable
✓Carry crib bag included
✓Value for money
Cons
✕Graco Pack n Play mattress pad not machine washable
✕Slim mattress
Graco Pack n Play Reviews
This Graco Pack n Play newborn napper has been reviewed by over 2,300 Amazon parents, with an overall star rating of 4.7 stars.
Graco Pack n Play playard scores high in versatility, ease to assemble and fold, durability and providing convenience for travels. The Graco brand definitely offers one of the best pack n plays for sleeping.
Parents are mostly happy with the value for money the portable crib has to offer and its great quality. It is easy to assemble and disassemble, hence it is great for grandparents looking for a convenient, easy to store playard.
The fact that this folding crib comes with a carry bags, makes it highly convenient for short trips or getaways. Besides, it is lightweight and compact.
The Graco Pack and Play mattress has some room for improvement, as it is very thin. Some parents use this portable crib for toddler with the Dream On Me portable crib mattress and use the original mattress in the playard as a base.
If you choose to do this, make sure the mattress follows all safety guidelines. Any gaps can be a suffocation hazard for your baby.
A downside to this infant travel bed is that it is no possible to machine wash neither the fabrics nor pad mattress. Hence, make sure you use a mattress protector at all times.
If there are any “accidents” on the mesh walls, you will just be able to spot clean it with a damp cloth. Try not to use any harsh chemicals, as they could enter the fabric and then it can be hard to take them off.
Overall, it is a reliable portable toddler cot, worth considering if you are looking for an inexpensive option.
Graco Pack ‘n Play On The Go Playard
This is another great model designed by Graco, which comes with a few more features compared to the portable pack and play reviewed above.
The Graco Pack and Play On The Go weights a bit over 23Lb (10.4kg), so it is a bit heavier than an umbrella stroller. This portable crib has been designed for parents on the go, but it is ideal to use at home as well.
This portable travel crib has 2 levels to accommodate children of different ages.
The higher level makes a full size removable baby travel bassinet suitable for newborns. When baby is able to do push-ups or grab the side of the crib, the mattress can be lowered to make it a full size crib, for safety reasons.
This Graco play and go playard comes with a toybar, including 3 soft toys and build in pockets to keep diapers, wipes and other baby items within hand reach.
There are multiple colors available on Amazon:
Same as our previously reviewed model, this pack n go playpen comes with a carry bag, convenient to take the playard with you wherever you go.
The Graco easy fold pack n play automatic folding design makes it compact and very quick and easy to open and fold.
This version of the Graco Pack ‘n Play is ideal to use as a portable infant bed for newborns, as it has a bassinet and its frame is highly durable.
Key features
- Playard with removable bassinet included
- Graco pack n play toy bar included
- Side pockets for diapers
Pros
✓Easy to assemble
✓Good value for money
✓Good quality, durable
Cons
✕Heavy vs other playards
✕Slim mattress
✕Fabric not machine washable
Graco Pack and Play Reviews
This is definitely an Amazon best seller, featuring 4.7 stars and close to 3,500+ reviews.
Most parents are happy with this travel play yard, which rates high in portability, durability, versatility and ease to fold and assemble. All these benefits make this a great value for money option.
Most parents who decide to use this as an everyday crib, get a fitted mattress (bought separately). You can check out our article on best baby mattress to select one that fits in a pack n play, like the Dream on Me mattress or the Graco premium, which are also best sellers.
As per our previous review on the Graco Playard, the mattress is considered a bit too thin for everyday use, but it is ideal for short trips or family escapes. Plus, it is easy to move around thanks to its wheels.
The fabric is not removable for washing, which is another comment that keeps popping up. This infant travel crib can only be spot cleaned.
Also note that there should not be any odor when you open the box from Amazon. If there is, we recommend you return your portable crib and request a new one, as some parents have experienced this issue.
Overall parents seem happy with the Graco on the Go and highly recommend it to other families.
BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light
The baby bjorn travel crib bassinet has been awarded ‘Best Travel Cot 2015’ design by the Junior Magazine UK (www.juniormagazine.com.uk). This portable travel crib is very easy to travel with, as it weighs only 13Lb.
The baby bjorn pack n play sides are made of a breathable see-through and soft babybjorn mesh, which is fully removable and machine washable.
In the battle of Baby Bjorn travel crib vs Pack n Play, Babybjorn offers the possibility of machine washing the mess your baby may do. Unfortunately, with the Graco range, you are only able to spot clean the sides of the travel crib.
This baby travel crib can be set up in a single movement, once removed from its bag. It does not have any loose parts to assemble or attach, which makes it one of the fastest to put together.
The baby bjorn travel crib comes with a carry bag, which makes it practical to travel around with.
Also included with this product is the baby bjorn cradle mattress, which is soft and thicker than the mattress pads of the Graco travel crib.
This Babybjorn travel crib features a built-in base plate to help the travel cot stand steadily on the floor. As a value add, all fabric materials in this cot are free from hazardous materials, and have been tested and approved in accordance to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 for baby items.
Key Features
- Suitable for children from 0 to 3 years old
- Sturdy frame
- Fabric is removable and machine washable
Pros
✓Lightweight
✓No assembly needed
✓Easy fold travel cot
Cons
✕Baby sleeps at floor level
✕Baby bjorn fitted sheet not included
✕Does not qualify as carry-on baggage
Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Reviews
With nearly 500+ reviews, this portable travel bed is an Amazon favorite, featuring 4.5 stars out of 5.
Most parents perceive it as high quality and durable, easy to set up and fold down.
The baby travel cot represents a good option for travelling families, as it is a light weight and compact travel crib.
The suitcase style travel cot carry bag that comes with this folding crib is strong and durable, however, it does not include a shoulder strap, which is a point for improvement.
Probably a downside to this model is the access to baby. It can be hard for short parents to lay their baby down or pick them up because of the angled sides and baby sits at floor level.
Parents feel their baby is safe when using this portable crib portable crib for toddler and infant, as materials are chemical free and baby friendly.
Apart from that, the mattress is soft and thick when compared to other baby travel beds, so there is no need to purchase an additional mattress.
The mesh sides are high quality and made of a very good quality fabric that is see through, ideal to keep an eye on your baby at all times.
Overall, the Baby Bjorn portable crib rates high among Amazon parents and can represent a good choice for families willing to pay a bit more for a compact crib.
Lotus Travel Crib and Portable Baby Playard
Many parents debate about the Lotus vs Baby Bjorn travel crib, as the two are very similar.
The Lotus bassinet weights 13Lb (same as BabyBjorn) and comes with a travel backpack, which makes it ideal for travelling or carrying around during overnight stays or international trips. So you can have both hands free to carry your baby and diaper bag.
Same as the BabyBjorn, with the Guava Family Lotus crib baby sleeps at floor level. However, the Lotus crib features a side door that opens/ close with a zipper, so baby can go in and out during playtime and be safe while sleeping. This is also a great feature for you to put your baby to sleep.
Setting the Guava Lotus travel crib up is easy and can be done in just 15 seconds, with little assembly required.
The fabric is breathable, durable and see-through. Unlike the BabyBjorn, it does not come with a thick mattress but with a thick pad that is ideal for sleep and also play.
The Guava Lotus bassinet has been certified with the Greenguard Gold standard for low chemical emissions and does not contain flame retardants, so it is a great option for families on the go.
Key Features
- Side door with zipper
- It comes with a compact backpack
- Set up is done in 15 seconds
Pros
✓Lightweight
✓Easy to carry around
✓See through fabric
Cons
✕Mattress may be too thin
✕Cotton sheets not included
✕Expensive vs. other portable cribs
Lotus Guava vs. Baby Bjorn – what is the best travel portacot?
Editor’s notes: There are many parents that are torn between the Lotus playard and the Baby Bjorn one. It is hard to go wrong either way as both are great quality and compact baby travel cribs. Check out the comparison done by Tooscoop.com on youtube, which we thought is amazing to give you a good overview of both!
Lotus Travel Crib Reviews
The Guava Family Lotus crib has been rated by 670+ Amazon parents, giving it a rating of 4.6 stars out of 5, an impressive results.
This portable crib for travel rates high in material quality, versatility, suitability for travels, durability and ease to assemble and fold.
The fact that the carry bag can be used as a back pack or a two-handle bag makes travelling easier than with other portable travel crib, whether you are travelling internationally or doing a local car trip.
We found that a point for improvement is the travel crib mattress. Comparing Baby Bjorn travel crib vs Lotus, the later is half the thickness.
On a more positive note, there is a possibility of adding a plush quilted sheet to make the mattress softer, if you really like the rest of the features of the Lotus pack n play.
The material of the Lotus travel crib bassinet is considered deluxe. Fortunately the fabric of the whole crib can be removed with a zipper and machine washed, which is a feature that parents love as it promotes hygiene.
Overall the Lotus baby crib is a fantastic option for travelling families. It is a bit more pricey than other baby travel cots, but with the versatility it offers it is definitely worth considering.
Finally, note that standard sheets won’t fit the mattress as it is 42 inches long. Guava Family offers some Lotus Travel Crib sheet sets of 2 fitted sheets that are also organic.
Fisher-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard
The Fisher Price Ultra Lite playard weights 15Lb, which just 2Lbs over Lotus crib and the Baby Bjorn portable crib.
What we love about the Fisher Price portable crib is that it offers great versatility vs other travel cribs.
To begin with, it comes with an inclined sleeper pad and head support, which are removable and machine washable. This feature is great for parents travelling with newborn babies, who can’t do push ups or rollover yet.
In addition to that, the ultra lite day & night play yard includes a grab ‘n go changer with a built-in container for wipes, which can be stored in the built-in side pocket. This feature is great for small hotel rooms, where you don’t get much space to place your baby gear, to have everything within reach.
The Fisher Price pack n play mattress offers soft padding and it is suitable for play and sleep time. Apart from that, it can use standard size crib sheets. So if you have a standard crib at home, you won’t need to get different size ones for baby to sleep comfortably and safely while you are away from home.
Like the other portable infant beds we have reviewed, the Fisher Price playpen comes with a carry bag for extra convenience when travelling.
Another great feature is that the set-up is easy and fast as it doesn’t have any loose parts or pieces to assemble.
Key Features
- Travel crib with inclined sleeper
- Changing pad in side pocket
- Carry Bag included
Pros
✓Lightweight
✓Versatile uses
✓Good value for money
Cons
✕Flimsy mattress
✕Sleeper does not include cushioning
✕Mattress padding
Fisher Price Day and Night Pack and Play Reviews
The Fisher Price sleeper has been rated by over 350+ Amazon parents and given an overall star rating of 4.6 stars out of 5, which makes it a favorite.
This is the first portable baby cot we have seen with 5 stars in portability. The lightweight travel crib folds in a half moon shape and fits perfectly in the carry bag, all great features that justify the score.
We are a bit torn with the newborn sleeper. Some families have found it great. But for some others it seems unsafe for baby to sleep on it and lacks proper cushioning for newborns. This feature is suitable for infants up until the time they are able to rollover.
The portable crib mattress is another point for improvement, as it seems to be too thin and flimsy. For most parents, however, this does not seem to be an issue. As the overall star rating is high.
Parents love the sturdiness and durability of the Fisher Price Ultra Light play yard. The changing pad included is also to love, as an essential item for travelling parents, or just to add to your baby diaper bag.
The set up and fold down are a breeze, another reason why this is an Amazon favorite. It is easy to travel with this lightweight pack n play and parents are grateful for the added features.
This travel Fisher Price bassinet provides a suitable environment for baby to play and sleep, another reason why parents love it.
Overall, this is a great value for money option for travelling parents looking for some value add features and safe place for baby to sleep.
Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages
The Graco Travel Lite portable travel crib features a height-adjustable bassinet that is also removable, which is ideal for infants under 15 pounds, who don’t rollover yet, and great to look after your lower back!
When baby grows, just remove the Graco Pack n Play bassinet insert, and use it as a regular travel crib. This travel crib can really grow with your baby. It can also be used as a playard, great to keep your baby safely entertained when you are busy.
This Graco Travel Lite playard is lightweight and portable, at 19.1Lb, and it comes with a travel bag for parents on the go.
In temrs of size, this model is 20% smaller than other Graco playards and includes wheels. It is easy to set up with Graco’s signature push-button fold.
The the Graco Travel Lite with Stages quilted mattress pad is comfortable and the mesh fabric is breathable and see-through. As a value add, it comes with a removable canopy with baby toys to entertain your baby.
Graco offers polyester sheets for this cot. In addition to this, it is compatible with the Magnolia Organic pillowcases and the BaeBae & Company changing covers, which fit the mattress properly as well as the SureGuard queen size pillow protectors.
Key Features
- Height adjustable bassinet
- Canopy with soft toys
- Travel bag included
Pros
✓Lightweight travel cot
✓Stylish travel bassinet
✓20% smaller than other playards
Cons
✕Maybe small for big babies
✕Fabric not removable for washing
✕Thin mattress
Graco Travel Lite Crib With Stages Reviews
There are nearly 1,000 reviews by Amazon parents on Amazon.com. Overall the Fisher Price portable bassinet has been awarded 4.7 stars out of 5, with nearly 80% of reviews giving it 5 stars.
The Graco travel cot size seems to be one of the most important features for parents. As the Graco lite travel crib is 20% smaller than other playards, it is ideal for travel as it can fit in small spaces.
As the Graco travel lite crib mattress is smaller than full size cribs, it is necessary to get fitted sheets for baby to sleep safe and sound. The American Baby Company makes some good value ones that also organic.
To protect your baby mattress, always use a mattress protector… in case there are any “accidents”.
Some parents have tried the Magnolia Organic pillowcases, sold on Amazon as well, and they also fit well. Sureguard provides mini crib size mattress protectors, which you can use as on this mattress as well.
Many parents have recommended getting an additional travel mattress from Dream on Me or other companies, to use over the thin mattress pad, as it may seem uncomfortable for baby.
Key takeouts
Baby Bjorn and Lotus by Guava Family are the most lightweight options, however, they come at a more expensive price than other cots.
If you are after a simple solution, one of the Graco options may be more suitable for your family.
There are some differences between all models, so pick the one that works best for you and remember to take into consideration the age and size of your child.
Fisher-Price is also a very competitive option vs. Graco and offers the inclined sleeper option, which other portable cribs don’t.
There is no single portable crib that fits all. We recommend you make a decision prioritizing what’s most important for you.
Is lightweight the main priority? Is the size of the cot the most important thing? Or maybe you don’t like your child sleeping so close to the floor. The decision is up to you.
Was this review useful? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment.
