Trip Planning Tech & Gear The 8 Best Travel Cribs of 2022 For comfort, safety, and setup ease, we love the Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib By Jordi Lippe-McGraw Jordi Lippe-McGraw Instagram Boston University Jordi is a freelance contributor to TripSavvy. Her personal passions gravitate toward wellness and adventure, leading her to frequently plan trips that blend zen relaxation with urban and rugged exploration. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Published on 03/25/22 Fact checked by Chris Abell Fact checked by Chris Abell Instagram LinkedIn College of the Holy Cross (BA), Dartmouth College (MALS) Chris Abell is the Senior Commerce Editor at TripSavvy. He has worked at travel companies large and small, including Travel + Leisure, where he was Editorial Producer, and walkli, where he was the cofounder and Director of Content. He joined TripSavvy in 2021 and lives in Boston with his family. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Traveling with kids can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it can also be very stressful when schedules are thrown off. One key thing that can help avoid meltdowns and ensure the whole family has a good trip: sleep. While it's relatively easy for adults to adjust to new environments to catch some Z's, it's much harder for little ones. You want to make sure their sleeping location is as comfortable—and easy to set up quickly—as possible. And that centers on the crib. Since you can't bring the one from home with you, you'll need to find an alternative that packs up nicely while still being cozy for your tot. Luckily, there are plenty of brands that make various travel sleep options for babies and toddlers. Here are the best travel cribs. The Rundown Best Overall: Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib at Amazon Best Budget: Dream On Me Travel Light Playard at Amazon Best Bassinet: MiClassic Mesh Stationary & Rock Bassinet at Amazon Best for Toddlers: Skip Hop Play to Night Expanding Playard at Amazon Best for Flying: phil&teds Traveller Crib at Amazon Best Lightweight: KidCo Peapod Plus at Amazon Best Backpack Crib: Gladly Family Merritt Portable Playard Suite at Amazon Best Crib With Changing Table: Pamo Babe Deluxe Playard at Amazon Table of contents Expand Our Picks Final Verdict What to Look For Why Trust Trip Savvy? Best Overall: Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib 5 View On Amazon View On Babylist.com What We Like Backpack carry Side zipper door Easy setup What We Don't Like Price point This is the travel crib I swear by. While it's on the pricier side compared to other travel cribs on the market, the Lotus by Guava has it all. It's super compact, folding up into a backpack carrying case, and takes under 30 seconds to set up. You simply unclip, pop it open, lay the comfortable thick foam mattress down, and you're good to go. Plus, packing up is just as easy. And since the mattress sits on the ground, you can use the crib into the toddler years without fear of escape (my son is almost 4 and still uses it!). The side zipper is a bonus if you use the crib as a playpen. Dimensions: 45.5 x 31.5 x 25.5 inches | Material: Phthalate-free, BPA-free, and lead-free polyester | Weight: 13 pounds Best Budget: Dream On Me Travel Light Playard View On Amazon View On Bed Bath & Beyond View On Buybuy BABY What We Like Inexpensive Lightweight Color options What We Don't Like Complaints about setup time If you only hit the road on occasion, it makes sense you wouldn't want to plunk down a few hundred bucks on yet another baby item. With the Dream On Me Travel Light Playard, you get many of the benefits of a more expensive crib without the high price tag. It's lightweight and folds up flat for easy storage. It features a breathable mesh and comes with a soft mattress, and it's easy to clean. The downside is it's not as big as other travel cribs, meaning you might not be able to use it past a year, depending on your child's size. Plus, buyers complained it took up to 10 minutes to assemble. If you're rushing to get a little one down for a nap, that's not something you want to deal with. Dimensions: 40.5 x 27 x 26 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 12.42 pounds Best Bassinet: MiClassic Mesh 2-in-1 Stationary & Rock Bassinet View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like It has a rocking mode Folds flat Removable legs What We Don't Like Heavier When you're only worried about a baby (not a toddler) getting sleep on vacation, a travel bassinet is all you need. This one from MiClassic has a super simple setup and fold-up that can be done with one hand in a matter of seconds. While it comes with legs to keep the bassinet off the ground, you can also remove them for even more compact storage. Best of all, the crib has a rocking mode to help lull the little one to sleep, just like at home. Some purchasers love it so much they use it as an everyday bassinet. Dimensions: 37.4 x 23.8 x 28 inches | Material: Mesh | Weight: 19.04 pounds Best for Toddlers: Skip Hop Hop Play to Night Expanding Playard View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Extra-long and wide Expansion possibilities It comes with a wipe-clean mat What We Don't Like Bulkier If your toddler is anything like mine, he moves around a lot in his sleep. So having a travel crib that can accommodate a wiggly sleeper is key. When in crib mode, this one is already long (38 inches of length in sleeping space). But it can expand by 60 percent, creating 38 x 38 inches' worth of space for catching some Z's or playing. In fact, the brand states that children up to 3 years old can enjoy it. If you're looking to save on space on a road trip or in a hotel, this might not be the best option. Most of the buyer complaints were that it was simply too large to fit in small spots. Dimensions: 41 x 23.5 x 29 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 20 pounds Best for Flying: phil&teds Traveller Crib View On Amazon View On Buybuy BABY What We Like Ultra-portable Only 6 pounds Side fully unzips What We Don't Like Complaints about thin pad When traveling with a kid, the last thing you need on a plane is another bag. And sometimes travel cribs can be bulky. This one is not. At just 6 pounds, it's super easy to carry and rolls up to the size of a yoga mat, so it fits in overhead compartments. Once at your destination, you can set up the mesh crib and completely unzip one side to make it a play yard as well as a sleeping solution. But you might want to consider investing in another pad, as many buyers complained it was too thin and hard. Or, make sure you're on a carpeted surface to ensure the comfiest night's sleep possible. Dimensions: 31 x 24.8 x 46 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 6 pounds Best Lightweight: KidCo P4012 Peapod Plus Infant Travel Bed View On Amazon View On Buybuy BABY What We Like Under 5 pounds It can fit in a suitcase Suitable up to age 5 What We Don't Like Questionable durability At just 3.65 pounds, it doesn't get any lighter when it comes to travel cribs. And, incredibly, it's useable for children 1 to 5 years old. The tent-like product folds up into a circular shape that you can then throw over your shoulder or pack into a suitcase. Then, simply pop it open once you need it. The sleeping pad is even snapped to the underside of the floor, so no additional assembly is required. Meanwhile, the sides are made from mesh to maximize breathability and airflow. Bonus: It can be used outdoors thanks to the UV-protective fabric. Dimensions: 17.9 x 3.9 x 17.8 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 3.65 pounds Best Backpack Crib: Gladly Family Merritt Portable Playard Suite View On Amazon What We Like Hands-free carry Adjustable bassinet for newborns One-handed fold What We Don't Like Very heavy While being lightweight and compact is helpful when dealing with travel cribs, perhaps more important is whether or not it can be carried hands-free (e.g., in a backpack). "Often when traveling, you have to schlep so much stuff that making something smaller isn't much help if you don't have enough hands to carry it," says Scott Crumrine, Founder and CEO of Guava Family. The Gladly Family Merritt Portable Playard Suite folds into a backpack. Although it's an extremely sturdy (aka heavy) crib capable of holding up to 50 pounds with an adjustable bassinet for smaller children, the backpack makes it much easier to transport. Plus, it comes with a fold-away changing station, changing caddy, and a mattress that buyers described as the most comfortable on the market. Dimensions: 40 x 29 x 28 inches | Material: Aluminum and mesh | Weight: 35 pounds Best Crib With Changing Table: Pamo Babe Deluxe Playard with Foldable Nursery Center View On Amazon What We Like Stable A lot of functionality What We Don't Like Not easy to carry Assembly can be difficult Want to bring your entire nursery along on your next trip? This is the product for you. It's not only a crib but also a playpen, changing table, and storage solution. You can set it up however you want with the bassinet attachment, large capacity changing table, detachable shelf, and mobile option. What's more, the nursery center is super sturdy and durable, so you won't have to worry about your tot's safety on the go. But with so much functionality, you need to be prepared for a little extra setup time. Dimensions: 43.3 x 29.9 x 28.7 inches | Material: Aluminum and mesh | Weight: 38.6 pounds Final Verdict The Guava Lotus Travel Crib (view at Amazon) is compact, easy to assemble, hands-free for carrying, and can grow with your kid. Budget a concern? The Dream On Me Travel Light Playard (view at Amazon) will provide you with the most bang for your buck. What to Look for in a Travel Crib Safety It is essential always to follow Consumer Product Safety Commission ( CPSC) safe sleeping guidelines with any travel crib. In addition, it's prudent to ensure that there have been no safety recalls on the specific travel crib. "It is best practice to ensure that the crib frame is sturdy and locked into place when in use," said Dr. Sharis M. Simonian, Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator at Sollis Health. "It is not recommended to add additional padding to the mattress provided. The same safe bedding practices for traditional cribs apply to travel cribs." Also, it's vital to consider the safety of the mattress. "You still want a thicker and comfy mattress because most that are super thin," said Jen Campbell of Explore More Family Travel. "But not so thick that it is dangerous." Age Range You'll want to note if the crib has any stated age ranges, but "as a general rule, you may use travel cribs up to the age of 3," said Dr. Simonian. "However, when your child attempts to climb out of the travel crib, it is time to stop using it. That may vary in age, depending on the child." Ease of Setup Imagine how tired you are finally arriving at your destination, late at night, exhausted, and your brain moving a little slower than normal. "For ease of travel itself, the two obvious considerations are weight and size," says Crumrine. Naturally, the last thing you want is a travel crib that is complicated to set up. "The main considerations to make sure setting up a travel crib doesn't add to the stress," said Crumrine. "So, be sure it's intuitive (tends to fold into the open shape on its own when lifted out of the bag), has no individual pieces to assemble, and has hinges that lock automatically, and in no particular order." Comfort One potential criticism of travel cribs is that mattresses tend to look relatively thin compared to traditional ones. This is intentional (and mandated by the federal standard, which requires the padding of the mattress to be less than 1 inch and the total thickness of the mattress to be less than 1.5 inches, including the backer board). "Thicker mattresses on mesh/soft-sided cribs can result in a gap opening up on the side of the mattress, that if too deep, could be an entrapment hazard," said Crumrine. "In general, babies/toddlers don't need nearly as soft a sleeping surface as adults tend to desire for themselves. But, amongst travel cribs, there still tends to be a spectrum of comfort, even in a 1-inch-thick mattress." Why Trust Trip Savvy? Author Jordi Lippe-McGraw has researched and written about travel and lifestyle products for nearly a decade. She's also a mom to a 3-year-old who has already traveled to nine countries. When making this list, she used her own experience and researched dozens of products, looking at key specs like dimensions, material, and weight, plus positive and negative reviews. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 8 below.