Best Travel Crib For Vacation

Whether you’re heading out to the Hamptons or jetsetting to Europe, if you’ve got a tot in tow, you’re going to want a travel crib. Travel cribs make unfamiliar places easier on your little one, as the familiar spot allows them some of the comforts from home. 

Depending on your travel plans and your child’s age, there may be differing answers to what the best travel crib for vacation is exactly. We’ll walk you through the best options we know and tell you when they might be just right for you!

In This Article

• Best Travel Crib For Vacation — Best For The Plane & Best For Toddlers
• Best Travel Crib For Vacation — Best for Babies & Best for Outside
• Best Travel Crib For Vacation — Easiest & Quickest To Set Up & Stow

Best Travel Crib For Vacation — Best For The Plane & Best For Toddlers

Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Bundle

 

We chose the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib as the best travel crib for vacation, especially for plane travel because it’s the lightest. It’s only 13 lbs. That’s in comparison to 17-20 lbs that other playards can be! It’s easy to move around, and also comes with a super-easy travel bag that’s sort of like a suitcase and simple to travel with. 

We also love the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib because it’s long-lasting, and is an excellent choice for toddlers --- a one or two or even three-year old. There’s no upper weight requirement for the child with this travel crib because it sits on the ground. You’ll just have to transition out if your child is showing interest in climbing out of it!

 

 

More cool details about this travel crib: It’s made of nice OEKO-TEX certified materials, and is airy mesh, meaning you see your child easily through the sides.

But, some things to consider: If you have an infant, you might want something that has a bassinet. This one does not, meaning if you have a wee-one in there, you’ll have to bend down to take them in and out of the travel crib as it sits on the ground. 

The other consideration is that while it’s the lightest, it does require assembly. Now, this is not difficult assembly but unlike some others, it doesn’t just pop open. 

But with all things taken into account, we think that the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib's portability trumps the minor assembly required as if you’re traveling by plane, you’re best served keeping things as light and manageable as possible. And it's perfect for toddlers that are on the bigger size, because it's straight on the ground, there's no weight limit, so you only want to look out for sneaky escape attempts.

• Easy set up
• Airy mesh 
• 0-3 years, no weight limit, as it’s on ground
• Mattress included. 
• Travel bag included
• Only 13 lbs
• Easy to move around
• Assembled 32” x 44” x 24”
• Folded 19” x 23.5” x 5.5”

Best Travel Crib For Vacation — Best For Babies & Best For Outside 

UPPAbaby Remi Playard

If you’ve got a newborn, we think the Remi Playard by UPPAbaby is the bees’ knees! This one features a mesh bassinet for your baby to sleep in (which can even be used in your own home bedside!). 

The accessories with this one make it a clear winner in the baby category for best travel crib for vacation. Not only does it have a bassinet level, but you can get an additional changing station as well as a hanging changing station organizer. It’s the perfect all in one. 

 

We also think it’s the best travel crib for outdoor use. This is thanks to another nifty accessory: a UPF 50+ canopy that can also protect against mosquitos and other bugs. 

As babies have accidents at times, we love how to breathable mattress is machine washable as well. 

Also the side zip allows nice face to face access to your baby so you can check on them and play with them at their level. 

 

The travel crib is also GREENGUARD GOLD Certified meaning good air quality for your little one which is very important! This crib has an above ground design, reducing drafts, and comes with the bassinet, mattress, organic cotton mattress cover and storage bag. 

All in all, the Remi by UPPAbaby features everything a baby needs, while also being a great choice for a bigger kid. It is heavier than others but is easy to open and close, and convenient to use. 

• Mesh bassinet for newborn bedside solution
• Additional changer accessory available separately
• hanging changing station organizer accessory available separately
• Additional canopy accessory available separately that gives UPF 50+ and bug protection while outside (also reduces light exposure)
• Includes bassinet, mattress, organic cotton mattress cover, storage bag
• Air mesh mattress for breathability. Also machine-washable
• Easy to set up 
• Above ground design
• Side zip for access
• GREENGUARD GOLD certified - healthier air quality and low emissions
• For birth to 35” tall
• Bassinet: birth to 20lbs
• Weight 20lbs
• Unfolded: 40.5”L x 26”W x 28.5”H
• Folded 11”L x 10”W x 28.5”H

Best Travel Crib For Vacation — Easiest & Quickest Set Up & Stow

Bugaboo Stardust Playard

If you’re looking for a simple solution, the Bugaboo Stardust Playard is a great choice. It’s super easy to fold and unfold, taking literally just one second to do, which is why we anointed it best travel crib for vacation when you're all about no-muss, no-fuss. Just pop it open. It folds with the mattress in it so you don’t have more than one step (unless you have it in bassinet mode).

Like the Remi, the Stardust travel crib offers a bassinet mode for newborns which is convenient and cuts down on all the bending over and back-aching! 

The Stardust is made with breathable mesh and chemical-free high quality fabrics. It cuts the middle as to weight - weighing in at 17.2lbs. It also comes with a Velcro-close travel bag that is briefcase style like the Baby Bjorn yet a bit bigger (but note there’s no assembly, you just pop it open). 

This one is only suitable until about two years old, so not as long-lasting, but by then perhaps your toddler has transitioned to the bed. If you need something easy, and super-quick to fold and unfold, this is the one. It doesn’t get much easier than this!

• Fast unfold (1 second!)
• Folds with mattress in it (without newborn insert)
• Built in mattress with adjustable height for newborns nad babies. 
• Breathable mesh with airflow, chemical-free high quality fabrics
• Weighs 17.2 lbs
• Folds to 5.5” wide
• Comes with velcro closing bag, so easy to pack up
• ECO: shipped from factory to warehouse with biofuels (through partner GoodShipping)
• Age range - 0-2 years
• 25” x 38.8” x 33.5” 
• Folded: 25.6” x 5.5” x 33.5”
• Max weight in newborn bassinet: 19.8lbs
• Max weight in playard: 33lbs
• Child max height: 35”

As you can see, there are several great options when it comes to the best travel crib for vacation! Like everything, it’s a matter of trade offs. Some of these shine for their uber-lightweight portability, while others wow parents for their ease-of use. Still others have so many accessories, that they make any on-the-go situation easy peasy.

 

 

If you’re shopping for the best travel crib that’s going to fit the bill for your next getaway, stop by the shop or hop on the phone with one of our associates. You can see these all on the floor at Babesta and practice folding and unfolding, and whatever else will make it easier for you to make the perfect decision to either purchase or add to your Babesta registry.

 

And speaking of travel, don’t forget to check out our article on 10 Must-Have Gear Items For Summer Vacation. We walk you though what you need beyond the travel crib for your next getaway.  Some highlights include travel car seats, car seat/strollers, lightweight strollers, portable bathtubs and foldable high chairs, to name a few!

And if you end up snapping up your gear at Babesta, send us a snap of your gear on vacation! We’ll give you 10% off your next purchase and (with your permission) some Instagram love!

Happy Travels!