Buying a travel crib: What should you look for?

You usually buy a travel crib just once and use it for years afterward. Still, many parents find it hard to choose, because the differences only become apparent when you’re right in the middle of it: at a campground in the dark, in a cramped hotel room, or in Grandma and Grandpa’s attic.

In this article, we'll go over the points that matter most in practice.

1. How often do you bring it with you?

This is the most important question, and most buying guides overlook it. A travel crib that goes on vacation once a year has very different requirements than one that’s in the car every weekend.

If you mainly use it at home or when visiting family, weight isn’t as important, and a classic folding camp bed with a steel frame will do just fine. If you take it with you regularly, however, weight suddenly becomes a deciding factor. A classic folding camp bed can easily weigh more than ten kilograms and requires its own space in the trunk.

2. Setup time: the difference between minutes and seconds

With a traditional travel crib, you click the legs and rails into and out of place. It takes a few minutes and is easy enough—until you’re trying to do it with a crying, exhausted baby in your arms.

A pop-up travel crib works differently: you take it out of the bag, and it unfolds on its own. With the Baby Luxe and Toddler Luxe, the crib is set up in two seconds. Packing it up does take a little practice, though; try doing it once at home before you leave.

3. The mattress is more important than the crib

This is where people most often cut corners, and it’s exactly what your child feels. Many camp beds come with a thin mattress that’s about one or two centimeters thick. That might be okay for a single night, but not for a week-long vacation.

Keep two things in mind. First, the thickness: anything around 3.5 centimeters or more makes for a noticeably more comfortable night’s sleep. Second, ventilation. A 3D mattress allows air to flow through the core, which helps on hot nights and for children who sweat easily.

4. Up to what age do you plan to use it?

Camping cots are often bought for a baby and then outgrow them too quickly. So look beyond the first year.

The Baby Luxe is suitable for children ages 0 to 2.5 years, and the Toddler Luxe is suitable for children up to 4.5 years. If you're unsure which one to choose, the age limit is usually the deciding factor—especially if you're expecting another child.

5. Sleeping outdoors requires extra protection

If the crib is sometimes set up in the yard, at a campground, or on the beach, there are two factors to consider that hardly matter at all indoors.

UV protection, so your child isn’t sleeping in direct sunlight. And the fine mesh of the mosquito net: with openings smaller than one millimeter, even mosquitoes and gnats can’t get through. Both the Baby Luxe and Toddler Luxe offer 50% UV protection and a mesh with openings smaller than one millimeter.

6. What's included, and what do you need to buy separately?

Don't just compare the price of the crib; also consider what else you'll need afterward. A carry bag, a mattress, and a fitted sheet or sleeping pad can really add up.

The Deluxe cribs come standard with a self-inflating mattress, a carrying bag, and a canvas bag. You can purchase a cotton sleeping mat or a windscreen separately, depending on where you'll be using the crib.

In a nutshell

• Especially at home — gewicht en opzettijd zijn minder belangrijk, kies op ruimte en prijs
• On the go often? — Choose something lightweight and quick to set up, and keep an eye on the carrying case
• Child under 2.5 years old — the Baby Luxe is sufficient
• One child, two children, or more —choose the Toddler Luxe for longer-lasting use
• Sleeping Outdoors — Pay Attention to the UV Rating and Mesh Size of the Net

Still can't decide between the two sizes? Then read more in our article about the difference between the Baby Luxe and the Toddler Luxe.