Kids love grandparents (at least most of them) and what’s a better way to spend the summer than being pampered at the grandparent’s house?Â
The only problem with leaving a baby at their nana’s is that their sleeping accommodation may not be child-friendly.Â
You can’t blame them for it since it’s been quite some time since you or your husband have outgrown your bassinet.Â
However, there’s an easy and affordable way to make the grandparents’ sweet home more child-friendly. Just get a snuggly travel crib.Â
Travel cribs are a blessing to new parents. They are convenient to assemble, take apart, and move around. Some of the best ones work great as both day and night time bed.Â
The only challenging part here is to find a crib that meets your specific needs.Â
Good for you that I am here to help you with your purchase. In this article, I present to you a selection of 10 best cribs for grandparents’ houses that are everything a good travel crib should be.Â
Stick around till the end as I will also be attaching a short buying guide to make this difficult decision easier for you.
Images | Product Name | |
---|---|---|
Lotus Travel Crib | ||
Mika Micky Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib | ||
Besrey Baby Travel Crib | ||
Babyletto Maki Full-Size Portable Crib | ||
Dream On Me Folding Stationary Side Crib | ||
Koalaty 3-in-1 Universal Baby Travel Crib | ||
HALO 3-in-1 Portable Crib | ||
BabyBjörn Travel Crib | ||
4moms breeze plus Portable Playard |
Best Crib for Grandparents’ House- A Short Guide
It can take you days to find the best crib for grandparents’ house that ticks all the boxes and doesn’t overshoot your budget. You probably know it already.Â
Allow me to save you some time and hard work by laying down a few key pointers to keep in mind while trailing your options:Â
Crib Size
The first question to ask yourself while browsing the catalog is how long you intend to use the crib. If it’s for a newborn, it makes more financial sense to choose a full-size that can be used for at least 2-3 years of age.Â
While you can always choose a smaller crib, I personally feel getting a spacious model that has sufficient room for your baby to grow is wiser.Â
MobilityÂ
Do your grandchildren visit every week? Do you have a separate baby room in the house? Â
No need to worry about mobility much if the crib is going to stay in one place.Â
However, choose a model that can be easily folded away in a closet or under the bedroom when not in use. This will not only save space but also keep the frame in good condition for years.Â
Room Size
If your house doesn’t have a dedicated room for your grandkids or you just want to keep the crib in your bedroom to keep a close eye, choose a compact crib with adjustable height.Â
Being able to raise or lower the platform saves you the need to lean down too much while putting the baby in. It will have more mercy on your back than standard-height cribs.Â
Material
Teething babies will bite anything in sight – that’s no secret. So you might want to steer clear of cribs that use toxic paints, finishes, frame material. Pay attention to the fabric material as well.Â
For complete safety of a newborn, choose a crib lined with mesh fabric for uninhibited air circulation. Even if the baby rolls over to the sides or sleeps on his stomach, the breathable mesh will allow him to breathe easily.Â
Plus, it prevents sweating and discomfort during the hottest months of the year too.Â
10 Portable Cribs for Grandparents’ House 2021 Reviews
1.Lotus Travel Crib
Weight Limit: No specific weight capacity mentioned, suitable for babies of 0-3 years.
Lotus by Guava Family Store is one of the most well-made non-toxic portable cribs you can get your hands on today. Weighing only 13 lbs, the entire unit folds and fits neatly into backpacks for easy traveling.Â
Set up shouldn’t take more than a minute – so grandparents with crazy back issues won’t be complaining much. Now, what do they have in store for their actual consumers – the kids? Let’s see:Â
The side panels on Lotus crib are made of mesh to maintain optimal air circulation, making it an ideal choice for hot climates. Its one-way zipper door on the side panel is another beautiful touch.Â
If you zip really slow, it doesn’t make any sound and spares your achy back the trouble of leaning when putting the baby in.Â
The zippered design makes breastfeeding a breeze. You just have to slide in, feed, get out, and close it. I would have liked a two-way zipper better, though, so that you could access it from both sides.Â
Almost every part that could get dirty is removable and easily washable. The portable bag that holds all the pieces together is machine washable to make your life easy.Â
The crib is 25†tall and unquestionably sturdy. Babies from 0-3 years of average height should be perfectly comfy and safe in it.Â
The inside is quite roomy, leaving enough room to spread out. It comes with a 24â€x42†firm mattress, which, according to many users, is on the thinner side.Â
If your little one will be staying at grandparents’ for a couple of days, I would suggest buying an extra mattress to ensure a comfortable sleep.Â
Also, I should note that the sheet for the play yard needs to be purchased separately. Standard crib sheets won’t fit the base due to the odd size. So you will have to buy Guava sheets to make it work.Â
2.Mika Micky Bedside Sleeper Crib
Weight Limit: Birth to 5 months/ 33 lbs
The second entry on this roundup for the best cribs for a grandparent’s house is specially designed for co-sleeping by the bed.Â
The spacious and sturdy design with a high max weight capacity makes it well-suited for babies who are huge for their age. It has lots of room for them to grow and enjoy a peaceful naptime.Â
The travel crib is lightweight enough to lug around anywhere, even by old people. Setup is hassle-free. Overall, it’s a great alternative to bassinets in hotels and grandparents’ house.Â
I should note that it tends to tilt about 5 degrees when you lean down to pick the baby up. Try your best not to put your body weight on the crib and it should be fine.Â
Thankfully, the crib’s side panel can be dropped to let you easily pick the baby up without lean down too much. The default height from the floor to the top of the mattress is 26†which is ideal for queen size beds.Â
On top of this, it adjusts to different heights to match the height of any bed, high or low. My only complaint with the portable crib is regarding the mattress.Â
If you are going to use the crib exclusively for sleeping, you will need a plushier mattress. It comes with a mattress topper too which you can remove in a jiffy food cleanup.
3.Besrey Baby Travel CribÂ
Weight Limit: 44 lbs
Our list of the best portable cribs for grandparents’ house is incomplete without mentioning Besrey Crib. This brand is globally renowned for its high-quality, ingeniously designed strollers and car seats.Â
They have managed to use their meticulously-honed expertise to create some of the safest cribs for infants. Lots of room for sleeping and high weight capacity are two of the biggest selling points of the portable crib/cot I am reviewing here.Â
The mattress included with the crib can be summed up dreamy and cuddly. It strikes the perfect balance between plushy and firm, provides good body support, and isn’t bumpy in the center.Â
Just buy a mattress over to go with it and you’re all set. The side railings could use some more padding, though. That’s my only minor gripe with the product.Â
Moving on, another reason to love this crib is the mosquito net it comes with. It will keep those annoying insects away when you put the crib in the yard to let your kid enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.Â
The crib folds flat for easy storage and weighs merely 20 pounds. For safe and easy transportation, it comes with a cool storage bag too. That’s not where the goodness ends.Â
There are multiple storage areas including a diaper pocket and a bottle holder to ensure a hassle-free travel experience. Lastly, all the fabrics are machine-washable, so keeping the crib poo-free and well-sanitized won’t be a headache.Â
4.Babyletto Maki Full-Size Portable Folding Crib
Weight Limit: Not specified, recommended for children who can’t climb and are below 35†in height.
Babyletto is one of the most compact folding cribs we have on this list so far. If the gramps’ house is a little small, this slim crib will make sure to fit in the bedroom without blocking any essential space.Â
Sculpted from New Zealand pine wood, Babyletto is just as sturdy and heavy-duty as traditional cribs. Therefore, it’s completely okay to consider it as a worthy upgrade of the bassinet in your own house.Â
It’s a 2-1 convertible unit, allowing you to transform it into a cozy toddler bed with the help of the bed conversion kit included in the package. To adapt to the rapidly growing height of babies, it offers up to 12 inches of height adjustment. It requires a full-size (max depth 6 inches) crib mattress which isn’t included.Â
One thing I should mention here is that even when folded, the crib is a tad bigger than what its compact stature might have suggested.
However, it can still easily fit into a large closet, the trunk of a car, or under the bed or against the wall without any issue.Â
5.Dream On Me Folding Stationary Side Crib
Weight Limit: 50 lbs.
Finding a full-size crib like this one that folds flat for easy storage and has wheels for great mobility at a reasonable price is no joke. The frame is made of wood and the mattress platform is at the same height as standard cribs.Â
It isn’t adjustable but the vertical bars are pretty height, so there’s no way a kid shorter than 35 inches can climb out of it.Â
The sleeping area is quite spacious, so it won’t have any issue accommodating a large, healthy kid. Another advantage of having a portable full-size crib is that you won’t have to lean down too much to put the baby in the crib. The unit is pretty compact and fairly easy to set up.Â
However, you might have to take a trip to the hardware store to fetch some nuts and bolts. Some users have reported that they found a few screws missing in the box. Minor inconveniences aside, this crib is a steal for the price.Â
When not in use, just fold it flat and slide it under the bed or put it up against the wall. You won’t even feel its presence there which makes it ideal for small adult bedrooms, daycare centers, holiday homes, and hotel rooms.Â
The mattress isn’t included but any standard full-size crib mattress will fit. Also, the long side rails have plastic caps on them for teething babies which is a nice touch.Â
6.Koalaty 3-in-1 Universal Baby Travel Crib
Weight Limit: Not Specified, suitable for babies from 0-6 months
Next up on our quest to find the best crib for grandparent’s house is a novelty packed with magnificent utilities.Â
It’s basically a multi-functional travel organizer bag that unfolds to become a changing mat as well as a supervised plating/sleeping spot for an infant.Â
Primarily designed for international traveling, this unique offering would make a nice and cheap make-shift bed for an overnight stay at nana’s house.Â
There’s nothing to assemble or disassemble here. The interior is cushy enough to keep an infant snuggled up for a peaceful naptime.Â
Even though it looks too small when folded up, it’s actually quite roomy when stretched all the way, leaving enough wiggle room for those tiny feet and hands.Â
Although the description says that the bag is suitable for babies up to 6 months, you can safely put an average built 10-month-old in it.
The bag has plenty of storage space for diapers, clothes, wipes, and bottles and the zipper quality is top-notch. It swiftly transforms into a clean surface for changing dirty nappies discreetly when a bathroom isn’t accessible.Â
Cleanup is fairly easy too. You just have to remove the bottom pad and hand wash it. Don’t toss it in the washing machine as it may come apart.Â
7.HALO 3-in-1 Portable Crib
Weight Limit: 30 lbs.
Should babies sleep on their stomach? No. But will they do it anyway? Yes, of course. Having a breathable mesh mattress and sides on the crib will let your mind rest easy.Â
Along with great body support, it also provides slight head elevation to ensure absolute comfort for babies with acid reflux or colic issues.Â
Also, the fact that you can simply remove the mesh fabric and machine wash it is something to be thankful for.Â
But that’s not the only reason why I picked HALO bassinet/portable crib/travel cot. This supremely versatile, multi-function unit has a rocking feature too to help you soothe your crying baby to sleep.Â
There’s a foot pedal for rocker clips on to the bottom. It can be locked when the rocker is not in use for safety.Â
Putting all the pieces together isn’t a piece of cake but it isn’t too difficult either. You should be able to complete the assembly in under 30 minutes.Â
The crib has two wheels, so dragging it from one room to another won’t be an issue. Although the folding system isn’t as effortless as you’d see on most travel cribs, it doesn’t take much space when folded.Â
Lastly, it also comes with a bunch of useful accessories such as a changing pat and a sturdy storage bag for hassle-free transportation.Â
To sum up, it may not be the most travel-friendly convertible crib on the market but it’s definitely one of the safest, especially for babies who sleep on their stomachs, have minor breathing difficulty, colic, or acid reflux problem.Â
8.BabyBjörn Travel CribÂ
Weight Limit: Doesn’t matter as the mat rests on the floor
This easy-to-fold and carry crib can be a loyal companion to your kid from infancy to toddlerhood. The weight isn’t an issue here as the mat rests on the floor. There’s no age limit either.Â
Your little one can play or sleep in it as long as he or she comfortably fits in it. The sides are almost 30†tall. Therefore, there’s no way a small baby can climb out of it (you should stop using it when they can climb out, though).Â
Both the mattress and the sides are made of mesh which won’t disrupt breathing when the baby rolls over to the sides.Â
It totally meets the needs of those who are in the market for a low-profile, ultra-lightweight, easy to fold/unfold crib for a weekly trip to grandparent’s house.Â
On the downside, it might not be the ideal crib for crazy winters since the mat rests directly on the floor. If you really have to use it, dress the baby with layers of warm clothes.Â
9.4moms breeze plus Portable PlayardÂ
Weight Limit: 30 lbs.
This portable playard doesn’t come with a mattress, nor does it need one for sleeping. When fully expanded, it turns into a 40â€x28†sleeping/ playing area, leaving enough room to wiggle around.Â
The one-handed folding mechanism does exactly what it says and it’s quite small when folded. It also comes with a carrying pouch for easy traveling.Â
The construction quality is quite impressive. You can tell that it’s been carefully engineered to withstand the abuse of a mischievous toddler can potentially subject it to.Â
It’s not as lightweight and a pack and play but moving it from one room to another is really no big deal.Â
However, a senile person would have a hard time carrying it upstairs- something you should consider before making up your mind.Â
10.Pamo Babe Foldable Travel Crib
Weight Limit: 33 lbs.
The 2-1 convertible bassinet/crib has a very functional quick folding mechanism. There’s a belt underneath the crib which you need to pull upwards and bam! The unit is folded and ready to be tucked in the storage bag.Â
An amazing choice for small rooms and daycare centers, the neutral color of the crib beautifully blends with the color scheme and decor of any room.Â
Assembly work is non-existent as it’s ready to use right of the box – which is what every travel crib should aspire to be. The included mattress is quite plush, which might not be ideal for infants.Â
However, this shouldn’t be a problem if you intend to use it solely as a daytime crib. It’s quite breathable too for increased safety.Â
The inside has ample space for babies to grow, eat, nap, and play. It even sways a little so that you can lull your fussy grandchild to sleep without much trouble.Â
You can fit a standard pack and play sheet on the mattress with no issue. On the downside, wiping the mattress isn’t as easy to wipe clean as I would have liked.Â
Closing Thoughts and Editor’s Pick
The takeaway is clear – portable cribs are a much better and safer alternative to bassinets and pack and plays for an overnight stay at nana’s house.Â
Not all cribs are created equal. So make sure you read the weight capacity, weight, height, and safety instructions carefully before putting your baby in it.Â
Although all the 7 models I picked for this roundup of the best baby cribs for grandparents’ house offer their own unique advantages, the one that I can recommend with utmost confidence is Lotus Crib from Guava.Â
The numerous safety certifications, including the GreenGuard Gold non-toxic certification it has to its name, is enough to put my mind at ease. I love its high side rails, easy cleanup topped off with reasonable pricing.Â
That’s all. I hope this article helped you understand what exactly to look for.Â