These are the 6 best travel cribs for hitting the road with baby

Pack those bags, mamas.
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Traveling with a baby changes everything about vacations—and having a reliable travel crib makes the difference between maintaining precious sleep schedules and facing vacation chaos. Parents need sleep solutions that prioritize safety while being practical enough to transport through airports or pack into already-crowded cars.
The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that babies need a firm, flat sleep surface wherever they are to reduce SIDS risk—meaning those cute hotel bassinets with fluffy padding aren’t actually meeting safety guidelines. Modern travel cribs like the Guava Lotus and BabyBjörn have transformed parents’ options with designs that fold compactly, weigh under 15 pounds, and set up in minutes.
Can you use a travel crib as a regular crib?
Travel cribs can absolutely serve as a primary sleep space, provided they meet all safety standards for infant sleep. The AAP confirms that any crib—travel or standard—should have a firm mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else inside (no blankets, pillows, or toys).
What makes travel cribs different from standard cribs? They typically have:
- Lighter-weight frames and thinner mattresses
- Lower weight limits (usually around 30 pounds)
- Smaller sleeping areas
- No adjustable mattress heights
For everyday use, parents should consider that placing babies in travel cribs requires bending down further, which might strain backs after c-section recovery or with everyday use. And while the mattresses meet safety standards, some babies may find them less comfortable for long-term use than traditional crib mattresses.
Do I need a travel crib?
A travel crib belongs on the must-have list for families who:
- Regularly visit friends or family without baby gear
- Travel overnight more than 2-3 times annually
- Have babies sensitive to sleep environment changes
- Need a safe space for baby to play while visiting non-childproofed homes
Sleep experts have found that maintaining regular sleep schedules and environments is important for health outcomes. Travel cribs provide that familiar “sleep cue” that signals to babies it’s time to rest, even in new surroundings.
Many parents find that travel cribs also serve double-duty as safe play spaces at home, making them practical investments beyond just travel. For working parents with mobile babies, travel cribs can create contained play areas during quick Zoom meetings or important phone calls.
Ready to see which travel cribs made the list? Here are the six options that stand out for safety, portability, and ease of use in 2025.
The best travel cribs
A version of this post was published July 6, 2018. It has been updated.