Travel Crib Tips for Safe Sleep Away From Home

By Dr. Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP

Whether you’re heading to a long-awaited vacation, visiting family, or you simply need an extra sleep space in your home, travel cribs are a must-have item for many parents. But before you buy the trendiest travel crib—or borrow a nearly-ancient play yard—you’ll want to make sure it’s as safe and functional as it can be. Here’s what parents should look for when buying a travel crib.

What is a travel crib?

A travel crib is another name for a portable crib. Travel cribs are compact, lightweight, and especially designed for easy transport. Sometimes “play yard” and “travel crib” are used interchangeably, but they’re not always the same. For example, play yards tend to feature mesh sides or another non-rigid construction. While travel cribs can mimic that, some portable cribs are wood and foldable. Generally, travel cribs and play yards can be used from birth to age 3.

Are travel cribs safe?

Yes. Fortunately, the safety standards for travel cribs were upgraded over 10 years ago, so models currently sold in America have passed rigorous stability, entrapment, and structural integrity tests. (The same is true for play yards.) But for even more peace of mind, I recommend looking for travel cribs or play yards with a JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certification, which means they are checked annually to prove they meet or exceed all safety standards for infant products. Of course, it’s imperative to use travel cribs safely, which means always…

Place your baby on the back. All babies under a year old should be put on their back for all naps and night sleep.
Make sure the travel crib is empty. Keep the travel crib free of all loose bedding, pillows, loungers, and stuffed toys.
Use the proper mattress. Only use the play yard mattress provided by the manufacturer—and never double up or add a soft topper. Remember, your baby’s mattress needs to be firm, whether they’re snoozing in a full-size crib, a bassinet, or a travel crib!
Only use a well-fitted sheet. Portable crib fitted sheets need to be tucked under the mattress, so the sheet can’t snap up and become a suffocation risk.
Keep the sides up: Never leave a baby in a mesh play yard with the side lowered or your little one could get trapped between the side and the floorboard.
Remove the changing table. If your play yard features a raised changing table, remove it when your child is in the play yard so they don’t risk entrapment.
Know when to retire your travel crib. Discontinue using the play yard or travel crib when your little one can easily climb out.

What should I look for when buying a travel crib?

While safety, of course, is number one, there are other points to consider when buying a travel crib, such as:

Sturdiness: If you’re able, test out the travel crib before buying. You’ll want to feel first-hand how sturdy it is. Does it feel a bit wobbly when you press on the top? If so, choose another.
Functionality: Buying a play yard for an infant? Look for one with a bassinet feature where you detach the mattress from the bottom and safely raise it up so you can more easily lift your baby in and out of the crib. At the same time, you’ll want to make sure your portable crib has enough space for a toddler to rest and play comfortably when it’s time to lower the mattress.
Size and weight: For many, the point of a portable crib is to be able to travel with it, so be sure it’s easy to fold and carry. If you’re a frequent flier, you also want a travel crib that’s small enough to meet airline size requirements—and light enough to lug through the airport!
Weight limit: While travel cribs with mattresses at floor-level might not have a weight limit, most other travel cribs/play yards have a recommended weight max of around 25 to 30 pounds. Either way, it’s always smart to double check.
Ease of use: The last thing you want to do when you arrive at your destination with a cranky baby is take 10 minutes to assemble the travel crib! For example, look for play yards that unfold at the push of a button…and lock into place easily.
Maintenance: Many portable cribs feature removable, machine-washable fabric that can be a gamechanger when dealing with diaper blowouts and other unexpected oopsies.

Is it okay to buy a used travel crib?

While it may be tempting to borrow a travel crib or a play yard—or buy one used—proceed with caution. Nearly two million play yards have been recalled before new federal safety standards were put into place in 2013, so anything older could be dangerous. Plus, it wasn’t until 2022 that replacement mattresses used in play yards and portable cribs were required to meet the same safety requirements as the original mattress! Before then, babies were at risk for getting trapped and suffocating in a gap between the mattress and the side of the play yard.

As a pediatrician, I lean toward buying new so you know for-sure your travel yard isn’t missing any parts and meets the most recent safety standards. But I also know that buying new can be hard for some families. So, if you are buying a secondhand travel crib or are borrowing one, keep the following in mind:

Look for important numbers. If the travel crib is missing a label that includes the manufacturing date (or lot code) and manufacturer’s contact info, don’t buy it.
Check for recalls. Found the label with all the travel crib’s manufacturing info? Great. Now check to see if it’s been recalled.
Inspect for damage. Make sure the mesh of the play yard and the top rails are free of tears, holes, or loose threads. Check for missing or loose parts and ensure the travel crib is fitted with the manufacturer’s original mattress.

How can I help my baby sleep in a travel crib?

If you know ahead of time that your baby will be snoozing in a play yard or travel crib during a trip, arrange to have them sleep in one at home first. The more familiarity the better! Speaking of familiarity, recreating your baby’s sleep surroundings is key, too. That means, dim the lights about 30 minutes before night-night, play the same white noise your little one loves, and wrap your baby in the same sleep sack or swaddle they’re used to. If your baby has been sleeping in SNOO and swaddled in a SNOO Sack, use SNOObie or SNOObear to recreate SNOO’s white noise—and use the Sleepea 5-Second Swaddle in the travel crib. Sleepea is the exact same expert design as the award-winning SNOO Sack, minus the “wings” that secure SNOO sleepers into the bassinet.

Can you travel with SNOO?

If your baby has been blissfully sleeping in SNOO, you may be wondering if SNOO is portable. While SNOO is not a travel crib, many SNOO users do travel with their beloved bassinet! If you’re considering traveling with SNOO, know that, when packed and reboxed, your SNOO will take up about 8 cubic feet in your trunk. At the same time, SNOO can likely be checked as oversized luggage on your flight. (Call ahead!) But if packing and traveling with SNOO is impossible, don’t worry! Babies tend to sleep okay on trips without their SNOO…as long as:

Your stay is under one week.
Your baby has slept well in SNOO for one to two months.
You continue to swaddle your baby.
You use a strong white noise machine while away.

About Dr. Harvey Karp

Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.

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Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

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