8 Best Travel Cribs for Babies and Toddlers to Sleep Soundly On the Go

Dec 15, 2023

By Brigitt Earley

Traveling with tiny humans is no joke. Oh, the stuff you need: A car seat and stroller! A stocked diaper bag! A portable high chair! Even the best travel cribs are essential since a tired baby’s mood can threaten the whole family’s fun.

It might seem like a lot to schlep, especially if you’re flying, but having your own travel crib can offer serious of peace mind (and a sense of familiarity for your baby or toddler who might freak out in a new sleeping environment). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also says parents should use caution when borrowing or renting any cribs or play yards provided by home rentals, hotels, or other services, since they may not meet current safety standards.

Thankfully, there are plenty of great travel cribs on the market these days, many of which are small and lightweight enough for flying. To help you choose the right one, our editors asked seasoned parents to put the most well-reviewed, top-selling travel cribs to the test.

Our testers—parents to both newborns and toddlers—used the best portable cribs and travel bassinets on this list in all kinds of travel scenarios—road trips, international travel, and even in their own homes to keep twins separated during nap time. Ahead, the most portable, user-friendly, comfortable, and easy-to-clean (and even machine washable) options, from Amazon and beyond.

We assigned a letter grade (From A+ to F) to every travel crib on this list; the higher a crib's rating, the more functional, durable, portable, and investment-worthy it is. We rate each travel crib according to these features, then use the average of those figures for our overall rating.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Bugaboo Stardust Portable Playard

Target

This small travel crib wins a lot of praise for its size, since the compact footprint makes it exceptionally easy to travel with both by car or plane. It also has a unique accordion-style fold that our tester said requires little-to-no effort on the parent’s part. In fact, our tester said she’s been using two as bassinets for her twins for the last eight months both at home and during travel. It may not be the best bet for tall toddlers due to the size, but it does have two different heights—one that’s taller for newborns (the bassinet) and one that’s a bit lower for older babies.

What our tester said: “I have the Stardust travel cribs and absolutely love them! We have been using them ever since we brought our girls home from the NICU in December—they are eight months now and still using them at our bedside. They are so easy to pop up and their compact frame doesn’t take up a lot of space. They’re also incredibly compact when folded, so they’re easy to throw in the back of the car to travel with. I also love that it has two different height options—one for newborns and another for older babies and toddlers.”

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Baby Bjorn Travel Crib & Sheet Bundle

Nordstrom

The Babybjörn Travel Crib is a parent favorite, largely because it’s one of the lightest around—it weighs just 13 pounds. Our testers said it was also one of the easiest cribs to assemble and disassemble into the carrying case. Perhaps even more importantly, parents say it feels very well made—some traveled with it for years with little to no wear and tear. The crib also comes with a fitted sheet set, so you don’t have to do any additional shopping.

What our tester said: “I never left home without this when my kids were in cribs. It’s light and easy to travel with, plus it collapses easily and feels really well made. Most importantly, my kids always seemed very comfortable.”

Save when you shop the best travel cribs with these Nordstrom promo codes.

Guava Lotus Travel Crib

Amazon

If you’re flying to your destination, you really can’t beat the convenience of the Guava Lotus. It’s not the most lightweight on the list, but at 15 pounds, it’s not unbearably heavy either. And because the travel bag has backpack straps, it feels a lot lighter than it is—not to mention, this frees up your hands for other things… like wrangling your little one. Parents we polled said the portable crib folds up like a dream, too. Plus, it has a unique zippered door on the mesh side that allows you to put both babies and toddlers inside without bending over.

What our tester said: “The Guava Lotus is my go-to, because it packs up like a dream. And it even has backpack straps, so it doesn’t break your back lugging it wherever you need to go. I also love the zipper on the bottom, which makes it super easy to get both babies and toddlers in and out. The only problem is the mattress doesn’t always lay flat and feels a little plasticky, but don’t they all?!”

Uppababy Remi Playard

Nordstrom

When it comes to travel cribs, many parents complain about the mattress pad since most tend to be thin and stiff as a board. Not the Uppababy Remi. Our tester said the mattress on this portable crib was unlike any she’d ever seen before. That’s because it’s a special temperature-regulating mattress that sits up and off the ground to help baby snuggle in for a better night’s sleep. Like other great travel cribs, this one also wins praise for being seamless to set up and take down. Plus, it features a special zipper in one of the mesh sides that gives you better access to your child, whether a baby or a toddler.

What our tester said: “We travel all the time, and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like without this portable travel crib. My daughter sleeps just as soundly on this mattress as she does at home in her regular crib. And even though it’s a bit heavy, I’ve never had a problem transporting it from place to place. Highly recommend!!”

Save when you shop the best travel cribs with these Nordstrom promo codes.

Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot Playard

Nordstrom

If weight is important to you—maybe you’re a frequent flier or maybe you live in an apartment with a lot of stairs—you can’t beat the Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot Playard. It clocks in at less than 11 pounds and folds thin to just 4.6 inches for fuss-free carrying and storage. Still, it’s a highly functional option with two different stages of use—a bassinet height for babies under 13 pounds and a standard playard for older babies and toddlers. Our tester said her child has never had any trouble sleeping on the mattress, thanks to its two inches of PU foam. And you don’t even need a fitted sheet—the mattress is water-repellant and easy to clean (albeit a bit noisy without one!).

What our tester said: “I wish I had known about this travel crib sooner. It fit our budget and had a mattress that seemed like it would be more comfortable than most. But what really sold me was how light and compact it was. I can’t stand how sweaty I get just loading the car for a road trip, so anything that can help lessen the burden is a winner in my book.”

Save when you shop the best travel cribs with these Nordstrom promo codes.

Graco Pack and Play On the Go Playard

Amazon

Sure, there are more sophisticated travel cribs out there, but our tester said she really didn’t need anything more. This travel crib is not only a safe sleep space–it's a real workhorse. Our tester has been using hers regularly for more than five years through four children. Her twins currently use the playard for daily naps, proving that the crib mattress is comfortable enough for regular sleep. And because it’s so budget-friendly (especially compared to other portable travel cribs on the market), it’s a great option for buying an extra to leave at a relative’s house. This way, you don’t have to worry about packing a portable crib or bassinet every time you go somewhere. They can simply stash it in the attic or closet—it folds up into a compact rectangular carrying case complete with a handle.

What our tester said: “Is it the most beautiful travel crib on the market? Definitely not, but it’s highly durable and has served me well for more than five years. In fact, I think I own four of them now. I took this crib on so many road trips that I finally bought one to leave at multiple family members’ houses. We’ve even taken this portable crib all the way to Florida and back. Plus, now that my toddler twins need to be separated for naps, my daughter sleeps in this crib every day—it must be pretty comfortable!”

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Nuna Sena Aire Travel Crib

Pottery Barn Kids

An undeniably stylish option, the Nuna Sena is one of the more compact travel cribs on the market. Because of this, it’s exceptionally easy to travel with, especially if you have a newborn or a baby under the age of 1 or 2. Unfortunately, taller toddlers may be more comfortable in a bigger sleep space, but you can technically fit your little one until they’re 30 pounds or 35 inches tall, whichever comes first—for many kids this is well into their second year. Parents say it’s nice and easy to assemble, plus love that the travel cot comes with the fitted sheet. As a nice bonus, you can also choose from five color options.

What our tester said: “I didn’t know a travel crib could be so pretty, but here we are. It’s not all about looks though. I love how compact this crib is—we have no trouble squeezing it into tiny hotel rooms. And even though it’s small, my very average-sized two-year-old seems to fit just fine.”

Maxi-Cosi Swift 3-in-1 Playard

Nordstrom

As the name may suggest, you can’t beat the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi 3-in-1 Playard. Use it as a travel crib, a play space for an older baby or toddler, or use it as a full-time bassinet for your newborn. Either way, it’s one of the sturdiest options on the market and it sets up in a flash. (Our tester said you can set it up and take it down with one hand in a single motion.) Unfortunately, it's a bit heavier than some other options and doesn’t fold into the most compact case, but as long as you’re not relying on it for flying, this probably won’t be a deal-breaker—especially given the longevity of this portable crib.

What our tester said: “We used this portable crib in place of a bassinet, and it was so convenient to have it right at our bedside. Plus, it made the transition so much easier when we went on vacations, since our daughter was already familiar with the sleep space. I wish it wasn’t quite so heavy, but honestly, I wouldn’t call any travel crib light per se. And if that’s the sacrifice for a super comfy spot that ensures my daughter gets a good night’s sleep wherever we are? Fine by me.”

Save when you shop the best travel cribs with these Nordstrom promo codes.

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