Best Travel Cribs

This travel crib (which can be used from birth!) combines good looks, sturdy design and comfort. Because the mattress sits directly on the floor, there is no upper weight limit on this crib — you only need to stop using it when your kid is either climbing out or gets too big to comfortably sleep in it — which helps justify the price. The crib weighs 13 pounds with its handy carrying bag, and can be easily checked with luggage; some parents have also had luck putting it in the overhead compartment. The mattress folds in half and the frame collapses into one piece, so it's simple to set up and put away. It’s also OEKO-TEX certified, which means that all the materials your little one comes in contact with are safe to taste and won’t irritate sensitive skin.

Recommended age limit: Newborn to approximately 3 years, or until your child can climb out of the crib

Weight: 13 pounds (including bag)

Dimensions: 32 x 44 x 24 inches assembled, 19 x 23.5 x 5.5 inches folded down in carry bag

Like the BabyBjörn travel crib, the mattress for the Lotus rests on the floor, so there's no worrying about a weight limit, and it can also be used from birth. The Lotus frame pops open easily and then stows away in a compact, ergonomic backpack that you can easily carry on the plane. One thing parents especially love is the side zipper, which creates a doorway of sorts. If your little one is fussing because she's in an unfamiliar place, you can open the zipper and comfort her, and then close it after she's asleep. The side zipper door might also be helpful for a person with limited mobility who may not be able to lean down into a crib and pick baby up from above.

Older toddlers will also love being able to get themselves in and out, although you can lock it for peace of mind. The Lotus weighs 13 pounds with its bag, making it one of the lighter options out there, especially when you consider features like the zippered side and super-convenient backpack.

Recommended age limit: Newborn to 3 years, or until your child can climb out of the crib

Weight: 13 pounds (including bag)

Dimensions: 45.5 x 31.5 x 25.5 inches assembled, 24 x 12 x 8 inches in backpack

Maybe your child is used to napping in a playard at daycare, or you just need a safe, comfortable option for a weekend road trip and don't want to drop a ton of cash. If that's the case, Graco makes an ultra-portable version of their popular playard that has a more compact folding mechanism. It weighs almost 19 pounds, but if you are flying, you can check it with your luggage. The playard also has wheels on two of its corners, which will come in handy if you need to move it around a hotel room. You can use it until your child hits 35 inches or 30 pounds, or becomes enough of a ninja to climb out.

Recommended height/weight limit: Up to 35 inches and 30 pounds, or until your child can climb out of the crib

Weight: 18.7 pounds

Dimensions: 39.5 x 28.5 x 38 inches when assembled, 30 x 10.3 x 10.3 inches when folded

The 4Moms Breeze Plus can be used from the infant stage until your child reaches 30 pounds, which is a good thing considering it's one of the splurgier choices on the list. It comes with a bassinet and changing station (with weight limits of 18 and 25 pounds respectively), and a diaper caddy can be purchased separately. Weighing in at up to 28.5 pounds, this is the heaviest option on our list, the crib is a good option for travel because of its sturdy construction and travel bag, which comes with convenient shoulder straps. The set-up is delightfully simple and can truly be done with one hand: You simply push down on the center to pop it open, and pull up on a cord to close it. 4moms also makes a less expensive version called the Breeze Go, which doesn't include the bassinet and changer.

Recommended height/weight limit: For the playard: Birth to 30 pounds, up to 35 inches tall, or until your child can climb out; for the bassinet: birth to 18 pounds or until your baby begins to push up on hands and knees or roll over; for the changing table: birth to 25 pounds

Weight: 28.5 pounds with bassinet and changer; 23 pounds without

Dimensions: 43 x 30 x 29 inches assembled, 12 inches x 12 inches x 30 inches when folded

The Primo Cocoon is made from breathable mesh and can be used both indoors and outdoors, since it has a detachable canopy that helps keep bugs out. It weighs a mere 8.6 pounds and comes with a travel bag that's so sleek, it looks like a shopping tote. The foldable legs detach and set-up is simple, taking only a few minutes. The Cocoon can be used until your baby reaches 20 pounds, so your baby will outgrow it faster than some other travel cribs — but parents report that it’s well worth it.

Recommended age/weight limit: 20 pounds

Weight: 8.6 pounds

Dimensions: 35 x 17.5 x 34 inches assembled, 18 x 6 x 22 inches packaged

If you have a young infant and really can't deal with extra bulk or weight, this option from Munchkin may be your best bet. It weighs less than 3 pounds (yes, really!), folds in half and can be easily stuffed into a suitcase with the rest of your gear. When open, the frame locks in four different places with audible "clicks.” Note that although you may be tempted to put this on a table, the Brica should never be placed on any kind of elevated surface — only the floor. You should stop using it when your baby hits 3 months, 15 pounds or is able to push up on his hands and knees.

Recommended age/weight limit: 3 months, 15 pounds or when your child is able to push up on hands and knees (whichever comes first)

Weight: Less than 3 pounds

Dimensions: 30 x 21.3 x 11.8 inches assembled

Many travel cribs with bassinets are bulky, but the Uppababy Remi manages to be compact enough to fit into smaller spaces, like hotel rooms or the guest bedroom at your parents’ house. The crib features a zip-on mesh bassinet when baby is small and a triple-layer air mesh mattress for older children. A side-zip panel makes it easy to put baby to sleep after she conks out in your arms. One-handed set-up and fold-down mechanisms make it easy to set this crib up, too. And while this crib is on the pricier side, you get serious coverage: Any airline-caused damage to your playard when using the included travel bag is covered by Uppababy.

Recommended height/weight limit: Playard: Birth to 35 inches tall or when baby is able to climb out; Bassinet: Birth to 20 pounds or when baby begins to push up on hands and knees

Weight: 20 pounds

Dimensions: 40.5 x 26 x 28.5 inches assembled; 11 x 10 x 28.5 inches folded

A travel crib should be easy to tote around — and the Chicco Alfa Lite is just that. This crib features an ultra-lightweight frame that tucks easily into a zippered carry bag. A side zip panel lets you easily place baby in and out of the crib without having to lean over. The mattress cover and frame fabrics also detach and are machine washable in case of accidents or spit-up. To top it off, the whole thing is Greenguard Gold certified for low chemical emissions.

Recommended height/weight limit: Up to 30 pounds, 35 inches tall or when baby is able to climb out

Weight: 12.5 pounds

Dimensions: 43 x 29 x 25 inches assembled; 24 x 9 x 22 inches packaged

The Nuna Sena Aire Travel Crib is notably durable, making it something you can use again and again (and maybe even pass on to future children). The crib has a ventilated, quilted mattress to pull heat and humidity away from baby, along with adjustable heights you can lower as baby grows. When you little one is tiny, keep the mattress in the higher bassinet position; as she gets older and more mobile, lower it. Skid-proof legs help keep your crib quietly and firmly in place. Once you’re ready to pack up, you can fold the whole thing up with one hand, even when the bassinet is attached. While this travel crib is on the pricier side, it includes an organic fitted sheet and an easy-to-carry travel bag.

Recommended height/weight limit: For the playard: Up to 30 pounds, 35 inches or when your child is able to climb out; For the bassinet: Up to 15 pounds or when your child can push up on her hands and knees

Weight: 22 pounds (without bassinet)

Dimensions: 29 x 41.3 x 30 inches assembled, 13 x 11 x 31.5 inches folded

The Bugaboo Stardust Travel Crib opens up in just one second, so you can get your sleepy little one down for the night without getting sidetracked by assembly. This travel crib has mesh sides for lots of air flow and a built-in mattress that you don’t need to take out when it’s time to fold up the playard. The included zip-in bassinet insert can hold baby up to 19.8 pounds, and makes it so that you don’t need to bend over to lift your little one. Breaking this down is as almost as easy as setting it up: It folds up in just three seconds.

Recommended height/weight limit: For the bassinet insert: Up to 19.8 pounds, up to 35 inches long or when baby starts to roll and sit upwards; 2 years, 33 pounds or 35 inches for the playard

Weight: 17.2 pounds

Dimensions: 25 x 38.8 x 33.5 inches assembled, 25.6 x 5.5 x 33.5 inches folded