The Best Travel Cribs for a Road Trip 🚗, Plane Trip ✈️ + Other Adventures

If you’re choosing just one travel crib to handle every kind of trip, the Guava Family Lotus is the most convenient and versatile option. At 13 pounds, it’s one of the lightest travel cribs on the market. Setup is intuitive and quick, and both the fabric frame and mattress are machine-washable. There's an add-on Bassinet Conversion Kit if you plan on using it from day one, saving your back during the newborn days. And because the mattress rests directly on the floor, there’s no weight limit, so you'll be able to use it longer than a playard with a raised-mattress design.

But one thing parents really love? The built-in backpack straps. Having your hands free while navigating airports, train stations or long walks to the car is invaluable. “I love how compact this folds up. We bought it for an upcoming trip, and love the backpack feature,” one parent told us.

The other standout feature is the Lotus's zip-down mesh door. It makes getting down on baby’s level for cuddles, feeding or play super easy. (“I love that I don't have to bend over the crib to pat his back,” one grandparent told us.) It also means you don’t have to lower the baby into the crib if it’s too deep for you—you can place them in from the side. Having a travel crib that can double as a safe play space is great in a hotel, too. “I personally liked using a playard because it also served a dual purpose of being a safe place to put the baby in when we were in hotel rooms that weren't necessarily baby-proofed,” says Dr. Playforth.

There are a few trade-offs. Parents frequently report that the zipper is louder than expected, and some find it difficult to get the crib back into the backpack after use. But for portability, flexibility and real-life ease, the Lotus earns its top spot.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 13 lbs

• Measurements: 46" x 31" x 25.5"

• Recommended use: 0-3 yrs or until child tries to climb out

An innovator in the space, Babybjörn's travel crib has long been a favorite for families on the move. It's similar to the Lotus in both form and function, with an identical weight of 13 pounds, a washable frame and mattress, a flush-to-the-ground design and an easy, compact fold ("It practically assembled itself," joked one parent). But there are a few key differences between these two travel cribs.

The Babybjörn mattress is noticeably thicker than the Guava Lotus. For some babies, this can make a difference in terms of comfort. “Our daughter, who gets quite fussy about sleeping anywhere but her crib, fell right asleep the first and each subsequent night we used this,” noted one parent in our Most Loved Baby Products survey. And it comes with a fitted sheet, unlike the Lotus, which is sold separately.

On the other hand, while the Babybjörn folds compactly into an included travel bag and fits into most overhead compartments, the bag features handles, unlike the Lotus, which has backpack straps. There's also no bassinet add-on, so while you can use this travel crib from day one, you'll be doing quite a bit of bending those first few months.

If you're stuck deciding between these two (excellent) options, think through how often you plan to fly with your baby—that's often the key differentiator in many families' decision-making process.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 13 lbs

• Measurements: 32" x 44" x 24"

• Recommended use: 0-3 yrs

If airflow and temperature regulation are at the top of your must-have list, the recently released Newton Compact Travel Crib is the standout choice. It pairs Newton’s patented Wovenaire mattress, made from 90% air and 10% food-grade polymer, with airy mesh sides to create a sleep space that’s exceptionally breathable from every angle. It’s a great pick for any family, but especially if you live in a warm climate or have a baby who tends to sleep hot.

Despite its steel-frame construction, the crib weighs just 13 pounds and pops open or folds down in seconds. The included travel bag has both a carry handle and backpack straps, and it’s compact enough to fit in most overhead plane bins. And like the Lotus, the Newton also has a side zip door, adding easy access for playtime, nighttime soothing or quick cuddles. The mattress cover and outer fabric are fully washable.

One downside of this travel crib is size; the sleep space in the Newton is slightly smaller than the Lotus and the BabyBjörn, but not by much. There's also no bassinet option.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 13 lbs

• Measurements: 43.2” x 29.5” x 23.2”

• Recommended use: Suitable for babies and toddlers up to 35”; no weight limit

Love the breathability of the Newton's compact travel crib, but need a larger option? The brand also makes a full-size travel crib with a sleep space approximately twice the size of most travel cribs, making it ideal for an older toddler who may have outgrown a smaller playard. It uses the same Wovenaire mattress in all Newton sleep products and has no weight limit, and comes with a bassinet insert. Just note that it's heavier at about 17 pounds and there are no backpack straps on the carry bag.

If you're an urban family short on space or just looking to cut down on the amount of baby gear you own, the Maxi-Cosi Calao is a good pick for a travel crib that works just as well at home as it does on the road. It starts as a newborn-ready bassinet with breathable mesh sides, then transitions to a playard and toddler sleep space simply by unzipping and repositioning the two-fold mattress sections.

The Calao is light (13 pounds, like many of the other travel cribs on our list) and comes with a carry bag can be worn as a backpack or carried by hand. Parents also like the breathable mesh sides and the side-zip door.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 13 lbs

• Measurements: 23.4” x 42.5” 32.6”

• Recommended use: Use as a bassinet until baby reaches 15 lbs or when they begin to push up on their hands and knees, whichever comes first; use as a playard until toddler reaches 35” (approximately 3 yrs old) or when they can climb out, whichever comes first

If you have a bit more room and are looking for a slightly sturdier upgrade pick, the UPPAbaby Remi is another excellent choice for a versatile, multifunction travel crib that also works as a bassinet, playard and changing station. It's GREENGUARD Gold Certified and folds (and unfolds) in seconds. Downsides: at 20 pounds, it's heavier than the other travel cribs on our list. It's also more expensive—and you have to purchase many of the accessories separately, like the Changing Station.

This travel crib is a classic, and for good reason. (Fun fact: Pack ‘n Play is a name Graco came up with, and, like Kleenex or Band-Aid, refers to their specific product. Over time, it’s become a universal term many parents use to refer to a portable sleep space.) It does exactly what it sets out to do: provides a simple, safe, sturdy sleep space for your baby. “This playard does exactly what I need, keeps baby safe with the minimal bells and whistles. I didn't want all the little add ons for a playard whose function is going to grandma's house (a nine hour drive) with limited space. It is perfect,” one Babylist parent said.

While not as small or light as some other options on our list, it’s an excellent travel crib for adding to your trunk on road trips or for keeping at the grandparents'. It’s very affordable and super easy to set up. And once it’s popped open, it has a big sleep space. “I still have it for my three-year-old for when we travel,” says one parent. “For my second child I was happy to just have the basics. This playard was affordable and did the job,” said another.

One feature this playard has that others don’t is wheels on one side. While it is heavier than some other models, it’s also easier to move around once set up because you don’t have to lift it. “When setting up your baby to sleep on a trip, you want to position the crib in a cool, dark space, just like you would at home,” says Harvey. “And make sure you have a travel white noise machine!”

Note that with this model, you can’t attach any extras, like a bassinet or changing table. (Graco does make plenty of playards with bassinet attachments—the Close2Baby is a particular favorite—but they're bigger, bulkier and all of the extra add-ons make them less than ideal for travel.) Some parents complain that the mattress is on the thin side, which is worth considering if you plan to use it for more than just occasional weekend trips. It’s also fairly heavy, so you won’t want to use it if you’re traveling by plane or anywhere else where you’ll need to carry it frequently.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 18.5 lbs

• Measurements: 39.5" x 28.25" x 29"

• Recommended use: Designed for children under 35" tall, unable to climb out