8 Best Travel Cribs for Baby 2024

Traveling with a baby is never smooth sailing, but having a safe and familiar sleep space for your little one to catch some Zzzs and rest their head when they’re away from home can ensure a more peaceful and pleasant trip for all.

The best travel crib is comfortable, easy to set up and break down, and compact enough to fit in your trunk with all the other baby gear you’ll need to bring, like the best travel stroller and car seat.

These days, portable baby cribs come in all kinds of configurations—from fast folders and featherweights to extra-large sleep zones for toddlers—allowing parents to pick the perfect travel crib to accommodate their budget and children’s needs. While you're at it, read up on the best toddler travel beds and our best toddler mattress picks.

What to look for in the best travel cribs

There are several factors to consider when choosing the best travel crib for your family.

Of course, safety should be the top priority, notes baby gear expert Emily Hosie, Founder & CEO of Rebelstork. “Ensure that the crib has a sturdy construction, with no sharp edges or small parts that could pose a choking hazard," she says. "If your kid is a poor sleeper, comfort is key for them and your sanity.

“Choose a travel crib with a comfortable mattress that provides adequate support. Soft, breathable materials for the crib's fabric can also enhance comfort.”

Hosie recommends travel cribs that are lightweight and easy to carry too, ideally with a travel bag or case for convenient transportation. What's more, the ease of setup and breakdown is equally important.

Look for cribs with simple assembly mechanisms, such as pop-up or fold-out designs, that don't require any tools — the last thing you want to do is fumble to set up a travel crib when your kid needs a nap. Standard travel crib size is 32 x 44 x 24 inches, but there are lots of available options to choose from.

The best travel crib designs 2024

• Best overall: BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light
• Best budget: Graco Pack 'n Play Portable Playard
• Best lightweight: Chicco Alfa Lite
• Best for infants: 4moms Breeze Plus Portable Playard with Removable Bassinet
• Best for toddlers: Newton Baby Travel Crib & Play Yard
• Best luxury: Nuna COVE Aire Go Travel Crib
• Best rated: Guava Lotus Travel Crib
• Most comfortable: Silver Cross Slumber Sleep & Go 3 in 1 Travel Crib

Best overall

BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light

The BabyBjörn is the crème de la crème of travel cribs. It pops up in a flash, folds down fast, and weighs in at only 13 pounds so carrying it in the included travel bag (or stuffing it into your suitcase) is a cinch.

Designed for children ages 0-3, the included mattress is soft enough for a toddler but firm enough for even the tiniest baby to sleep safely, which we love. The fabric and ultra-comfy mattress cover are easy to remove and machine washable so cleaning drool stains and spit up isn't a nightmare.

Worried parents can watch their child at thanks to the see-through airy mesh fabric in the Baby Bjorn travel crib.

Pros

• Accommodates children from 0-3
• OEKO-TEX-certified so it's safe for sensitive skin
• Lightweight
• Easy to set up and break down
• Modern, stylish design
• Super comfortable
• Adheres to all safety standards for portable cribs

Cons

• It's expensive but worth it for frequent travelers

Best budget

Graco Pack 'n Play Portable Playard

With over 30,000 rave reviews and a super impressive 4.8-average star rating, you can't go wrong with this affordable pack 'n play that's perfect for travel. The mesh storage pouch on the side is great for stashing all the baby essentials, from diapers and wipes to tiny toys.

Simply push a button to pack it up (folding feet and wheels allow for a compact fold), and stow it away in the convenient carry bag included for travel! This crib can also be used as a contained play space for your baby at your destination, with the wheels making it super simple to move from one part of the room or house to another.

Pros

• Affordable
• Compact fold
• Mesh storage pouch on the side
• Carrying case included
• Doubles as a play space, making it one of the most practical travel crib options
• Easy set up and break down
• Wheels make it easy to move around

Cons

• A bit heavier than some of the other travel cribs on our list

Best lightweight

Chicco Alfa Lite

At only 12.5 pounds, the Chicco Alfa Lite certainly lives up to its name. This is one of our favorite travel cribs, winning major points in several categories. In addition to the ultra-lightweight frame, it features a speedy snap-open setup, a compact fold and carrying bag.

For babies who are tough to transfer, we love the handy zip-open side panel, which ensures you can place kiddos in and out with less chance of them startling awake. Better yet, the crib is Greenguard Gold-Certified so you can sleep better—and them too. The mattress cover and frame fabrics are completely removable and machine-wash for easy cleanup.

Pros

• Ultra lightweight
• Zip-open side panel
• Comes with a carry bag
• Doubles as a playard
• Suitable for infants and toddlers
• Easy to clean
• Excellent value
• Greenguard Gold-Certified

Cons

• Some reviewers wish the mattress was thicker

Best for infants

4moms Breeze Plus Portable Playard with Removable Bassinet

Nearly 1,000 parents give this popular all-in-one baby travel crib the seal of approval.

It's your one-and-done travel crib that can be used as a changing table on the fly, a cozy bassinet for when they're first born and need a snugger sleep space, and a playard to keep 'em safely contained while you get ready. It opens and closes with one hand, which is clutch when you're carrying a fussy, jet-lagged kid in the other.

The flip changer, which can be used up to 25 pounds, is our favorite standout feature for quick diaper and clothing changes, as it's one less piece of gear you have to haul with you. The travel crib itself is suited for toddlers up to 3o pounds or roughly three years. When you're not traveling, store it in the included carry bag until next time!

Pros

• Versatile
• One-handed setup and take-down
• Flip changer for diaper changes
• Removable bassinet
• Suitable for kids up to 30 pounds
• Sturdy

Cons

• Pricey, but worth every penny

Best for toddlers

Newton Baby Travel Crib & Play Yard

The problem with many travel cribs is that kids age out of them quickly—or they quickly become cramped and don't want to sleep in them anymore.

The Newton Baby Travel Crib is our top pick for toddlers, as it's two times larger (the floor, that is) than the competition so kids can toss and turn and stretch out without hitting the sides every single time. Worried parents can rest easier knowing this travel crib is 100% breathable thanks to Newton's patented Wovenaire technology.

For how large it is, the crib works great for grandma's house or short road trips. It comes with an optional zip-in bassinet insert, allowing parents to use it from birth. Best of all, with a travel bag and an organic cotton muslin sheet in tow, the mattress is 100% washable from core to cover so blowouts or vomit won't ruin the whole thing.

Pros

• 100% breathable
• Giant sleep space for older kids, making it one of the best travel cribs on the market for toddlers
• Comfortable
• Comes with an optional bassinet for babies
• Easy set up
• 100% washable mattress
• Includes travel bag and an organic cotton muslin sheet

Cons

• It can be tricky to fold the legs in

Best luxury

Nuna COVE Aire Go Travel Crib

The luxe Nuna COVE Aire Go is an actual dream for both fashion and functionality to induce sweet dreams. The cozy, quilted temperature-regulating mattress is ventilated to pull heat and humidity away from your babe for a cooler, better night's sleep.

We love the slim, space-saving design, which is clutch in tiny hotel rooms or when you need your travel crib to squeeze into a walk-in closet or hotel bathroom.

Opening and closing this travel crib is easy peasy — it comes with a travel bag for easy storage, an organic cotton sheet, and a zip-off bassinet, which can be used from birth up to 15 pounds. The playard is good for kids up to 30 pounds or 35" tall, and the mattress cover zips off for washing and drying.

Pros

• Zip-off bassinet
• Doubles as a playard
• Triple-layered and breathable mesh mattress
• One-handed fold and set up
• Skid-proof feet
• Space-saving design
• Sturdy and stylish
• Greenguard Gold Certified

Cons

• It's expensive but worth the splurge for all the premium safety and comfort features

Best rated

Guava Lotus Travel Crib

Parents are obsessed with the compact Guava Lotus Travel Crib, which has racked up over 2,500 rave reviews on Amazon and an almost perfect 4.8-star rating, for good reason.

It's far and away the best travel crib for frequent fliers, as it weighs a mere 15 pounds, comes with a convenient and hands-free carry backpack, and even fits in most overhead bins if you don't like to check stuff. Set up is hassle-free and can be done in 15 seconds! The fabric and mesh cover both come off and can be thrown in the wash for quick cleaning.

The crib features a lockable zippered side door too, giving parents easy access to soothe or settle fussy babes. It's equally ideal for toddlers to crawl or walk in and out of during playtime. Most importantly, the thick and soft foam insulated mattress is extra cozy and safe during playtime, naptime or bedtime.

Pros

• Lightweight portable travel crib
• Folds super compact into a backpack
• Quick set up
• Greenguard Gold Certified
• Sturdy
• Comfortable
• Easy to clean
• Lockable side door
• Doubles as a playard
• Use with any universal fitted sheet

Cons

• Mattress sheets not included

Most comfortable

Silver Cross Slumber Sleep & Go 3 in 1 Travel Crib

One of the main gripes many parents have with travel cribs is that the mattresses they come with are flat as a board and hard.

The Silver Cross Slumber Sleep & Go focuses on safety and comfort with a soft, thick and sturdy mattress that grows from bassinet to crib size as your little one grows. Mesh sides offer plenty of ventilation and optimum airflow, while the padded frame protects from ouchies as your toddler tosses and turns at night — or uses the playard as a bounce house.

It weighs just over 15 pounds so it's fairly lightweight for travel and super easy to set up. A zip-up door quickly converts the crib from a cozy sleep space to the perfect play zone too. This top-rated travel crib can hold kids up to 50 pounds, one of our list's highest weight limits. Simply shake it open to set up in seconds (one of the reasons we like it better than the similarly popular Bugaboo Stardust).

Pros

• Grows with them from the newborn to toddler stage
• Extra comfortable expandable mattress
• Excellent airflow
• Easy shake-open design (easy set up and folds)
• Lightweight
• Zip-up door
• Doubles as a playard
• Includes a weatherproof carry bag
• Accommodates kids up to 50 pounds

Cons

• Sheets sold separately

Experts:

• Emily Hosie, Founder & CEO of Rebelstork