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For new parents, sleep is sacred. But it’s not easy to come by—especially if you’re traveling. On vacation, baby will be introduced to all kinds of new stimuli, while being forced to adapt to new schedules and foreign environments. But the right bassinet—a small, safe sleep space—can make the experience easier for all.
A lightweight travel bassinet is a must, since it’s easy to tote, whether you’re traveling on a plane, train or automobile. Not to mention, it provides a safe and comfortable place for baby to get more sleep. And when baby gets more sleep, the whole family is more likely to have a memorable vacation.
To help ensure you have a better travel experience, we tapped our gear experts for the best travel bassinets.
1. Bugaboo Stardust Playard
- Retail: $339
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $225
- Avg. Seller Earnings: $91
- Dimensions: 25 x 38.8 x 33.5 inches
- Weight: 16.98 pounds
- Recommended age range: 0-2 years old; up to 35 pounds
Bugaboo Stardust is a travel bassinet with mesh sides (great for airflow!) known for its easy one-second folding mechanism, which is a wonderful feature for parents arriving at their destination just in time for nap time or bedtime. It affords you the ability to set up a safe area for baby to snooze in a flash, ensuring a smoother transition to your accommodations.
And although the playard doesn’t have an elevated, removable bassinet option for newborns, it can be used from birth—you’ll just have to reach a little further to lift your little one in and out. A small sacrifice to make, especially since this lack of extra parts makes the bassinet that much more lightweight. It also includes a convenient travel storage bag.
Pros
- Includes carry bag
- Compact footprint
- Quick fold
Cons
- No elevated bassinet
2. 4moms Breeze Plus Portable Playard
- Retail: $299.99
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $180.00
- Avg. Seller Earnings: $59
- Dimensions: 43 x 30 x 31.5 inches
- Weight: 28.5 pounds
- Recommended age range: 0-18 pounds (bassinet); 0-25 pounds (flip changer); 0-30 pounds (playard)
If you’re looking for a playard that not only suits newborns, but can be used well into toddlerhood, the 4Moms Breeze Plus Portable playard is a fantastic travel bassinet. Although it’s on the heavier side, it has lots of great add-ons that make the bassinet incredibly versatile.
WIth your purchase, you’ll get a removable bassinet and changing station that attaches to the main playard to make it easier to lift baby in and out while they’re a tiny newborn. Once they’ve outgrown that, put that part in storage and use the main playard for bigger babies and toddlers up to 30 pounds—about 2 years old for the average baby.
Pros
- Comes with multiple attachments to grow with baby
- One-handed setup
Cons:
- Heavy
3. Joovy Coo Bassinet
- Retail: $259.99
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: N/A
- Avg. Seller Earnings: N/A
- Dimensions: 41.34 x 25 x 28.35 inches
- Weight: 17 pounds
- Recommended age range: 0-15 pounds (bassinet); up to 35 inches (playard)
While this travel bassinet does have a smaller footprint than other options, it’s a great choice for newborns who need to feel extra snug and cozy when sleeping. Still, the upper mattress can be removed, so you can use the travel crib as a playard when baby gets a bit older. It can be used this way up to 35 inches—a height your baby likely won’t reach until they’re about 2 years old.
The bassinet is nice and lightweight, plus folds completely flat, so you won’t have any trouble toting it from place to place. You could even stash it in your carry-on if your destination is a plane ride away.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Includes storage when using as a bassinet
- Doesn’t need a separate sheet
Cons
- Small footprint
4. Maxi-Cosi Swift Lightweight Portable Playard
- Retail: $274.99
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $145
- Avg. Seller Earnings: $42
- Dimensions: 10 x 2 x 2.7 inches
- Weight: 18 pounds
- Recommended age range: 0-3.5 (up to 35 inches tall)
Swift Play Yard sets up and breaks down, well, swiftly, making it an exceptionally convenient choice for parents who want to get settled at their destination, stat. It’s nicer looking than most travel bassinets, too. The legs have an upscale wood look that blends in nicely with any decor—a real bonus if baby is snoozing in grandma’s living room for the weekend.
Like other great travel bassinets, this one is highly versatile. It has a bassinet option for newborns 18 pounds or less, plus a roomy playpen for toddlers up to 35 inches tall (typically 2 years or older). Both areas are praised for having premium mattresses to ensure baby’s comfort—key to more sleep for the whole family.
Pros
- Easy to open
- Comfortable mattress
- Comes with multiple attachments to grow with baby
Cons
- Spot-clean only
- Doesn’t come with a sheet
5. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light
- Retail: $299.95
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $147.00
- Avg. Seller Earnings: $50
- Dimensions: 44 x 24 x 32 inches
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Recommended age range: 0-3 years
At just about 13 pounds, the BabyBjorn Travel Crib is one of the lightest options on the market, making it extra portable. It also has breathable mesh sides and a smaller footprint than most standard playards. While this could be seen as a downside for older babies and toddlers, it’s perfectly suitable for newborns. Plus, it makes it easier to tuck into a tight space, like a hotel room or Airbnb.
The mattress pad on this travel crib sits right on the floor, which makes the whole thing feel more substantial. There’s also a zippered entrance that’s great for crawlers, since they can crawl in and out on their own. All fabrics are also machine-washable, which is a huge bonus. If there’s any downside, it’s that this bassinet isn’t nearly as foldable as some other options on the market.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Mattress pad sits on the ground
- Fits in small spaces
- Machine-washable
Cons
- Hard to fold
- Kids may crawl out, so it’s not the best choice for toddlers
Travel Bassinet FAQ
What is The Best Bassinet For Travel With a Newborn?
The best baby bassinet for travel with a newborn is one that suits your baby’s age, height and weight limit. This ensures your little one is sleeping in a safe place. Beyond that, the best bassinet for travel is one that’s lightweight, folds easily and has a relatively small footprint—like the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light. This makes it easier to get the crib from place to place.
You may also want to look for a travel bassinet that’s versatile enough to grow with your child. These often come with removable bassinet attachments that hover over a main playard that’s better suited for toddlers. The Maxi-Cosi Swift Lightweight Portable Playard is a good choice.
Is It Safe to Use a Portable Bassinet?
Yes, you can have peace of mind knowing that it is safe to use a portable crib or bassinet. The AAP recommends “all babies sleep on their back, on a flat, firm, separate sleep surface such as a bassinet, play yard or crib, and to keep the baby’s sleep space free of blankets, bumpers, toys or other objects.”
What’s more, the CPSC requires all bassinets, including travel bassinets, sold in the US to meet strict safety standards. To be extra safe, you can always check for product recalls. It’s also a good idea to register your travel bassinet or crib once you receive it to ensure you’ll be notified in the event of a future recall.
What Should Babies Sleep in While Traveling?
As noted above, whether at home or traveling, the AAP says all babies should sleep in a flat, firm and separate sleep surface, like a bassinet, a playard or a portable crib. The sleep space should also be free from any additional items, like blankets or toys.
What’s The Difference Between a Crib and Bassinet?
Bassinets and cribs are both baby products that provide safe sleep areas for newborns, but there are a few key differences between the two. Namely, bassinets are smaller, more portable sleep spaces. Many parents opt for a bassinet instead of a crib when their baby is younger than 6 months, because the smaller space is not only more cozy for baby, but it’s also easier to room share with a bassinet—something the AAP recommends during the newborn period.
Traveling with a newborn is never easy, but having the right travel gear can make the experience a whole lot less stressful. This is especially true with a portable baby bed like a travel bassinet, since the more sleep baby gets, the happier they’ll be. And the happier baby is, the more the rest of the family can enjoy the vacation and make lasting memories together.
Interested in more bassinet reviews? Check out our guide to the best bassinets for tall beds and the best bassinets for twins.
