Have you ever seen those giant, solid wood cribs with sleigh headboards and hand carved details on the sales floor at Babies R’ Us and stuff? You know, the ones that are about $2,000 and look like they’re out of an 1900s nursery?
Yea, that’s probably the only place I’ve ever seen one.
These days, most people want cribs that are multipurpose and easy to move, because hot damn if that baby sleeps anywhere that you aren’t (at least initially).
I’ve been through the ringer with finding the best portable cribs (like most baby products), and I’ve learned through some expensive trial and error what to look for, and what to run like hell from. One thing’s for sure, if it folds up and is super lightweight, it has my name written allll over it.
Already convinced you need a portable crib? Then check out our top picks now…
Top 10 Best Portable Cribs of 2020
#1: Phil&teds Portable Traveller Crib
#2: Lotus Travel Crib and Portable Baby Playard
#3: Babybjorn Travel Crib
#4: Graco Travel Lite Crib with Stages
#5: Giantex Portable Baby Crib
#6: Delta Children Portable Mini Crib
#7: Dream on Me Portable Crib
#8: ElanBambino Portable Crib
But first, before we get into it…
But Do You Really Need A Portable Crib?
The suckers are great for people on the go. You can use em’ at home, on the road, or at the beach. Plus, most can double as a pack and play too. That’s to say, your baby can sleep in them AND play in them—A win-win for minimalist parents like us.
What To Look For In A Portable Crib
Whether you’re planning on bouncing between your pad and your mother-in-law’s, or taking the kiddo to Chiang Mai, portable cribs are a SWEET way to travel without disrupting a good sleeping arrangement.
There are just a few things you really need to pay attention to so you don’t get a dud:
Function
Is it easy to put together? Is the mattress decent? Does it have a weight limit and is it reasonable?
Portability
Can you lug it through an airport comfortably? Does it fold down and come with a carry bag? How heavy is it?
Style
Because you gotta look at it every damn night. Ha!
Price
Because nobody likes getting gouged. So, we’re here to help you figure out if the product worth it’s price tag. Or if it’s just a dud.
Oh, and notice we didn’t rate safety. Well the thing is, all of these cribs meet all required safety standards (e.g. materials and construction standards). So we didn’t really have any reason to give any one of them a less than 5-star rating. And that’s not helpful when comparing products, so we left the safety category out this time.
And the results are in…
The 10 Best Portable Cribs of 2020
| Function: |  (5.0 / 5) |
| Portability: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Style: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Price: |  (3.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (4.5 / 5) |
Topping the list is definitely this portable travel crib by phil&ted. Like most of their products, it’s coveted by the parenting community for being practical and portable, and built like a boss.
Pros
Cons
| Function: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Portability: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Style: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Price: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (4.3 / 5) |
The coveted Lotus crib comes in just a hair below the other two contenders, but it’s still a BIG favorite of parents on the go. Pricey, but man is it pretty.
Pros
Cons
| Function: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Portability: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Style: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Price: |  (2.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (3.8 / 5) |
Another heart throb of the parenting community, the Babybjorn Travel Crib is one of the swankiest options on the market, and is thoroughly loved for its portability and big squishy mattress.
Pros
Cons
| Function: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Portability: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Style: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (3.5 / 5) |
Not quite a Pack ‘n Play, and not quite a crib, this portable crib is lightweight, easy to set up, and great for families on a budget that want something like a Lotus.
Pros
Cons
| Function: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Portability: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Style: |  (1.0 / 5) |
| Price: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (3.3 / 5) |
This little-known gem gets some major love on Amazon, and I get why. It’s super cute, multipurpose, and freaking CHEAP!
Pros
Cons
| Function: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Portability: | (1.0 / 5) |
| Style: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (3.1 / 5) |
Another not-so-portable portable crib, the Delta is still perfect for people that shuffle baby from room to room a lot, thanks to its wheels and small, fitting-through-a-door friendly design.
Pros
Cons
| Function: | (3 / 5) |
| Portability: | (1 / 5) |
| Style: | (4 / 5) |
| Price: | (4 / 5) |
| Average: | (3 / 5) |
Another not-so-portable portable crib, the Delta is still perfect for people that shuffle baby from room to room a lot, thanks to its wheels and small, fitting-through-a-door friendly design.
Pros
Cons
| Function: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Portability: | (2.0 / 5) |
| Style: | (2.0 / 5) |
| Price: | (2.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (2.5 / 5) |
Though it’s not quite as sturdy as some of the other mesh-style portable cribs, this one by ElanBambino is only 11 lbs. and a bit more affordable.
Pros
Cons
Whether you travel a lot, or just want something small and portable until your baby moves up to a toddler bed, portable cribs are a great mobile sleeping option. Plus most can double as a pack and play too (so I’d only buy one or the other if you’re using it for travel).
Most come together pretty easily, but keep an eye out for reviews that point to faulty mechanics that make teardown a total pain, and be wary of overseas sellers without much information on what kinds of materials they use in their products.
