The BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light provides a safe space for babies to sleep and play when they aren’t at home. Parents who travel frequently can benefit from this product because it packs up into a small, durable carrying case. It meets standards for a safe sleep space for smaller babies but is large enough to last beyond the first year. Read on for all the details of this pack n’ play and to find out if it’s worth the price.
Setup Process: You get what you pay for
If there is anything about this travel crib that is worth the price tag, it’s the setup and tear down process. When I first pulled the framing out of the bag, it felt like all I had to do was give it a little shake and it set itself up. Okay, that’s a stretch, but it really was super easy and intuitive. I had never used this product prior to receiving it and I didn’t have to pull out the instructions at all for setup. Tear down was also really easy, but not quite as intuitive. I tried to do it by myself a few times before giving in and pulling up a YouTube video to help me out. Once I watched the process one time, I was good. I was able to tear it down without a problem each time I used it from there. Also, packing it up into its carrier was extremely easy. There aren’t any special measures I had to take to ensure everything was packed up correctly. It fits into the case with ease (no forcing the zipper closed).
Design: Sleek and durable
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light is made from quality materials. Its framing is made from thin metal rods that, despite their appearance, hold up the play yard well and are not flimsy. The top of the crib is lined with thick, padded fabric to ensure a baby won’t hurt themselves on any metal. The play yard itself sort of hangs from the top frame, as the metal bars aren’t directly attached to it. The sides of the play yard are made from a mesh fabric that allows for visibility into the space as well as airflow, making it safe for sleep if your baby presses up against it. The mattress comes folded in half, unattached, and has straps sewn onto the bottom of it, which loop through the bottom of the play yard’s framing and connect to a hook (one on each of the four legs) to ensure it stays put and doesn’t pose a risk to a sleeping or playing baby. Additionally, the mattress is really plush (not too plush, of course) so it’s definitely a cozy spot for a baby to sleep. The fabric that covers the mattress is okay, but it really needs a sheet for comfortable sleeping. Because of the play yard’s design, the mattress sits pretty much on the floor, which makes it a little tough to lay down or lift babies who can’t sit up or pull up on their own. Once it’s set up, the pack n’ play offers a lot of space for a baby to play and sleep. It’s not as large as a standard size crib, of course, but at over 3 feet long, it will take a while for a child to outgrow it for sleep. My favorite part about the play yard is that all of the fabric is removable and washable. Even the most “stain-resistant” fabrics can get pretty dirty (and gross) from spit-up, drool, sticky hands, and (worst case scenario) diaper mishaps, so this feature is a major plus. Coming in at a close second for favorite features is this travel crib’s weight and portability. Carrying it from room to room was a breeze and carrying it in the travel case may have been easier than carrying my daughter’s diaper bag. Parents always have about a million things to carry, so I really appreciated the attention the manufacturer put into this detail.
Safety: Low risk, even for young toddlers
This play yard was designed carefully to reduce safety hazards as much as possible. Everything is breathable, the crib’s legs stand outward to provide more stability, and all the metal pieces are thoroughly covered. The main thing parents need to stay alert about is their child’s ability to crawl out of the play yard. Once they learn how to do that, it’s time to discontinue use.
Age Range: Focus on safety, not age range
The manufacturer lists the age range for this product as 0 to 3 years (or until they can crawl out of the play yard) and it has no weight limit. As a mom to both a baby (7-months-old) and a little kid (3-year-old), I have to disagree. A more realistic age range would likely be 3 months to 2 years. Since my oldest daughter is past the 3-year mark, I didn’t test the product with her in it, but there’s no way it would have worked for her even in the months leading up to her third birthday. She’s much too big physically and was able to crawl out of her crib when she was only 18 months old. Not every kid climbs as early as she did, but I still think this product would be a stretch for most 3-year-olds. On the other end, it would be really difficult to safely lay down and pick up an infant without head control in this play yard. My 7-month-old (who was born premature, so is around 5-months developmentally) can’t sit up on her own quite yet and it was tough for me to pick her up from that low on the ground, so I can’t imagine being able to safely lay down a newborn.
Price: On the highest of high-end
At around $300, this is definitely not budget-friendly. Comparable products start at around $60 so there is a big gap. There are aspects to the play yard, like portability and ease of setup and tear down, that call for a higher price tag, but this price still seems a little inflated. Also, you’ll probably want a sheet for the mattress. If you want to purchase a fitted sheet with the travel crib, Babybjorn sells it as a bundle for $20 more.
Competition: A lot of options
Interested in checking out more options? Take a peek at our roundup of the best pack n’ plays. There is no shortage of pack n’ play options on the market, but the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light stands alone in its portability, convenience, and durability. If you’re a family that only travels here and there, it may not be worth the extra money to upgrade. However, if you travel a lot, this play yard will last you a long time, it will be easy to pack into a car or carry in an airport, and it will be easy to pop up in a hotel room—so the price is worth it.
