We named the Lotus Travel Crib our number one choice in our round up to the best travel cribs.
In this review, we’ll take a more detailed look at the Lotus Travel Crib and see how it compares to some of the other popular cribs out there.
Lotus Travel Crib review summary and first impressions
The Lotus by Guava Family is super lightweight, yet sturdy travel crib designed for travel.
It’s designed to be used as both a crib and an area where your baby can happily and comfortably play.
The crib has a side zipper, which is convenient for playtime with your baby while also making it easy for you to transfer your baby in and out without the need to bend.
It is a suitable crib for newborns and up to 3 years of age (or until your child can climb out).
You get a comfortable mattress, a carrying backpack with straps, instruction manual, and a two-year warranty.
Things we like:
- The crib is highly compact when folded and the backpack makes it easy to carry on the plane and through large airports. It’s also super lightweight at only 13lbs.
- The backpack case is convenient, leaving your hands free to handle your luggage
- The side zipper is a perfect addition as it prevents you from having to bend down after soothing your baby to sleep.
- The cover of the crib is machine washable.
Things we don’t like:
- Not something they could have avoided, but the zipper makes a sound, which can wake up your baby if they are a light sleeper
- The mattress included in this crib is on the thin side. While some parents have an issue with this, studies show that babies don’t need a thick mattress to be comfortable, as we do.
While the Lotus isn’t the lightest travel crib we’ve tested (that honor goes to the phil&teds Portable Traveller Crib), it has the best overall combination of features and quality.
The backpack carrying case is a great design feature that makes this crib a better pick for traveling families than the phil&ted or the more expensive BabyBjörn.
Using the Lotus Travel Crib
Let’s have a detailed look at what the Lotus crib offers:
Portability & convenience
To help you keep your hands free while moving through airports the cary bag converts in to a comfortable backpack. The straps make it easy to carry the crib around, leaving your hands free.
The square shape is a good size to pack into a car or squeeze into the overhead locker as well as in the hotel room or other accommodation.
The measurement of this crib is 12.6″H x 24.8″L x 9.3″W once completely folded.
Another great thing about the backpack is that it stands on the end, even when the crib is inside.
At 13lbs the crib is lighter in weight than a lot of other similar models.
As this product is compact, it takes up minimal space in the plane overhead storage,
Another good feature about this crib is that it is super easy to break down and set up. This saves you time and effort without getting frustrated at following tricky instructions.
This video shows you how the crib unpacks
This crib is easy and fast to set up, making it more convenient and less time-consuming for you during your travels. However, setting it up for the first time might take longer than usual. It is best to try setting it up and folding it back a few times before you begin your travels to get a better handle on it.
Setting the crib up is easier as compared to folding it and placing it in the travel bag. The fold often gets too big to put in the bag. However, this might also get less tricky as you use it more.
The backpack carrier is super convenient for traveling and earns this product a few extra points for ease of use, as not many companies offer this feature.
The straps are very comfortable and soft which makes it easier for you to carry your baby and handle other things without worrying about the crib.
Side door zip for converts the crib into a play area
One of the best things about this crib is its zipper side door. This feature is rarely available in the majority of the lightweight cribs.
This lets you open the crib up for use as a play area when your child is awake. Simply leave the door open to allow your toddler to go in and out of the crib.
Our son ended up spending almost as much time in his travel crib awake as he did asleep! Of course you’ll need lots of toys to make it and interesting and fun place to be.
If your baby needs to fall asleep in your arms, this side door can prove extremely useful. You will find that putting your sleeping baby inside a crib is easier than bending over the top. The side door also allows you to lie down next to your baby, cuddling her to sleep.
Health and Safety
The Lotus crib ticks all the boxes when it comes to health and safety, including several safety certifications.
There are no heavy metals, no lead, no phthalates, no PVC, and no flame retardants used in this product. It is completely breathable from all sides, and has a ClearView Mesh.
It has full airflow for the comfort of your baby, and gives you a total unobstructed view of your child for the peace of your mind. The cover of the crib is machine washable and removable, which means it can easily and thoroughly be cleaned.
When it comes to eco-health, this crib has earned Greenguard gold standard certification. This means that the product has been tested thoroughly for chemical emissions and has passed with flying colors.
Most importantly, this is the only crib to receive this rigorous certification, giving it 10 out of 10 for eco-health. This is an extremely important benefit of the crib since most travel cribs rarely earn a score of 1 in this category.
Comfort Level
The mattress directly sits on the floor which has a few advantages.
There’s less material to add to the total weight of the crib, and the noise from raised mattress cribs can actually cause your baby to wake up.
The mattress is soft but not too soft, and it does not depress too much to the bottom which could otherwise make it too hard for comfort.
The Lotus is cozier as compared to the majority of the travel crib mattresses.
Some users have complained that the mattress doesn’t seem thick enough. We didn’t find any issues with our son sleeping on a thin mattress, and from the research we’ve done it seems like babies don’t need as plush a matress as adults.
A thicker mattress would also add to the overall weight of the crib, making it heavier.
If you’re concerned you can always make it thicker by adding some folded up blankets or towels under the mattress.
Quality
The mesh and fabric of this product is durable, without any potential issues or loose stitching. The stitching on the handles of the backpack stretches after using it for a few times, which might create issues in the future.
The frame also has a slight wiggle in it when it is pushed but pressing the top rails can help you to hold it to the ground more firmly. The zipper seems a little flimsy but hasn’t given any trouble so far.
There aren’t any major issues faced while using this product
Alternatives travel cribs to consider
You would want to compare this product with the cribs by other companies before making your final decision.
These are the two other travel cribs we would recommend you consider.
Travel Crib Light by BabyBjörn
This travel crib is another great option to help your baby sleep comfortably away from home. Just like Lotus crib, this product is also lightweight, easy to carry and set up. It is suitable for newborns and toddlers, between the ages of 0 and 3 years.
Let’s have a look at the features and benefits of this travel crib:
- The mattress available in this crib is softer and comfortable.
- It also comes with a carry bag (but no backpack)
- It weighs almost the same as the Lotus crib but the actual size when folded up is bigger
- This crib complies with safety standards (EN 716) for folding cribs and national fire safety requirements.
- The BabyBjörn is definitely easier to put up and take down.
- Like the Lotus crib, this product is also breathable and offers an unobstructed view of your baby.
- It is JPMA-certified -product.
- The material is also removable and washable in machine.
For a full breakdown check out our Lotus Travel Crib VS BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light breakdown.
While there isn’t a side door in this product, the BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light still has good features that can make your travel easier. Definitely worth checking it out although it is more expensive than the Lotus.
Portable Traveller Crib by Phil & Teds
This is the lightest crib we’ve tested and I believe the lightest travel crib currently for sale.
Like the other cribs we have looked at it is also suitable for newborns and toddlers, between the ages of 0 and 3 years. It can be used for travel and also at home.
Let’s have a look at the features and benefits of this crib:
- This is the lightest among the rest of the travel cribs, weight only 7 lbs!
- It is super compact, just like the Lotus crib, and can easily be stored in the overhead compartment.
- This product also includes a travel bag to easily carry the crib around.
- The setup is also easy, but the mattress is self-inflating and takes about 15 minutes to inflate.
- While Lotus crib doesn’t come with the sheet, this product has a sheet included.
- This crib is also breathable and offers an unobstructed view of your baby.
- The mattress in this crib has a thermal insulation layer.
- Just like the Lotus crib, this product also includes zip side door.
Phil&Teds Portable Traveller Crib offers is an excellent alternative, especially if you are concerned with the weight.
Both the Lotus and BabyBjörn are both a little bit more sturdy, and the inflatable mattress does trade convenience for a lighter total weight.
Should you buy the Lotus Travel Crib?
The Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib is a great solution for traveling comfortably with your baby or toddler. It is highly compact, lightweight, and has added features to make your baby sleep in peace.
There aren’t any significant issues with this product making it suitable for long travels. The backpack carry case is one of the best features of this crib; making is super convenient to carry around.
The side door is another favorite feature offered in this product. It gives your toddler a play area during the day and a safe comfy area to sleep at night.
Lastly, the most significant feature of this crib is the Greenguard gold standard certification, which makes this crib highly safe for your baby.
You will have a much relaxing trip knowing you have a ready-to-use crib with you wherever you go!
