As a new parent, you will quickly find that having safe areas to place baby when you are busy is beyond important! In the beginning, this is easy because you have a bouncer or swing. However, as baby grows, he or she will outgrow these beloved treasures. Then, you will need something bigger but still safe to house that little munchkin. That is where travel cribs come in. Thankfully, there are a handful of safe and non-toxic play yards you can trust!
What Are Non-Toxic Play Yards and Travel Cribs?
First, all of the baby lingo can be confusing. We get that! It doesn’t help that there can oftentimes be several names for just one item. For example, play yards and travel cribs! These small enclosures are where babies or young children can rest, sleep, or even play safely.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Ultimately, there are a few differences between the two if you get real technical. However, at least in the United States, the terms are pretty interchangeable. BUT… we still want to cover the slight differences in case it makes or breaks which you choose.
A Few Differences
Mattress
A travel crib will most likely have a little thicker of a mattress than a play yard since it is mainly created for baby’s rest.
Weight
Playards tend to be a little heavier than travel cribs as they were made to “stay put” for longer periods of time. As the name suggests, travel cribs are made for just that! Travel. On the other hand, play yards were made sturdy for play in a relatively consistent location. However, they can be easily packed up and moved!
Safest Non-Toxic Play Yards and Travel Cribs for Baby
Guava Lotus Travel Crib
Of all non-toxic travel cribs, the Guava Lotus is known to be one of the (if not the) best on the market. The highlight of this amazing non-toxic play yard is its lightweight making portability easy peesy!
This travel crib only weighs 13 pounds and it can be stored or carried around in its backpack case.
Not only convenient, but this travel crib is also safe too! It is Greenguard Gold certified, non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, and flame-retardant-free. I know… that is a lot! Long story short, it is super safe for your little one!
As for sleeping conditions (every parent’s major concern), this play yard comes with breathable mesh sides giving adequate air ventilation during sleep.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Greenguard certified
- Folds down to a backpack
- Breathable mesh sides
Cons:
- Mattress touches the ground
Related Post: The Best Organic Mattresses on the Market
BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light
The brand BABYBJORN is well-known for having amazing non-toxic baby items leaving no surprise when giving us these non-toxic play yards! Much like the Guava Lotus, parents rave about the super lightweight and easy portability.
It, too, has full mesh sides and a long list of material safety certifications. This non-toxic travel crib is made of Oeko-Tex certified fabric and is certified safe by both JPMA and ASTM International!
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Breathable mesh sides
- Oeko-Tex certified fabric
- Machine washable fabric
Cons:
- The mattress rests on the floor
Nuna Sena Aire Play Yard
Coming in two different sizes, you will have your choice of a larger or smaller non-toxic play yard for your little one. While the full-size version offers a bassinet for baby that folds down with the crib when traveling, both come with a travel bag and GOTS-certified organic cotton sheet!
Another huge benefit you may receive by purchasing the full-size model is the changer accessory making diaper changes much easier.
With either option, you will have a beautiful travel crib that keeps baby safe in numerous ways. One of which is the 360 ventilation this play yard offers.
Pros:
- Machine washable zip cover
- Folds down with one hand
- Breathable sides
- Travel bag and organic sheet included
Cons:
- Price
4moms Breeze GO Portable Travel Play Yard
Ringing in a bit heavier, we have the 4moms Breeze GO non-toxic play yard. While this travel crib is a hefty 23 pounds, it is still super easy to put up and takedown. You just may not want to take it on any hikes.
Unlike others, this travel crib does not touch the ground which means you need to be a little more careful when it comes to the weight limit the manufacturer has in place for the play yard (which is 30 pounds).
Pros:
- Water-resistant mattress
- Convenient travel bag
Cons:
- Weight
- Mesh sides do not extend to the bottom
Joovy Room2 Portable Play Yard
If simplicity and affordability are what you are after, this non-toxic travel crib may be the best pick for you! After all, baby items can be beyond expensive. Why not save where you can? Just… make sure you are still checking off all of the safety boxes.
Which, you definitely can do with this amazing non-toxic play yard!
What people love about this play yard is its size. It is a unique square shape that covers more than 10 square feet. Meaning, multiple babies could be housed in this thing with no problem! Twin mommy? No problem!
An even more budget-friendly aspect of this travel crib is the fact that it comes with a 100% cotton fitted sheet and travel bag. That way, you don’t have to worry about buying as many sheets!
Pros:
- Price
- Size
- Can handle multiple babies
Cons:
- Not the easiest setup
- Weight
Sleep Soundly Little One
Knowing the material of any baby product is important. Believe it or not, knowing the materials of your baby’s sleeping products is even more important! We have covered how necessary this is in past posts like this one. Thankfully, we have so many options available to give our babies the best and safest rest in these non-toxic travel cribs!