Last updated on January 23rd, 2023 at 11:57 am
What is a portable folding crib on wheels?
A portable folding crib on wheels is a wooden or metal baby crib, which stands on caster wheels and folds down without disassembly. The best portable cribs on wheels are lightweight, with lockable casters and quality folding mechanism.
While mini portable folding cribs are more common, you can opt for a full-size version as well! The advantage of mini portable cribs over full-size portable cribs is their smaller footprint. They take up less space and fit perfectly into small spaces. But full-size portable cribs last longer. Their inner size is the same as any standard size crib, and some, like Babyletto Maki, even grows with your child.
A quality portable folding crib has:
- A minimalistic frame: No matter if it’s a full-size or mini, wooden, or portable metal crib, to be amongst the best, it must have a sleek frame. As such, it fits through standard room doorways without folding.
- Together with smooth-rolling wheels, you can just push it from one room to another.
- A crib on wheels must have a reliable locking mechanism, which keeps it steady when the baby is in it.
- The best portable cribs fold down easily and quickly, without any disassembly needed.
- The mattress support of the best portable cribs fits into the folded crib.
- They must fold down as small as it’s possible.
- A portable crib is the best option for co-sleeping with a baby. It is a more long-term alternative to baby bassinets, and more stylish than Pack ‘N Plays.
Best portable folding crib on wheels in 2023
The best full-size portable folding crib on wheels:
Babyletto Maki full-size portable crib
Why we love it:
- it’s portable and convertible
- modern design
- it is a full-size crib with a small footprint
- removable cater wheels
- great folding mechanism
- it converts into a toddler bed
- you get a safety guardrail for a toddler bed with the crib
- it has a two-level adjustable mattress support
- it meets and exceeds all safety standards
- GREENGUARD Gold certified
The best mini portable folding crib on wheels:
Babyletto Origami mini portable crib
Why we love it:
- perfect for co-sleeping
- modern design
- it meets and exceeds all safety standards
- GREENGUARD Gold certified
- quality crib, with lockable, smooth-gliding wheels
- small footprint
- it’s available in multiple finishes, including unique colors such as Lagoon or Petal Pink
- when folded, it doesn’t take up a lot of space (fits into car trunk)
- durable and lightweight
- two-level adjustable mattress support
- included 1″ mattress pad
Different types of portable cribs
If a crib stands on wheels, it’s portable. It doesn’t need a folding mechanism to belong in this group!
So, when buying a portable crib, check-up if it can fold down too! While most mini portable cribs collapse for storage, there are full-size models, such as DaVinci Jenny Lind, which do not fold down.
A group of portable cribs is broad and unique. All following crib types belong to portable cribs:
- mini portable cribs
- full-size folding portable crib
- full-size portable cribs that do not fold down
- travel cribs
- Pack ‘N Plays
There is a big difference between a travel crib and a wooden portable crib. While the portability of classic cribs is tied on your home, are travel cribs meant mostly for traveling, and the Pack ‘N Plays are somewhere in between, for home usage and traveling.
Safety
Obviously, a portable crib can’t be as sturdy as standard convertible or nonconvertible cribs. If someone claims this, that’s a lie. That’s because of a folding mechanism and wheels.
But the best portable cribs on wheels meet and even exceed all required safety standards. They are almost as sturdy as regular cribs. And if you lock the wheels, the crib stands in place, and it’s as safe as any other crib. Don’t forget to lock the wheels!
If the model you like doesn’t have locks, don’t overthink and don’t buy it. There is a lot of beautiful and most important, safe foldable cribs with a reliable locking mechanism on the wheels you can get.
A mattress for the portable crib
The inner measurements of full-size portable cribs are standardized. So any standard-size baby crib mattress fits into any full-size portable crib.
U.S. regulations define:
- a standard size crib is a baby crib with the following measurements: 52 3⁄8 ± 5⁄8 inches in length by 28 ± 5⁄8 inches in width
- a standard crib mattress is a baby crib mattress with the following measurements: at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 5/8 inches and no more than 6 inches thick
The size of the mini portable cribs is, on the contrary, not determined by law. Any baby crib, which is smaller than a standard crib, is a mini crib. However, in most cases, the inner dimensions of mini portable cribs are around 38″ (96,52cm) by 24″ (60,96cm), and most mini crib mattresses correspond to those measurements.
Links to our reviews
Full-size portable folding cribs:
Mini portable cribs:
Do either of these cribs fit in the trunk of a car?
I don’t think so! Maybe in a really big car. If you want a wooden folding crib on wheels that fits into a car trunk, think about the mini folding crib, like Babyletto Origami.
Regards, Ines
Thanks for the comparison reviews! I am going with the Babyletto! Your suggestions and recommendations helped!
I am glad that the article helped you with your decision! Babyletto Maki is such a great baby crib, so I think you won’t be disappointed!
Regards, Ines