Phil and Teds Travel Crib Review (Why it’s the Best Travel Crib for Flights & Long-Haul Travel)

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The Phil and Teds Traveller travel crib is one of the lightest, most compact and most portable travel cribs on the market. Weighing in at only 6 Ibs, we had to wonder if the company sacrificed usability to keep the weight down. This review is based on 6 months of personally testing it – keep reading to find out what we think and how it performed during our own travel tests.


Phil & Teds Traveler (learn more)

AT A GLANCE

The phil & teds Traveller crib is a super light and ultra portable travel cot suitable for babies. This compact pack n’ play is good from birth until kids are 35″ (890mm) tall, or around 2-years-old. It’s made from a lightweight aluminum frame, polyester and nylon sides, and a fitted polyester sheet. The sides are made from breathable mesh – great news for safety and comfort. The mattress has a unique self-inflating system, is thermally-insulated for comfort, and is “free from health-hazardous substances,” and the mattress sheet is made from oeko-tex certified polyester. The self-inflating mattress does wonders for the ease of use, and the included carry bag makes transporting it easy. The Traveller’s weight is one of its best features: just 6 pounds (2.8kg)! It measures measures 46″L x 31″W x 24.8H” when assembled. This is super practical for long-haul trips in particular.

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Why Trust Us? What Went Into Our Review

When we decided we’d be doing a lot of international travel with our daughter, we knew we needed to get a travel play pen. We put a lot of thought into the products we give to our daughter, because we want her to be as safe as possible. From her crib mattress and crib sheets to her baby bathtubbath toys, and the methods we use to clean them – we like to do the research and choose the best! We did the same when it came time to get a travel cot.

We’ve been using the Traveller travel crib for about 6 months now. During that time, we’ve used it in 5 different countries, taken it on 8 flights, 1 road trip, and used it as a crib in 3 Airbnbs and 2 hotels, as well as a play yard at our house.

One thing I love about having this crib is, even when we move locations, our baby still has a familiar bed to sleep in! This is extra helpful when we’re traveling with a sleep regression (or just dealing with a time change).

This review of the phil & teds Traveller is based on our personal experiences. But other parents seem to agree it’s a great purchase!


The Traveller is a great, lightweight option for airplane travel in particular

The Bottom Line?

We love this travel cot, and recommend it for families traveling by airplane especially. It’s lightweight, compact, and pretty easy to use. Keep reading for a more detailed review or learn more on Amazon.

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Introducing the Traveller Crib

Frame & Fabric

The Traveller has an aluminum frame that’s super light and easily collapsible. Setting up the frame is like setting up a tent – you have to start with the tent poles (although it takes much less time than a tent, in my experience)! This is a key factor in making this a light and portable choice that’s great for packing and travel. While it takes longer than setting up other lightweight travel cribs, such as the BabyBjorn or the Guava Lotus, this allows it to be more compact for travel than those other two. When you take the legs apart, the crib packs up super compact. If you’re used to a “normal” pack and play like the 4moms play yard, you might even be a bit shocked to see how small this goes!

The aluminum legs have sturdy plastic feet which attach to the Traveller’s side panels with thick elastic loops. This construction ensures the Traveller is quite sturdy when assembled and standing. Our daughter was young when we used it, so I don’t have experience with her standing in it or trying to climb out of it. However, overall we were happy with the sturdiness based on our experiences.

Polyester and nylon make up the sides. Thick nylon wraps the top crib edge (frame) and synthetic mesh forms the breathable side panels.

Mesh Side Panels

The mesh is a great feature in all climates, as it allows ventilation and airflow throughout the crib (ventilation may be a factor in preventing SIDS).

Our review includes some hot weather testing in Mexico. We found this feature helps keep your child cool, and certainly gave us some extra peace of mind when we used it with a 4.5-month baby in Cabo. We let her sleep naked, just in a diaper, and she stayed perfectly comfortable!

Another awesome feature is the zip down side panel. On one side, the mesh panel zips fully open, giving easier access to mattress level when you placing your baby in the crib (or taking him or her out).

When you’re not using the bed, the mesh rolls up to be quite compact, so it all fits easily in the carry bag.

Unglamorous action shot of the Traveller at our Airbnb in Mexico. The mesh panel is zipped-down halfway on the right and fully zipped on the left.

Mattress & Bedding

The mattress itself is quite unique. It’s “self-inflating,” which means no messing around with air pumps (or blowing it up yourself). And it is supported by the floor, which means this pack n play doesn’t have an upper weight limit you have to watch out for. It also meets all safety regulations and is quite firm once inflated. If you feel the need to try to make it more comfortable, don’t put anything in the crib. We occasionally would stand it on top of blanket if the floor was particularly cold, although I can’t say whether the company would approve of that or not.

According to the company, the mattress is “free from health-hazardous substances.” Unfortunately, they don’t tell you what it is made from, which is a shame.

The mattress sheet also has a lot to love. To start with, it’s a slip-on design, so you know it’s going to fit tight with no loose (and hazardous) fabric around your baby. It’s made from an “oeko-tex approved” polyester. OEKO-TEX® has multiple certifications, so the language used on phil & ted’s website isn’t particularly helpful in understanding how toxin-free the crib sheet is.

Using the phil & teds Traveller Crib

The Traveller feels sturdy and well-made, and I feel pretty confident it’s going to outlast our baby’s ability to use it (when she’s two or three years old). If we have another baby, or pass it on to another family, I expect it will last for their kids too – it’s a well-made piece of nursery furniture, although certainly not a proper crib.

Setting it Up

There are plenty of reviews out there criticizing the Traveller for being difficult to set up. We haven’t found that to be the case. phil & teds have released multiple versions of the Traveller, and we have to wonder if reviews complaining about usability relate to previous versions of the crib.

To be sure, it took a few times before we got the hang of set-up and take down. Also, it’s a bit more complicated than setting up a pack n’ play – it’s more like setting up a tent.

Nowadays, however, we can get the traveller set up in just a few minutes. The mattress requires about 4 minutes to inflate most of the way, but you need to give it 30 minutes or longer for it to fill completely. That’s fine most of the time, but not awesome on long travel days, when you just want to get your baby to sleep.

Using It With Your Baby

We use the Traveller for day and nighttime sleep instead of a crib when we travel, and as a play yard.

One of the most practical features of the Traveller is the zippered side panel. As a short mom (I’m 5’0″), the crib is too tall for me. When the side panel is zipped up, I can’t bend over the crib and reach all the way down to mattress-level. As such, the zip-down panel is a favorite feature.

Now that our baby is 10-months, it’s easier to set her down in the Traveller. We keep the panel unzipped when she’s sitting and playing during the day, which gives her the freedom to practice moving around, but also keeps her a bit protected when she tumbles over. It’s also great for lifting her out of the crib when she wakes-up: if you have back problems, especially, it makes a huge difference.

The Traveller in Greece

Comfort Review

One of the most surprising things about the Traveller is how darn comfortable it appears to be.

When you first inflate the Traveller’s crib mattress, it’s hard to imagine it could provide enough support for a baby. After 4 or 5 minutes of inflation, you can easily push from the top of the mattress through to the hard floor below. Yikes!

This is definitely a case of “patience is a virtue.”

If leave the mattress air valve open for the recommended 30 minutes (we always try to give it a bit longer), the mattress transforms into a pretty comfy little sleeping platform.

When it’s fully inflated, the mattress measures roughly 1.25″ from the floor to the top of the mattress. If you apply even force to the fully inflated mattress, it feels plush. It doesn’t sink down too much, and you can’t feel the floor below. A baby’s crib mattress should be firm, and it’s kind of astonishing how well the Traveller’s mattress performs. Thin but mighty, and no need to improve the comfort of this pack and play!

We also love the slip on mattress sheet. It fits perfectly, with no loose fabric, and is very soft to the touch. The fabric is oeko-tex certified, too – good news for safety.

Packing & Portability

When we were shopping for a travel pack n’ play, packability (along with weight) was one of our main deciding factors.

We travel a lot on discount airlines in Europe. Often, the cost of our luggage is more than the price of our tickets. Because of this, it’s worth it to keep our luggage to a minimum, which is of course a challenge when you’re bringing a baby along.

The phil & teds travel crib is awesome for packing. It weighs only 6 pounds, and takes up roughly the same amount of space as a thick yoga mat. Pair it with a travel blackout blind, and our kiddo can sleep anywhere!

Basically, it’s made for people who travel like us: on a budget, with a fair number of flights. If you plan on doing a lot of car trips, where space isn’t at such a premium, this review might not be as helpful.

Phil and Teds Traveller travel cot packed in the included carry bag with shoulder strap
All packed up and ready for a trip!

Safety & Green Score

The Traveller meets the government safety standards in the countries where it’s sold. What that means really depends on where you live, unfortunately.

Use of Fire Retardants

Whether phil & teds adds flame retardants to the Traveller depends on where you buy it.

As the company isn’t clear about its use of flame retardants online, we reached out to them to ask.

In Europe, “we can confirm that the fire retardant is only a requirement in UK and Ireland.” We interpreted this to mean if you buy a Traveller in continental EU, it won’t have fire retardant added. If you buy a Traveller in the UK/Ireland, it will have fire retardant added.

The company has yet to respond to my query about Traveller cribs sold in the USA and Canada.

Mattress & Bedding Safety

Here’s what the phil & teds website has to say about the mattress and sheet:

baby can rest easy too on the thermally insulated self-inflating mattress, which is covered with an oeko-tex approved fitted sheet & is free from health-hazardous substances for peace of mind.

The wording here is a bit confusing. Is it the sheet that’s “free from health-hazardous substances”? Or the mattress?

The phrase “oeko-tex approved” is equally problematic. The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification is an awesome way to confirm textiles are free from harmful chemicals. The problem is, phil & teds hasn’t actually said the sheet has achieved the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification. The wording is vague, and could refer to one of OEKO-TEX® other certifications. Or it could mean they are using fabric that meets OEKO-TEX® standards, but they haven’t actually gotten the certification.

I looked in the OEKO-TEX® database for phil & teds, and couldn’t find anything listed. It’s possible I used the database incorrectly, and have reached out to both phil & teds and OEKO-TEX® for confirmation. Neither have responded to date.

Transparency

Overall, we really like our phil & teds traveller.

However, we’re also pretty disappointed with the information the company provides online. We still have a lot of question marks about the chemicals and materials used in the Traveller, and it seems like it should be easier to get answers.

Phil and Teds Travel Crib Summary

Based on our own testing, we give the Traveller travel crib 4.1 stars out of five

What’s to Love

  • Super lightweight, compact, and portable. Lighter than most (if not all) travel cribs on the market, it is ideal for airplane trips. We packed ours in checked luggage, but you could take it carry on as well.
  • The zip-down side panel is practical for all parents, but it’s especially great if you have a bad back or are short.
  • Easy to put together and take apart, making it a good choice for short stays or moving locations every few days. This would be a great travel cot for a multi-city vacation in Europe, for example, or a road trip!
  • OEKO-TEX® approved fitted sheet and a mattress that’s free from health-hazardous substances – despite the problems with transparency, it seems phil & teds is moving in the right direction when it comes to harmful chemicals.
  • Thermally insulated mattress means you can set it up on a cool floor, and your little one will still be a comfortable temperature.
  • Easier to clean than a traditional pack and play.
  • Packs up quite small, and the included bag comes with a shoulder strap for easy transport.
  • Mid-range pricing – this isn’t the cheapest travel crib out there, but it’s also not the most expensive. If you plan to use it a lot (as we have), it’s easy to see the value and justify the expense.

Product Cons and What We’d Change

  • The mattress seems too thin to provide adequate support for a baby, especially older and heavier babies and young kids.
  • Your Traveller crib may or may not have flame retardants added, depending on where you buy it.
  • The company really isn’t very forthcoming about the chemicals used in the crib’s manufacture. We’re still left with a lot of questions about whether this crib is non-toxic.

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