We are traveling to NYC next month and the hotel charges $25/day for a crib. So I think I'm going to bring a travel crib and I'm debating between the 4 moms breeze and baby bjorn.
Anyone have any experience with these? The baby bjorn is lighter but the breeze looks sturdier? They are about the same price point. I know I don't want a regular pnp because I need something easy to set up and take down.
pomelo / 5820 posts
I don't have experience with the bjorn, but we were just gifted a breeze. It's awesome. It snaps into place in seconds. It's not light, but it's not extremely heavy to carry.
coconut / 8430 posts
I returned the Baby Bjorn because I thought it was too bulky to take travelling by air (didn't look like it would fit in a suitcase). Bought a Guava GoCrib instead! I like that it will fit in a large suitcase or we could hand carry it. I think it's around the same weight as the Baby Bjorn.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I love our Baby Bjorn crib...light and easy to set up and take down. We used two of them last week during our vacation....borrowed SIL's for the baby!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
I also love our Bjorn. So so easy to put up and take down, and LO has never complained -- he's slept in it several times. It's very sturdy and is showing little to no wear.
pear / 1609 posts
@Pepper: is it bulky folded up? I feel like I might get more use out of the breeze.
@sunny: thanks! I'll check that one out!
@autumnlove: @Mrs. Yoyo: thanks. Good to know it is pretty sturdy!
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I have the breeze and it's definitely heavy! I don't know about the other pnp, but this one has been great for us.
pomelo / 5820 posts
@MamaJ: Not really. It's pretty compact. Here's a picture next to my baby bag for reference.
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@MamaJ: the bjorn is only 11 pounds vs 26 for the Breeze! Biiiig difference! At least when you are traveling.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
We got the bjorn since we are camping and traveling where we live now. It's kind of amazing. I wish we'd never gotten a pack and play. Super compact and lightweight...but it's sturdy and the mattress is way more comfy than PNP.
grapefruit / 4671 posts
The Bjorn is incredible, very sturdy and travels phenomenally. Snaps into place very quickly, the weight makes a if difference in the long run.
bananas / 9973 posts
I've never had experience closing or carrying the Breeze, though they have one at our Nordstrom set up and it looks pretty nice! We have the Baby Bjorn and it is really light and easy to set up. I think 11 lbs? I've taken it with us overseas and packed it in our (large) suitcase, with room to still pack clothes and diapers.
pineapple / 12566 posts
I only have experience with the Bjorn and we love it. It sets up in seconds. We got it when DS was a toddler, and it is definitely sturdy.
Question: do you have to pay to check the crib if you are flying?
pear / 1609 posts
@lamariniere: I am not sure but I think so. but the cost of renting a crib will be dang close to just buying one. I want to go with the bjorn because maybe I can fit it in my suitcase and not check it?
@shopaholic: I really want the breeze but it seems so heavy to travel with... yet I might get more use out of it around the house.
This is a hard decision. First world problems haha 
bananas / 9973 posts
@lamariniere: @MamaJ: This is the problem with both. I've read here on HB, some people were able to take it as a carry-on and/or gate check it with the stroller. But I know it doesn't meet the width requirement of a carry-on and never seen anyone gate check a pnp/crib. I actually called the airline and they had NO IDEA what I was talking about. The CS actually asked the manager, who said she didn't see "crib" (or know what a "pack n play was"). I didn't want to risk it, so I just bought a large suitcase and it worked out fine. I haven't been on any flight since the baby that I can see where it would fit in the overhead bin.
pear / 1609 posts
@shopaholic: I was thinking of calling the airline too. I looked on their site and didn't see anything! Guess they probably won't know anything either if I call.
cherry / 133 posts
I know you asked about the breeze and the baby bjorn, but The lotus is on sale for $189 right now on the guava website. We're going on vacation too and I'll have to check with out hotel about cribs. Thanks for the reminder. If we have to rent, then I might go for the lotus.
pear / 1609 posts
@s1lly: is it? hmm... When I checked the hotel website it said "crib ($25)" so I thought maybe it was a one time fee, but I called and it's per day. Just an FYI when you check with where ever you are staying!
pineapple / 12566 posts
@MamaJ: @shopaholic: I asked because we vacationed in Asia earlier this year and the crib flew for free as checked baggage on the way there, but on the way back, the same airline wanted to charge is $150 to check it! They finally let us carry on for free, but I would have been really upset to pay that much to check it. Luckily it fit in the overhead since it was a really big plane. Also, the case is pretty big, you would have to have MASSIVE suitcase to put it in. I just measured ours and it is 23x19x6.
apricot / 303 posts
Love our bjorn travel crib! We just put it on a large suitcase with other items and had no problem.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@MamaJ: also, since you are going to NYC, maybe you could buy one upon arrival so as not to pay to check it for one leg of the trip? I used to live there and there is a Buy Buy Baby, BRU, and tons of smaller stores that are easy to access that would have one or the other crib.
pear / 1609 posts
@lamariniere: I was thinking the same thing. We are going to visit my great grandma and I was going to ask her what baby stores were nearby to buy there instead of paying to get it checked both ways. She is buying DS a walker for when we are there, then she will mail it to our house. I wonder if mailing the crib to ourselves would be cheaper than checking it? I am not sure though I don't mail too many packages.
pear / 1609 posts
@lamariniere: oh and $150? WTF. I would think it would only cost the $25 baggage fee or whatever. I've never flown internationally though!
pineapple / 12566 posts
@MamaJ: no idea for postage, but it's definitely worth checking into, especially if grandma is already mailing one thing back. Have a great time!
pineapple / 12566 posts
@MamaJ: yeah, I don't know if it was because it was international or what, I doubt it fell into the oversized category. At any rate, it was totally excessive!
grapefruit / 4770 posts
*bump* We received a large gift card at our baby shower, and I'm trying to decide which to get. I saw the 4moms breeze in the store, and loved how simple it was, and that it comes with the bassinet. However, a few older threads talked about the bjorn and how much lighter it is. Any recent opinions or anyone else care to chime in! We travel mostly by car.
pineapple / 12053 posts
@dc yoga bee: my vote is for the guava family lotus crib! we still use ours for DD at 2y3m because it sits on the ground and has a zipper on the side so she/we can get in and out. it's small and light.
apricot / 452 posts
@s1lly: & @birdofafeather: That Guava Lotus crib looks amazing. If we succeed in having #2, I'm definitely getting one! I hadn't heard of it, so thanks!
eggplant / 11716 posts
@ballerinabee: @dc yoga bee: We have the Lotus too, and we really like it. We fly a few times a year, and it's small enough to carry on the plane--and when we travel by car, it doesn't take up much space--it's a breeze to set up.
pomegranate / 3401 posts
@dc yoga bee: my vote is also for the lotus! We've travelled with ours domestically and internationally and it's so light and awesome and super easy to carry backpack style. The only annoying thing is the stupid sheet is tricky to get on.
grapefruit / 4770 posts
It looks pretty nifty!! They don't sell it at buy buy baby though. I need to find something else to use it on now lol.
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