Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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135 of 135 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing! End your search now! Worth EVERY penny!, April 4, 2008
THIS CRIB IS AMAZING! I know that it is soooo difficult to take another person's word for it, but trust me - you won't be disappointed! I was really apprehensive about spending so much money on a travel crib. We are currently living on student loan money, so I actually used birthday money to purchase this...it is the best birthday money I have EVER spent! I did so much research on travel cribs because I want to get my money's worth. We didn't want our pack n play anymore because we are adding to our family this year and will have three kids now - the pack n play takes up WAY too much room in the trunk, so I wanted something smaller. Plus, the pack n play is ridiculous with it's cardboard mattress and bar right in the middle of their back. Here's why you need this crib:
Weight, Size & Mattress:
When they say light - they mean it! It is so easy to lift and carry, which is a big deal because I'm pregnant and on the wimpy side. The pack n play is near impossible for me to get around. Also, the way in which it folds up is amazing! It fits into a brief-case shaped bag which is VERY durable and strong and fits much more easily when trying to pack for a trip. One of my favorite things is the mattress! It is so comfortable! It is actually soft (not too soft for newborns though). Definitely beats ANY pack n play mattress 100 to 1. By the way - I looked everywhere to find out if they sold sheets that fit the mattress because it is not the same size as a pack n play. When I called Baby Swede, they said that any standard crib sheet would fit. You could even just line it with a blanket if you wanted to. They should sell you a secondary mattress cover in case you need to switch them in the middle of the night, but you can probably get an extra one from the manufacturer. Another thing about the mattress size - it is 4" longer than a pack n play and only 1" shorter in width. Since your children grow length wise, this is ideal! My daughter is only two and already practically hits both ends in the pack n play...and she's petite.
Set up & Take Down:
I know it sounds crazy, but the ease of use with this crib is what you will fall in love with! I know that all of you have struggled with your pack n plays in the past (or maybe a friend's crib) in trying to figure out if you have to push the center down first - no! lock the rails first - no! arghh! Here's what you do with this: take it out of the bag; unfold it (it will be folded in half); then simply turn it over and watch the legs and everything else just fall into place! Simply insert the mattress. It is so light, you do it all while standing up - no more back aches from bending over and reaching to lock rails and push down buttons. I had watched the video online so many times, I didn't even have to read the instructions to figure it out. It literally took me 10 seconds to get it up. As if that wasn't great enough! For take down all you do is turn the crib over (after removing the mattress) and pull each leg out and fold it in towards the center. Then you simply fold the crib in half and you're done. This took me 30 seconds. No kidding!
Stability:
This was what I was MOST skeptical about. How on earth could something so light be sturdy enough? Baby Bjorn tested this specifically for stability. My 2 year old toddler cannot tip it over when standing inside the crib and she can't even tip it over from the outside when it's completely empty (let alone if there is another child on the inside). The tapered shape of it is what gives it such strength. You will NOT believe your eyes!
Comparison:
The only other crib that is this type of style is the Phil & Teds travel crib. DO NOT BUY IT! It IS $100 cheaper (which really drew my attention), BUT it does not even compare! It is meant for outside play such as the beach or park. Read the reviews - it has steaks to drive into the corners...does your house have sand floors? Because of this, it is completely unstable on solid ground (like hotel rooms). It is flimsy and is easily tipped over from inside and out. If you need something for a lot of travel (or even a little) - the Baby Bjorn is the one you want. There is a reason that it costs more - and it's worth it! By far, the BEST baby purchase I have ever made!
Where to buy:
I researched this long and hard when I decided to go with it. Ebay RARELY has them listed, and when they are, they're no cheaper. I did find it for $229 and up, however any place that had it a little cheaper did not have it in stock (it's out everywhere!). BUT strollerdepot.com has them in stock and they ship immediately (I paid $245 - no tax). PLUS - they have FREE SHIPPING! Mine only took two days to get here (Utah to California) You really can't beat that. They also had the best return policy. 30 days and you can return it, you just have to pay shipping and a 10% re-stocking fee...trust me, you won't return it. Here's the link:
http://www.strollerdepot.com/search/result.php
I hope this helps make your decision easier. I really did a lot of research on this and wanted to share it with everyone. I know it's a big purchase, but it IS an item that will be used over and over again...about as much as a stroller for us. And that's about what we paid for a stroller. You'll love it!
Here is a link to YouTube which shows this crib in action and reviewed by a REAL dad!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_8RFa0SuUrc
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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Travel Crib on the Market!, December 31, 2007
This travel crib is amazing! We tried setting up a pack-n-play, what a fiasco. The baby was screaming because he was so tired and I just couldn't move fast enough setting the dumb thing up. The Baby Bjorn Travel Crib on the other hand sets up in under 10 seconds - really. I was absolutely amazed. It took very few brain cells to set up - like maybe 11 :) or in other works it's extremely simple to set up. I'll admit it, I didn't even look at the instructions because it's so intuitive. Try that with a pack-n-play that needs certain parts clicked in before others, etc.
It takes up very little space in the car (the pack-n-play took up at least double the space). And you can take it on an airplane as a checked piece of luggage without it getting damaged. The mattress is thicker and more comfortable than other travel cribs. And another nice feature is that there isn't a bar running under the mattress like the pack-n-play making it miserable for the baby.
The only problem I've seen so far is that the mattress doesn't come with a sheet. But those are easy to come by so it's not really been a problem.
All in all it's a fantastic travel bed and we are very glad we spent the money and got the best on the market.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ligthweight, portable,and comfortable, but don't trip over the legs!, June 5, 2008
This crib is pretty much as advertised. It sets up in seconds (such a great feature for those late night hotel check-ins, no thought involved, just pull out and unfold) and is very comfortable. My daughter slept through the night in it (which she never does!).
However, a few thoughts.
1. The legs extend out and I kept tripping over them as I got out of bed (we had the crib next to me). Be very careful to remember the crib's 'footprint' is wider than you think and those legs are trippy.
2.I was excited to see reviews that said they set the Bjorn crib up in the airport for their baby as when we travel overseas it's a day and a half of travel to our destination with lots of layovers. I initially thought the crib was small enough to be a carry on. Now that I have it, I think it's too wide for overhead compartments on a plane. I think we'll have to check it.
3. Supposedly this crib can be used for several years, however, the Bjorn is a mini-crib. It's not very long. So if you have a tall baby (which we do) it may not last much past the first year or two.
4. I don't think the Bjorn makes a good playpen. It's too small and the walls provide little support. For longer road trips, we'll be taking the pack and play to use as a playpen.
But overall we are happy with our purchase and do recommend the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib if you have lots of places to visit with a baby in tow.
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