Non-toxic play yards and travel cribs are useful to give your baby a safe and contained playspace. They are versatile and can be used for naps and travel, too.
As your baby grows and possibly outgrows the bouncer seat, you may find that they will enjoy spending time in a play yard with a few toys. Using a play yard (or travel crib) will provide another option for hands-free baby time. It provides a safe space for your baby to play while you can’t hold them.
You may also use a travel crib for occasional naps. Either way, I recommend investing in a travel crib that’s made with safer materials than mainstream play yards. Here are my favorite non-toxic play yards and travel cribs for you to consider.
1) Guava Lotus Travel Crib
Made without flame retardants, PVC, BPA, lead, and phthalates, the Guava Lotus Crib is a lightweight travel crib that folds down very easily. With generous, breathable mesh sides, the Guava also has a unique zip-down side door that can be fun for you and your little one as they begin crawling and standing. This makes it convenient to play with your little one as they get older.
As far as portability goes, the Guava is super lightweight and folds down to a backpack. It can be checked on a plane or brought on as a carry-on item. The fabrics used are GREENGUARD certified, and the crib itself is low-VOC. The only downside I can list to this travel crib would be that I felt the base was a little less sturdy than other play yards; though to be fair, other play yards often have overly rigid surfaces.
Guava also introduced a bassinet conversion kit that converts the Lotus crib to a bassinet, giving you a truly non-toxic bassinet. Overall the Guava Lotus is an amazing, non-toxic travel crib!
Pros:
- breathable mesh sides with a zip-down side door
- super lightweight and portable
- folds down to a backpack
- non-toxic, Greenguard certified and low-VOC
- optional bassinet conversion kit
- beautiful and elegant design
Cons:
- mattress base touches the ground
2) Nuna Sena Aire Play Yard
The Nuna Sena Play Yard is also a fantastic choice for non-toxic play yards – possibly even the best on this list. Versatile and lightweight enough to be used as play yard or travel crib, the Sena Aire cots fold down easily with one hand and come with a travel bag and GOTS-certified organic cotton sheet. The full-size version also offers a bassinet option that folds down with the crib (that’ll come in handy!).
Newly redesigned, the Sena Aire play yards feature a soft, plush cushion for your little one, with padded edges and a skid-proof bottom. I like that the base doesn’t hit the ground, offering a firmer sleep and play surface than the Guava (which I still love and rave about).
The Senas now offer 360° of ventilation, providing your baby breathable sides for safer sleep. If you buy the full-size Sena Aire, you can add on a changer accessory to make diaper changes more convenient. Not only that, but the cover can be removed and is machine washable. Trust me, this will be very useful! And last, I have to mention that this is a good-looking play yard that will look great in your home.
Want to Save This Post?
We'll email this article to you, so you can come back to it anytime!
Pros:
- cover zips off and is machine washable
- folds down easily with one hand
- fold-down bassinet included
- travel bag and organic sheet included
- breathable sides
- beautiful and elegant design
Cons:
- the priciest play yard on this list (but it will have a great resale value if it’s kept in good condition)
3) BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light
Lightweight and easy to fold up, the BABYBJORN Travel Crib weighs in at 13 pounds. This is a great choice for a travel crib or even just a portable crib for use around the home. It comes with a comfortable mattress and features generous breathable mesh sides for maximum air ventilation.
One thing to note is that the mattress does sit on the floor, which you may or may not like. But otherwise, this is a great play yard – especially for travel purposes – and is definitely worth considering. The fabrics are machine washable and Oeko-Tex certified. Again – this is a top choice for a lightweight non-toxic travel crib!
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Folds up easily
- Great for travel
- Breathable mesh sides
- Machine washable fabric
- Oeko-Tex certified fabric
Cons:
- The mattress rests on the floor
Which play yard did you choose? Be sure to grab some non-toxic toys for your baby’s play yard!
More in non-toxic baby gear:
I am considering the NUNA SENA AIRE (the NUNA SENA is discontinued). What is the mattress made of and is it non-toxic)? Thank you
Hi Sue, the mattress is made from polypropylene boards and a polyester mesh cover. Polypropylene is one of the safer plastics available. They provide an organic sheet, which is nice. As mentioned Nuna makes an effort to use safer materials in their products, and it’s one of the better non toxic play yards. Have you also looked into the Guava?? It’s awesome and they’re very upfront about what’s in their products.
Thank you – I also like Guava but my concern is that my cat may reach up to the mesh bassinet and could accidentally pull it over – the Nuna Sena Aire appears to be more stable in this case – would you agree?
Actually I think both are quite stable but the base (i.e. mattress) of the Guava is more lightweight than the Sena. What’s great is that the Aire now contains no MDF and Nuna confirmed no other harmful substances. I am updating the links and info on this page. Definitely like the Sena Aire 🙂