Is the Guava Lotus Travel Bassinet and Crib Worth It? (Not Sponsored Review!)
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When I was building out my baby registry I came across all kinds of premium products and wondered if any of them were truly worth it.
Like the SNOO Smart Sleeper, Artipoppe baby carrier, anything by Nuna or UPPA Baby, Willow wearable breast pumps, and of course, the Guava Lotus Bassinet and Travel Crib.
I’ve ended up using and trying all of them, but when it comes to the Guava Lotus, I admit I bought it solely so that I could see if it was worth the hype. Would we bring it on every trip and would we truly love it? Is it that much better than a hotel crib? Let’s dig in:
Why the Guava Lotus?
Why the Guava Lotus over any other travel bed?
On our first couple of trips with Felix, starting when he was two months old up until he was five months old, we used a foldable portable bassinet. We could stuff diapers or clothes into it and easily fit it in the corner of a suitcase. But he has always been in the 97th percentile for height, so he outgrew it quickly.
So I bought the Guava Lotus, when he was about 4 months old and we used it daily all the way up until 20 months! It folds up small enough to be carry-on size, is lightweight, and assembles (or folds back up) in seconds.
The quality is there, and since the side unzip was so useful for getting my son to sleep, he even took his naps in there when we were at home before deciding he preferred his crib at around 20 months. We used it daily, brought it with us on over 20 trips to 10 different countries, and even after all of that, it still looks new.
Ease of Transporting the Guava Lotus
The whole idea behind the Guava Lotus is the portability and ease of traveling with it.
Although it’s hard to fit it into a suitcase, it works in our Eagle Creek checked baggage, and comes with a backpack that is small enough to be a carry-on when flying. It doesn’t take up much real estate in the back of the trunk for a road trips either. It’s also light and easy to carry, weighing 15lbs including the carrying bag, and folding down to 24″ L x 12″ W x 8″ H.
Bassinet mode:
- Interior dimensions: 32 inches x 21 inches (81 cm x 53 cm)
- Mattress thickness: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- Weight: 11 lbs (5 kg)
- Max Child weight: 18lbs or when they can sit up and climb out
Depending on how you orient the legs, you can have it in stationary or rocking mode.
Crib mode:
- Interior dimensions: 45 inches x 32 inches (114 cm x 81 cm)
- Mattress thickness: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- Weight: 15 lbs (6 kg)
- No max child weight as crib rests on the ground.
It also boasts being the only travel crib on the market that is GreenGuard Gold certified, which means the item is low in chemical emissions.
Ease of Setup
It took me a few tries to understand how to break the bed down and set it up, but now I can unfold and re-fold it in a matter of seconds.
It’s so quick and easy that I prefer it to asking for a hotel crib. I know that it’s safe, I know that he is familiar with it, and I also know that I washed the crib sheet in detergent that won’t make him break out.
Key Guava Lotus Features We Love
When I was using the Guava Lotus in bassinet mode, I liked it, but in crib mode, I LOVE it!
The key feature is the unzipping front part of the crib. This was essential to us during the 10 month period when my son would wake up during nap time when we did the lap-to-crib transfer. Eventually around 20 months, he stopped minding and preferred napping in his crib, but it would have been a rough 10 months in between had we not had the Guava.
The open zip allowed us to lay next to him as he fell asleep, then quietly zip up and let him finish his nap on his own. It gave me hours of the day back!
It was also great when we traveled, since he was used to his Guava Lotus and would fall asleep in it easily. I liked that there was no weight limit and that we knew he was in a safe sleeping space he couldn’t tip over or pinch a limb in.
Although I used a crib sheet to block out light at home, it’s also possible to get a fun shade, which is designed to do the same thing (albeit more effectively), as well as a mosquito net, which we used on our trips to Bali, Singapore, and Thailand. Once he got older and would wake us all up if we were sharing a room and he could see us from his crib, it worked great with a Slumberpod.
Final Thoughts on the Guava Lotus
I am so glad we bought the Guava Lotus. There are a lot of pros – it travels as well as something of its size can, it’s so easy to use, and I feel good about using it as opposed to most hotel cribs, which can vary in quality.
I miss being able to use our much smaller, folding bassinet that could fit into a suitcase, but we always knew that would be short-lived and in terms of anything comparable, the Guava Lotus is the most lightweight option I’ve found and with the easiest setup.
It is, however, pricey, especially with the bassinet conversion kit at $409 when not discounted, but it goes on sale frequently and for just about every holiday. I bought mine during Black Friday.
You can also get one secondhand. Ours is still just as good as new after nearly two years of use, so I’ll sell on the secondhand market when I’m sure we’re done, and will probably be able to recoup at least 2/3 of my investment.
Guava Lotus Alternatives
Do you have to buy the Guava Lotus if you want an easy travel crib? It depends on how important certain features are to you. Here are some alternatives:
BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light:
The BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light is another popular option coming in at $279. Like the Guava Lotus, it is easy to set up and take down, and comes with a carrying case for easy transport. The BabyBjorn crib is slightly heavier than the Guava Lotus, weighing in at 13.4 pounds.
It also has a slightly smaller sleeping area, measuring 32 x 44 inches compared to the Guava Lotus’ 32 x 45 inches. However, the BabyBjorn crib has a lower weight limit of 30 pounds compared to the Guava Lotus no weight limit. Both cribs have similar safety features, including breathable mesh sides and a firm mattress, and are free from harmful chemicals and flame retardants.
The downside for me was not having a front zipper like the other options on this list.
Lumiere All-in-One Lightweight Travel Crib:
The Lumiere All-in-One Lightweight Travel Crib is another lightweight and compact option at 13 pounds – the same as the Guava Lotus.
The Lumiere also includes the bassinet conversion kit and a white noise machine, making it a more inclusive option for the price – $229. One downside is the shape and bulk make it not suitable as a carry-on, which was essential for me.
Nuna Sena Aire Travel Crib:
The Nuna Sena Aire Travel Crib is a high-end option at $350, or $450 with the changing table, for those who are looking for a luxurious travel crib. It has a sleek and modern design, and comes with a bassinet attachment for younger babies. The Sena Aire crib is larger than the other three options, measuring 41.3 x 29.5 inches. It has a weight limit of 30 pounds. It is also the heaviest option of the four, weighing 22 pounds. The Sena Aire crib has similar safety features to the other cribs, including breathable mesh sides and a firm mattress, and is also free from harmful chemicals and flame retardants.
Overall, each of these travel cribs looks great, but the Guava Lotus crib stood out to me out for its versatility, with the front zipper, shape, weight, and size making it a viable carry on.
Would I buy it again? I believe it’s the best one on the market for our needs, so yes, I would! You can get yours here.
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