In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Baby Joy Travel Crib 2-1 Playpen Review

Impressive and cost-effective travel crib solution with easy to use side-zip and carry bag
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baby joy travel crib 2-1 playpen
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $120 List
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Manufacturer:   Baby Joy
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 3, 2021
69
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 8
  • Ease of Use - 35% 8.0
  • Portability - 30% 8.0
  • Comfort - 15% 5.0
  • Quality - 15% 6.0
  • EcoHealth - 5% 1.0

The Skinny

The Baby Joy Travel Crib 2-1 Playpen is a budget-friendly travel crib and play yard for little ones. We like that this option folds small enough for carry-on use and that it fits easily into the travel bag without a lot of fuss and frustration we've seen with other products. This travel crib has one of the quickest setup times, and putting little ones in and taking them out is easy. Taking the crib down is a three-step affair and one that is done fairly swiftly to get you on the road as soon as possible This crib is not as comfortable or eco-healthy as some of the competition, which could make it a no-go if you're focused on those metrics above others. However, overall, it is a cost-effective solution for families who need a crib for travel or a play yard for outdoor events.
REASONS TO BUY
Price
Easy to use
Ultra-portable
REASONS TO AVOID
Less impressive pad
Potential eco-health concerns

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Best Value Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award  Best Value Award 
Price $120 List
$85.99 at Amazon
$300 List
$279.99 at Amazon
$280 List
$249.00 at Amazon
$90 List
$62.91 at Amazon
$80 List
$79.97 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Price, easy to use, ultra-portableEase to use, eco-healthy, portable, comfyEco-healthy, portable, comfyFits well in the carry bag, inexpensivePrice, average comfort and quality
Cons Less impressive pad, potential eco-health concernsPriceAverage ease of useNot for sleeping, longer setup, not machine washableLarge, heavier, not eco-healthy
Bottom Line Impressive and cost-effective travel crib solution with easy to use side-zip and carry bagNice, cozy crib that is easy to transport and very eco-healthyHealthy and eco-friendly choice that isn't as easy to use as someThis is not a travel crib and shouldn't be used for sleepingBudget friendly with average functionality but it isn't as portable
Rating Categories Baby Joy 2-1 Playpen BabyBjorn Travel Cr... Lotus Travel Crib Dream On Me Light P... Graco Pack 'n Play...
Ease of Use (35%)
8.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
6.0
Portability (30%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
4.0
Comfort (15%)
5.0
7.0
7.0
4.0
6.0
Quality (15%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
EcoHealth (5%)
1
10.0
10.0
1
1
Specs Baby Joy 2-1 Playpen BabyBjorn Travel Cr... Lotus Travel Crib Dream On Me Light P... Graco Pack 'n Play...
Weight 10.25 lbs 12.8 lbs 13.9 lbs 10.6 lbs 20.3 lbs (includes bassinet)
Crib Dimensions - assembled 27.5"H x 46"L x 30.5"W 25.5"H x 43.8"L x 32.5"W 25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"W 26"H x 24"L x 31"W 28.8"H x 41.1"L x 28.6"W
Crib Dimensions - closed 22"H x 24"L x 7"W 19.5"H x 23.6"L x 6.6"W 12.6"H x 24.8"L x 9.3"W 20"H x 24"L x 6"W 10.6"H x 27.7"L x 10.3"W
Age/Height/Weight Limit 39" or 33 lbs ~3 Years 3 Years or
35"
3 Years or
35"
35" or 30 lbs 35" or
30 lbs
Special Features Removable Fabric, Side Zipper Opening Removeable Fabric BackPack Straps on Carry Bag, Removeable Fabric, Fitted Sheet, Side Zipper Opening None Bassinet, Toy Bar, Storage Bag
Cleaning Method Mattress Fabric: Spot Clean
Travel Crib Fabric: Spot Clean
Mattress Fabric: Machine Wash
Travel Crib Fabric: Machine Wash
Mattress Fabric: Machine Wash
Travel Crib Fabric: Machine Wash
Mattress Fabric: Spot Clean
Travel Crib Fabric: Spot Clean
Mattress Fabric: Spot Clean
Travel Crib Fabric: Spot Clean
Flame Retardant Free Not Specified Yes (Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified) Yes (GREENGUARD GOLD Certified) Not Specified No
Set Up Time 1:01 min:sec 1:37 min:sec 2:13 min:sec 2:36 min:sec 1:47 min:sec
Warranty None 2 Years 1 Year None 1 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

Baby Joy offers a variety of baby-centric products, including travel cribs and bassinets.

Performance Comparison



baby joy travel crib 2-1 playpen
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Baby Joy impresses the most in the ease of use metric, with an above-average score close to the top. While it has a few idiosyncrasies, it is easy to use compared to the competition. This product fits easily in its bag, has one of the fastest setup times, and works as designed with few hiccups during testing.


Set up has few steps, and the most difficult part is threading the Velcro to get the mattress secured. The take-down is a little more challenging than setting up, but it is still easy with three steps. Paying attention to the steps' order is key to accomplishing the task, and you need to watch that the legs don't catch the fabric. While the fabric on this crib isn't machine washable, it can be removed and hand-washed, which makes keeping it clean far easier than those that only allow spot cleaning.

baby joy travel crib 2-1 playpen
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability


This travel option comes with a square carry bag with two attached handles. It measures 22"H x 24"L x 7"W when folded in the bag, neither large nor small but a little bigger than the average for the group. It weighs 10.25 lbs in the bag, which is a weight that could be manageable for some and more cumbersome for others.


This crib fits inside the carry bag easily, and it is a size that might fit into luggage or in a carry-on space in the overhead bin on an airplane. We kind of like the idea that you could keep it with you to use for layovers in a crowded or dirty location where a baby on the ground might be less than ideal.

baby joy travel crib 2-1 playpen
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort


The Baby Joy may not be as comfortable for little ones as some of the competition, earning a below-average result in this metric compared to the competition.

baby joy travel crib 2-1 playpen
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The mattress pad on this option has a stiff corrugated plastic board and thin open cell foam on top with a cover that feels like polyester. The mattress looks thick, but the foam condenses easily, resulting in less comfort as little ones will quickly be resting on the harder plastic board.


For parents' comfort, getting little ones in and out is more challenging as the bed rests directly on the floor. While much of the competition has a similar design, it is easier to put a little one into a raised crib than something that requires bending in half. We do like the side access port that allows more comfortable access if you are sleeping on the floor next to your little one, as it allows hands-on comforting without getting up and reaching inside the top.

baby joy travel crib 2-1 playpen
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The Baby Joy isn't the highest quality in our tests compared to the competition. However, competition is steep, with some products offering certified materials and sturdier construction with greater attention to detail. The quality is on par with the price and about what you'd expect for a less expensive option.


This product doesn't list the materials it uses, which is disappointing. It is also somewhat wobbly when fully constructed, and the fabric is loose. Neither of these seems to affect this crib's safety or functionality, but it isn't as nice as the competition. The zipper on our crib felt a bit flimsy, and after the first setup, the teeth separated. It was a simple fix, but we think this shouldn't happen at all, and we worry larger babies might be able to create a split in the teeth if they lean on the side.

baby joy travel crib 2-1 playpen
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Eco-health


This Baby Joy product doesn't give us much information in the way of materials or what considerations have happened by way of eco-health concerns. The mattress has no tag, and there is no company website that we could find. This leaves the metric of eco-health somewhat unknown.


However, in our experience, if a company has considered using non-toxic materials or organic or certified materials, they like to brag about it a lot. Everywhere. So, we assume that this made-in-China travel crib hasn't put a significant amount of time or energy into using materials designed with a baby's health in mind. As a result, this option did not score well for eco-health compared to the competition in our tests.

Wendy Schmitz
 

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