Best Travel Cribs and Playards in Canada (2026)

For most families, the Nuna PAAL is the easiest to travel with: under 20 lb, the smallest fold listed among the six, and a bassinet, sheet, insect net and travel bag in the box. The UPPAbaby Remi V2 is the best value if it'll live at home or at the grandparents' house, because the bassinet and a changing station are both included. The Maxi-Cosi Swift is the lightest listed at 18 lb, and the Maxi-Cosi Calao costs the least. Before you choose, know one thing about sleep: in Canada, Health Canada doesn't recommend playpens for unsupervised sleep. The bassinet level is a different story, which we explain below.

The six we carry, side by side

Prices are in CAD and were current when we wrote this. Folded sizes are length × width × height. Where a brand doesn't list a number on our product page, we've said so rather than guess. Every bassinet level also has a "stop" sign besides weight, such as rolling over or pushing up on hands and knees. Check the Canadian manual for the full limits.

What Health Canada says about playpens and sleep

Health Canada's safe sleep advice says playpens aren't recommended for unsupervised sleep in Canada, because they're not as durable and safe as cribs. The safest place for a baby to sleep is a crib, cradle or bassinet that meets current Canadian regulations.

The bassinet attachment is different. Health Canada says a correctly assembled bassinet attachment on a playpen is a safe option until your baby can roll over or reaches the attachment's weight limit, whichever comes first. A changing station on top isn't a bassinet, and is never for sleep.

If you do use the lower playpen level for sleep for a short time while travelling, Health Canada suggests:

• putting it on the floor in the room where you'll be sleeping, but not so close to your bed that bedding could fall in
• keeping it away from windows, blind cords, patio doors, lamps, electrical cords and small objects
• using a baby monitor so you can check on your baby often
• not adding an extra mattress or padding
• keeping out soft items, bedding and toys while your baby is sleeping

Nuna is direct about this for the SENA Aire: only its bassinet is intended for sleep or naps, and the lower playard is for play.

Nuna PAAL: best for flights and frequent trips

The PAAL folds to 13 × 11 inches across and 28.5 inches tall, with one button, and the bassinet can stay attached. It weighs 19.8 lb without the 0.6 lb bassinet. The organic cotton sheet, insect net and travel bag are all included, so there's nothing else to buy before the first trip. A zip-open side door turns it into a play space for crawlers while you're with them. The bassinet goes to 15 lb, or until your baby can roll over or push up on hands and knees, which Nuna estimates at about 3 to 5 months. The playard goes to 30 lb or 35.4 in.

Nuna SENA Aire: best airflow, if you're mostly at home

The SENA Aire has mesh on the sides, the floor and the mattress. It folds to the same footprint as the PAAL but is 3 inches taller and 2.2 lb heavier. The mattress cover zips off for the washing machine and dryer. Remember that Nuna says only its bassinet is for sleep. The SENA changer ($148.00) is sold separately. Our SENA Aire home or away guide goes into more detail.

UPPAbaby Remi V2: best value for a second home base

The Remi V2 includes a bassinet rated to 20 lb, the highest of the group, plus a fold-away changing station for supervised diaper changes. The mattress pad goes in the washing machine. At 24.6 lb, it's the heaviest here, so it suits a grandparents' house or a main-floor setup better than a suitcase. UPPAbaby covers it with a 3-year warranty. Upgrading from an original Remi? Our Remi V2 vs Remi guide lists what changed.

Maxi-Cosi Swift: lightest listed

At 18 lb, the Swift is the lightest weight listed on our pages. Its mattress unzips to fit the bassinet level, then zips back together for the larger play yard. It folds with one hand into the included travel bag. Our page doesn't list its folded size or Canadian limits, so check the manual before you buy. Our Remi vs Swift comparison covers the two side by side.

Bugaboo Stardust: fastest to open

The Stardust is a pop-up design that Bugaboo says unfolds in one second, and it folds with the mattress in place. A zip-in bassinet insert and a travel bag are included. The fitted sheet isn't; the Stardust cotton sheet is $39.95. It suits a home where it's opened and put away often.

Maxi-Cosi Calao: lowest price

The Calao has two levels, a raised bassinet for newborns and a lower level for older babies, with a memory foam mattress, mesh sides and a zippered side panel. It comes with a carry bag. As with the Swift, our page doesn't list its weight, folded size or limits, so read the Canadian manual before you rely on it.

How to choose

• Flying? Pick a package you can carry with the rest of your bags. The PAAL has the smallest listed fold, and the Swift the lightest listed weight. If you're also bringing a car seat, our guide to flying with a car seat covers airline rules.
• Staying at the grandparents' house? Weight matters less if it travels there once. The Remi V2 gives you a bassinet and a changing station in one.
• Small condo? Look at the folded height and width, and where it will live when it's not in use.
• Newborn only for now? Compare the bassinet limits. The Remi V2's goes to 20 lb. The two Nunas stop at 15 lb.

Still deciding between a playard and a travel crib at all? Our playard vs travel crib guide starts there, and our bassinet, crib or playard guide helps with the main sleep space at home.

Browse all travel cribs and playards, or call our Richmond, Burnaby or Ottawa store ahead of your visit to ask which ones are set up on the floor.