We spend a lot of time at my grandparents' village house, and the issue of a travel bed for my kid used to be a major headache. After we stopped co-sleeping, my daughter would often sleep restlessly, constantly tossing and turning. Sleeping with her in a hotel bed was a real nightmare.
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I spent ages choosing a travel bed. My main criteria were:
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1. Color. I wanted the fabric to be a nice, soothing color that wouldn't clash with every other color in the room.
2. Weight capacity. Most travel beds I looked at were designed for kids up to 14-15 kg, but this one is rated for up to 25 kg. That's a big deal for us, as we plan to use it for trips and my kid will be getting heavier soon.
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3. Price. You don't have to break the bank for something that's just going to be used occasionally.
4. Side zipper. This was a must-have for me.
5. Portability. We didn't plan on keeping the bed at home, so we needed something that would fold up neatly and take up minimal space.
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I found this travel bed on the SitiLink website. It cost me 4190 rubles (with Silver status) plus 70 rubles for shipping. The delivery was fast, taking only a few days. It was actually quite affordable, considering it's a brand new product.
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The convertible crib mattress is fabric, which initially worried me. But then I found out that the material is polyester. So it doesn't collect dust and doesn't get musty.
The fabric feels nice to the touch and doesn't have any strong odors.
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I was also surprised to see the Union Jack flag on the crib, considering it's made in China.
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Main Features
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Frame material: metal/plastic
Mattress material: polyester
Width (sleeping area): 60 cm
Length (sleeping area): 120 cm
Packed dimensions: 76×26 × 22 cm
Unpacked dimensions: 128×70×76 cm
Weight: 10.7 kg
Country of origin: China
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Weight limit: 25 kg
Number of wheels: 2
Number of legs: 6
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The crib comes with a carrying case, which has convenient slots for the wheels (so you can move the crib even when it's in its cover) and carrying handles.
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We store our crib in a box. It's a safer way to keep it. As it turned out, the material of the crib is perfect for ripping. More on that later...
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ASSEMBLY
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The first time we assembled the crib, it took us about 30 minutes. Initially, we wanted to unfold the bottom and then assemble the sides, but it's actually the other way around. There is an instruction manual, but it's for the faint of heart). Eventually, we found a YouTube video on how to assemble the Happy Baby Martin crib. In reality, it's quite simple and easy. There's even a simplified instruction manual on the crib's mattress. But we're not looking for easy solutions..
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Now, assembling the Happy Baby Martin crib takes us literally just a few minutes.
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So... we take the crib out of its cover, then out of the mattress.
I decided to assemble the upper layer first, by placing it on the legs so they're pointing towards the center. Then, I bent each of the four rods until I heard the satisfying click at the 'Press to unlock' mark. It's a simple process, but it makes all the difference in the end.
Once I had the upper layer in place, it was time to move on to the bottom part.
To do this, I just needed to press down on the middle of the bottom part - right here:
And that was it - the mattress could be put in place, and I was ready to use it.
Assembling the playpen is just as easy, but in reverse. First, you need to assemble the bottom part by pulling on the rod.
Symmetry is key when assembling the playpen. You need to make sure the mechanism is properly aligned, and the metal rods are released from both sides. If not, the playpen won't fold up properly.
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My Overall Impression
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I'm really impressed with the top layer of the playpen. It's a mesh canopy that's secured with sewn-in straps. The straps are easy to remove and attach, and they provide a secure hold. It's perfect for gently rocking your baby to sleep in the evening.
I've gotta say, the top tier of the crib's mesh was only supposed to hold up to 9 kg, but our little one's been crushing that weight for ages - over 10 kg, easy. We recently decided to ditch the top tier because, in my opinion, the hammock just sagged too much under the kid's weight. The mattress does take a bit of a wonky shape on the top tier's grid, but a fitted sheet takes care of that issue.
The mattress itself is pretty firm, built with wooden slats that are hidden inside the fabric. You can see the slats' width in this photo, where it's folded over. The back of the mattress has a little guide for assembly.
The detachable handles - or holders, I should say - are a nice touch. They're easy to remove and reattach anywhere on the crib.
I was a bit miffed to discover the corner protectors are non-removable. I thought I could unscrew the little clips, take off the protectors, and then the fabric, but no such luck.
The crib's got a clever side zipper with a lock on the outside, so the little one can't open it from the inside.
I usually unzip it at night so the kid can climb out on their own come morning.
One thing that caught my eye on the back panel of the Happy Baby Martin (HB) playpen is the pocket. It's great for storing bottles or toys, but honestly, we didn't find much use for it.
The playpen is surprisingly sturdy, and the two wheels on one side make it a breeze to move around the house.
What I love about the Happy Baby Martin (HB) playpen is the extra support it gets from two additional legs in the middle. But I have to say, when my grandfather tried to assemble it and ended up kicking one of those legs, it resulted in a nasty tear in the fabric. I was pretty disappointed, but we decided to cover it up with a sticker. It actually worked out pretty well, since there's another sticker on the mattress in the same spot.
Now, let's talk about what I don't like about the Happy Baby Martin (HB) playpen.
What I don't love about our Happy Baby Martin (HB) playpen
1. As soon as we put it together, I was taken aback by the uneven seams. They're everywhere! It's like they're just scribbled on the frame. I'm not impressed, to be honest.
2. The surface of the playpen is also a bit uneven when the mattress is in place. It's not a huge deal when the mattress is filled, but it still bugs me.
I'd have to say, one major drawback for me is that you can't remove the fabric to wash it.
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I've been using the Happy Baby Martin travel cot as a guest bed at my grandparents' place, and it's been a lifesaver. However, I wouldn't recommend it as a primary bed for a kid - I'd hate not being able to wash the fabric.
I'm actually surprised by how much I'm regretting not buying this sooner - I'd have slept so much better on family visits if I had it.
P.s. We've been using this cot for three years now (about once a week), and it still looks brand new. I think it'll easily last for generations in our family!