16 RV Crib Ideas for Camping or Full Time RVing with a Baby
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Alyssa Padgett is the author of the best-selling book, A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV. She loves all things #RVlife and travels full-time around the globe with her family of four.
Camping with a baby can mean bringing a lot of extra stuff. High chairs, carriers, a car seat, and probably a baby bed. But since RVs don't come standard with baby beds, RVers have gotten creative for their RV crib ideas.
Whether you have a large Class A or a small travel trailer, you can find a way to create, add, or build a baby bed for your little ones.
Here are 16 RV crib ideas so you can easily make room for your smallest family members.
1. Pack-n-Play Portable Cribs
Many families use a portable playpen or “pack-n-play” in their camper as a place for their baby or toddler to sleep on a camping trip or vacation.
This RV family found that their standard-size pack-n-play fit in the back bathroom of their Class A motorhome.
There are many models to choose from ranging from extra fancy to super basic. The best thing to consider is how much space you have to fit a crib in your RV. One popular model which would be ideal for a very small camper is the Graco Travel Lite, which is smaller than most of their other models.
The pro to a portable crib is that you can move it around the RV as needed. The crib above could be moved into the bedroom if needed or taken outside as a safe play area for crawlers.
One thing to consider as you're choosing where to place your baby bed is lighting. Many RVs have skylights or roof vents. If your child needs complete darkness to sleep, grab some Reflectix to stick in the skylight or—in a pinch—tape some foil over the skylight. (Which totally works!)
- [Easy Assembly & Compact Folding] No tools required for assembly or folding. Takes up minimal space when folded (26.18"* 7.48"*7.48"). Weighing just 17.6 lbs., you can hold it with just one hand.
2. Add A Crib to an RV
If you live in your RV full time or often stay in your camper for multiple weeks at a time, you may not want a more substantial bed for your baby than a thin pack-n-play mattress, in which case it might make more sense to purchase a regular crib for your RV.
This RV anchored in a full-size crib when she remodeled her fifth wheel RV.
3. Replace a Bunk Bed with a Crib
An RV bunk room is ideal for converting to a nursery. Below you can see a rear bunkhouse model fifth wheel which was converted to a kids room by adding a ladder and railing to the top bunk, and replacing the furniture below with this crib that converts into a toddler bed.
With its low profile, this crib would not be likely to move around much when the RV is in motion, but if that was an issue the owners could always anchor it to the wall or floor.
4. Remove the Bunks for a Toddler Bed
This next RV is a versatile mid-bunk model with the bunk replaced with a crib. When their family later grew, the owners of this camper added a toddler bed to this room.
- NO MORE ROLLING OF THE BED - Adjustable bed rail for toddlers allows your child to be secured safely but without feeling the bars under their mattress. Your toddler will sleep safely and comfortably all night long!
5. Make Room for a Tiny Baby
With the plants, decor, and mid-century style dresser, you wouldn't even know that this next nursery is in an RV if it weren't for the tell-tale shape of the window.
For younger babies, you may want to make room for more than just a crib and add a changing table station like this RV family.
6. RV living area turned into a nursery
If you don't have a bunk room model RV, you'll have to get creative when it comes to adding a crib to your camper.
The owners of the RV pictured below decided to remove the recliners at the back of their fifth wheel to make space for a crib, glider rocking chair, and other things that make their camper more convenient for RVing with a baby.
They go into more detail and show more pictures in this article on their website.
7. Fit a Crib into a Slide-Out
An RV slide-out makes an excellent spot to put a crib.
8. Turn the Top Bunk into Baby Jail
This RV family created a top bunk and secured rails around the edge of the bed.
The rails slide closed, keeping baby safe inside while sleeping.
If you are using a crib or baby bed near a window in your RV, be cautious with the window coverings you use. Curtains or other upholstery could be a suffocation risk.
Related: 35 RV Window Makeover Ideas
9. Turn Your Closet into a Tiny Nursery
If your space is limited, you might choose a crib that's smaller than the standard size, such as this crib, which comes in five colors and folds up, which would be convenient when you need to bring your RV slides in or when moving it in and out of the RV.
- GREAT CRIB FOR SMALL SPACES OR TRAVEL: Crib includes casters for easy mobility; Folds flat for easy travel and storage; The included mattress (size: 37.5 Inches L x 23.25 Inches D x 1.5 Inches) stores right in the crib when folded
A small crib would be perfect for converting a master bedroom closet into a place for your baby to sleep, which is what was done in the camper shown below:
10. DIY Baby Beds for a Camper
If you are handy with power tools (or are willing to learn) you can build a bed to accommodate the space you have in your camper, which is what was done in this next RV. The parents changed the orientation of their own bed and built a set of small bunk beds next to it for their two children.
The baby sleeps on the top bunk with a sturdy cargo net covering the opening, as the RV owners demonstrate in this video.
11. Add a Bassinet to Fit Next To Your Bed
Some variation of co-sleeping is a great way to save space in a camper. The owners of the RV shown below built a small sidecar co-sleeper bassinet where their infant sleeps. (A Google search will yield lots of tutorials for building one.)
You can also buy a bassinet designed to go next to a bed if you can find one that fits your space and is long enough that your baby won't quickly outgrow it.
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12. Try the Dock-a-Tot
Most moms and moms-to-be have heard of this expensive co-sleeping option!
If you want to keep your baby in your bed, but want them to have their own protected space, a Dock-a-Tot or more inexpensive option is a great idea.
- COMFORTABLE AND BREATHABLE: This infant lounger was designed to be comfortable spot for your baby to lay and relax. The tall walls are lined with comfort-mesh which helps provide ample air circulation and breathability. Sound and light unit included..General Note: Please allow 24 - 72 hours for your Mattress to regain its full shape. Any memory foam will expand faster in a warmer room. In cold temperature, at delivery, your mattress may take a bit longer to return to full sized from its compressed state.The expansion time of the mattress will vary as per the surrounding
This is a great way to save floor space!
13. Convert the Master Bedroom to a Kids room
Some families with RVs that didn't come with a bunk room choose to remove the bed from their master bedroom and use it as their kids' room instead. The parents then sleep on a sleeper sofa in the living room or, in the case of the family whose RV is pictured below, in a toy hauler garage converted to a bedroom.
14. Remove the Master Bed for a Complete Baby Center
Here's another cute baby room created in a master bedroom. I love that this crib has a built-in dresser and changing table.
15. Add a Small Crib to The Master
This master bedroom closet was turned into the perfect space for a small crib.
16. Retrofit a Crib to Fit Your Bunks
RVer Molly Glasgow added a crib to these custom bunk beds. She actually moved some of the crib's legs so it could be anchored into the slide-out.
RV Crib Ideas
It can be intimidating to start traveling with your baby, but these RV crib ideas prove you can bring your littles on your next camping trip with ease!
For more RV kids' bed ideas, check out my article about campers with custom bunk beds added!
These are so cute! It almost makes me want to have another baby just so I can redecorate and add a nursery to our RV lol
Sounds like a good enough reason to me! 😂