nursery in RV with slide out and vinyl wooden flooring

16 RV Crib Ideas for Camping or Full Time RVing with a Baby

| | | | |

This post may contain affiliate links.

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.

Photo Credit: @HeathandAlyssa

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.

Photo Credit: @heathandalyssa

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.

Photo Credit: @heathandalyssa

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!)

Pamo Babe Portable Crib with Padded Mat,Foldable Baby Playpen with Carry Bag (Blue)
3,357 Reviews
Pamo Babe Portable Crib with Padded Mat,Foldable Baby Playpen with Carry Bag (Blue)
  • [Easy Assembly & Compact Folding] No tools required for assembly or folding. Takes up minimal space when folded (26.18"* 7.48"*7.48").

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.

nursery in RV with slide out and vinyl wooden flooring
Photo Credit: Lacey Autumn Brooke

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.

ComfyBumpy 59 inch Extra Long Toddler Bed Rails - Baby Bed Rail Guard for Kids, Twin, Full, King and Queen Beds - Adjustable Bed Rail for Toddlers - Bed Side Bedrails - White, XL (59' x 19.5')
9,902 Reviews
ComfyBumpy 59 inch Extra Long Toddler Bed Rails - Baby Bed Rail Guard for Kids, Twin, Full, King and Queen Beds - Adjustable Bed Rail for Toddlers - Bed Side Bedrails - White, XL (59" x 19.5")
  • 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.

Residential furniture used in RV nursery
Photo source: Intagram.com/jessij03

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. 

Toddler bed and bunk in RV kids room
Photo source: HappiestCamper.com

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.

Photo Credit: letsfindjoy.com

The rails slide closed, keeping baby safe inside while sleeping.

Photo Credit: letsfindjoy.com

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.

Sale
Delta Children Folding Portable Mini Baby Crib with 1.5-inch Mattress - Greenguard Gold Certified, White
1,355 Reviews
Delta Children Folding Portable Mini Baby Crib with 1.5-inch Mattress - Greenguard Gold Certified, White
  • 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.

No products found.

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.

No products found.

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.

Photo credit: toejamlv

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.

Photo Credit: Molly Glasgow

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!

Baby beds for campers Pinterest image
Share This With A Friend:

Similar Posts

2 Comments

  1. 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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *