Diono Dreamliner Travel Bassinet

Our family loves to travel, but while packing before departure, we always find ourselves contemplating sleep arrangements—the most difficult of that being our newborn. Do we haul our oversized, heavy pack ‘n play? Will it fit in the car or be accepted at baggage check? We’ve looked for an answer to this solution for both of our children, but we haven’t found anything close until the Diono Dreamliner.

The setup from start to finish is extremely easy to understand. There are no tools needed, and it took approximately 23 minutes to complete! It pretty much ready straight out of the box. The instruction booklet provides both illustrations and written directions.

The bassinet comes in a convenient, over-the-shoulder travel bag that isn’t too bulky or heavy. The size of the bag can easily slide between stacked luggage in your car, pass as a carry-on item for flights and fit nicely in a closet for storage when not in use. I would feel comfortable carrying this weight through an airport or around the city on public transport.

Once out of the bag, the bassinet can be unfolded and secured by “clicking” two legs into place. Fabric tabs wrap around the legs for added safety to keep them upright. The fully assembled bassinet is a very reasonable size and could easily fit into tight hotel room spaces. The canopy can be lifted or lowered as needed (for example, you might want shade if baby is napping at a park playdate). Speaking of the great outdoors, the Dreamliner also has a canopy and insect net that can be secured to keep bugs at bay.

Aesthetically, the product is sleek and simple. The quality of the product seems good, but try to keep the legs on perfectly flat areas for extra stability. If it’s pushed hard enough or if leans to one end too much, I worry the legs might “give” a little, creating an unstable base.

Now, for the most important test: Does the baby approve? Our son seemed plenty comfortable on the mattress, which is about an inch thick with a soft cushion feel.

If on a slightly uneven or bumpy surface, I would recommend adding an extra blanket underneath for more comfort.

I use this most in my home office to keep him close by during naptime, but we also plan to bring it along when traveling by plane to have a comfy place for him to sleep at our destination—or even in the airport on an unexpected delay. The bassinet is to be used from birth to 15 pounds—or when baby begins to push up on his hands and knees. I wish there were a way for this product to continue to grow with my baby, but I have not found anything like the Dreamliner. And, trust me, I’ve looked a lot.

Cleaning the mattress and surround is convenient. It is easy to remove and can be wiped down with a damp cloth and a gentle soap. The price point is reasonable, and I would definitely recommend this product to a friend who plans to do a fair amount of traveling near or far from home, like spending time at the park or making frequent trips to grandma’s house. Happy travels!

Price: $70
Where to buy: amazon.com