Guava Lotus vs UPPAbaby Remi: Which Travel Crib Wins
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If you are trying to decide between the Guava Lotus vs UPPAbaby Remi, you are really choosing between two very different ideas of what a travel crib should be. I can speak to one of them from years of real use, because the Guava Lotus is the travel crib I actually own and have hauled across time zones with two little ones. The UPPAbaby Remi is the newer, plusher option I researched carefully for this comparison. So think of this as one honest first-hand review sitting next to a fair spec-based look at the competition.
The Guava Lotus vs UPPAbaby Remi question usually comes down to how you travel. Are you flying, packing light, and carrying your crib on your back through an airport? Or are you driving to grandma’s house and want a crib that doubles as a bedside bassinet and a changing station at home? Both are legitimately good. They are just built for different families, and I want to help you figure out which one is yours.
Guava Lotus vs UPPAbaby Remi: the quick verdict
Here is my honest bottom line. If you fly and portability is everything, the Guava Lotus wins, full stop. It folds into a backpack, weighs about 13 pounds, and I have carried it through airports with a kid on my hip and never thought twice. If most of your travel is by car and you want a do-everything home-and-away crib with a bassinet and optional changer, the UPPAbaby Remi makes a strong case. It is heavier and bulkier, but it is plusher and more feature-rich for the newborn stage. You can read my full long-term take in my Guava Lotus travel crib review.
The Guava Lotus, from years of real use
I will start with the one I know in my bones. The Guava Lotus is the crib that made travel with a baby feel doable for me. It weighs about 13 pounds and, this is the part I love most, the carry bag converts into a real backpack. That sounds like a small thing until you are pushing a stroller, dragging a suitcase, and still need a free hand. Wearing the crib on my back solved that on trip after trip.
The fold is genuinely compact. It collapses down small enough to count as a carry-on in its bag, so I have brought it into the cabin rather than gambling on checked luggage with a crib inside. Setup takes me under a minute now that I have done it a hundred times, and the whole frame goes taut and stable.
The feature I did not know I needed until I had it is the side zipper door. Once your baby becomes a toddler who can crawl in and out, that little zip door means they can climb in for a story and you are not deadlifting a sleepy kid over a 30-inch wall in the dark. Every side is breathable mesh from the top panel down below the mattress line, which gave me real peace of mind about airflow. There is no strict weight limit because the mattress rests on the floor, and Guava recommends it up to around age three, or until your child tries to climb out. After years of use across many trips, mine still sets up tight and clean. You can check current price here: Guava Lotus travel crib on Amazon.
The UPPAbaby Remi, researched honestly
Now the challenger. The UPPAbaby Remi is a 3-in-1 that works as a bedside bassinet, a full playard, and a travel crib, which is a different pitch than the Lotus. It weighs about 20 pounds and folds to roughly 11 by 10 by 28.5 inches, so it is noticeably heavier and longer folded than the Lotus. That is the trade for its extra features.
What you get for the bulk is real. The Remi includes a zip-on bassinet suitable from birth up to 20 pounds, so for the newborn months you have a proper elevated sleep space right beside your bed. The main crib works from birth up to about 35 inches tall. UPPAbaby uses a triple-layer, temperature-regulated mattress and a zip-open soothing panel so you can reach your baby easily, and it carries GREENGUARD Gold and JPMA certifications. There is a full accessory line including a changing station, canopy, and organizer, which is why a lot of parents use the Remi as their everyday home playard as well as a travel crib. You can check current price and colors here: UPPAbaby Remi on Amazon.
My honest read: the Remi is more crib than travel crib. It is wonderful for the newborn stage and for families who mostly drive, but I would not want to backpack it through an airport the way I do my Lotus.
Guava Lotus vs UPPAbaby Remi comparison table
| Feature | Guava Lotus (I own this) | UPPAbaby Remi |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | About 13 lbs | About 20 lbs |
| Folded size | Compact, carry-on friendly | About 11 x 10 x 28.5 in |
| Carry style | Converts to a backpack | Storage bag, carried by hand |
| Bassinet included | No (sold separately) | Yes, birth to 20 lbs |
| Side zipper door | Yes | Zip-open soothing panel |
| Recommended age | Birth to about age 3 | Birth to about 35 in tall |
| Best for | Flying and packing light | Road trips and home use |
| Price | Around $239, check current price | Around $349.99, check current price |
How to choose between them
Ask yourself one question: how will you carry this thing most often? If the answer involves an airport, a train, or any situation where your hands are full and your back is your best option, the Guava Lotus is the answer. It is the lightest, most travel-first crib of the two, and the backpack carry plus side zip door are the details that earn their keep on the road.
If the answer is your car trunk, and you also want a bassinet and a changer for the newborn months at home, the UPPAbaby Remi gives you more crib for the money and a nicer everyday sleep setup. It is the better home-and-occasional-travel piece. It is just not the one I would strap to my back at the gate. If you want another lightweight option in the mix, my Newton compact vs deluxe travel crib comparison is worth a look, and my full best travel crib guide lines up every crib I trust.
Frequently asked questions
Guava Lotus vs UPPAbaby Remi, which is lighter?
The Guava Lotus, by a good margin. It weighs about 13 pounds and folds into a backpack, while the UPPAbaby Remi weighs around 20 pounds and is carried by hand in a storage bag.
Does either one include a bassinet?
The UPPAbaby Remi includes a zip-on bassinet for birth to 20 pounds. The Guava Lotus does not include one, though Guava sells a separate bassinet kit.
Which is better for flying?
The Guava Lotus, without question. Its compact fold and backpack carry make it easy to bring on a plane. The Remi is better suited to road trips and everyday home use.
Is the UPPAbaby Remi safe for newborns?
Yes. It works from birth, includes a bassinet rated to 20 pounds, and carries GREENGUARD Gold and JPMA certifications, so it is a solid newborn sleep option.
The verdict
After years with my Guava Lotus and a careful look at the UPPAbaby Remi, my Guava Lotus vs UPPAbaby Remi verdict is simple. The Guava Lotus is the travel crib I recommend to anyone who flies, because the backpack carry, compact fold, and side zip door make real travel feel light. The UPPAbaby Remi is the better pick for families who drive and want a plush 3-in-1 that lives at home between trips, with a bassinet and changer to boot. Neither is wrong. Match the crib to how you actually travel, and read my Guava Lotus review and best travel crib guide before you commit. For me and my two little ones, the Lotus has earned its spot on my back for years, and I would buy it again tomorrow.
Ready to decide? Check the current price of the Guava Lotus and grab yours before your next trip.
