The Best Toddler Travel Beds for Every Trip (Tested While Traveling)

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What is A Toddler Travel Bed?

What types of toddler travel beds are available??

Important Factors to Consider While Buying A Travel Bed For Your Toddler.

Our Picks for The Best Toddler Travel Beds Right Now

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Picking A Travel Bed

Traveling with kids can be a rollercoaster of an experience. While they are all excited and thrilled to see the new sights around them, they can also be cranky and overwhelmed by constant stimuli, unfamiliar places, and from being out of routine. On one hand, you cannot wait to see their faces light up at every new experience . And on the other, you dread bedtimes and tantrums as their routine goes out the window. You never know if you are going to be dealing with an adorable angel or a sleep-deprived Frankenstein. 

While there’s a lot that’s out of your control while traveling,trying to maintain a routine similar to home can help keep things calm.. Creating a comfortable place for naps and bedtime is a small thing that can l make a world of a difference on your vacation because a well rested child can be the difference between a fun day at the theme park and a total meltdown,

If you are a parent who has traveled with kids, you very well know what we are talking about. If you are a new parent, this blog holds the ultimate hack to traveling with kids like a pro! Read on to find out all about the 5 Best Travel Beds for Toddlers You'll Ever Need in 2024.

What is A Toddler Travel Bed?

While some hotels provide excellent accommodations for children, being prepared with a toddler travel bed will help in situations when sleeping situations are less than ideal. 

This is where travel beds come into play, it is ideal for kids around the ages of one to four.

Travel beds are designed specifically to allow families traveling with kids to easily have a comfortable, safe, and compact sleeping option for their children.

As these beds are designed for toddlers who are traveling, they are lightweight, made of child-safe material, easy to set up, and compact to carry around.

“There are no seven wonders of the World in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” - Pamela T. Chandler, Author of The Adventured Star

What types of toddler travel beds are available??

There are a handful of options to choose from when it comes to toddler travel beds. These are:

Folding Cots: Folding cots are lightweight and have a supportive canvas lining. They typically fold in half and have collapsable legs. They’re available in different lengths, with the 48” version generally being appropriate for kids ages 2-5. Some come with a sleeping bag or top sheet.  .  Folding cots are better suited for road trips than airline travel because while portable and light, they don’t fold down as small as other options.

Nap Mats: Nap mats can be used alone on the floor, but are often used in conjunction with folding cots or another mat. They have a thin padded bottom and typically include a built-in blanket and pillow. Nap mats roll up and are very lightweight and portable. 

Portable Cribs: Portable cribs are Ideal for infants and toddlers who sleep in cribs at home. They’re very similar to a pack-n-play, but are much lighter and often fold down to a more compact size.

Air Mattresses: Toddler-sized air mattresses are availablein a variety of sizes and many offer features, like side railings and built-in pillows.

Camping Mats: Camping mats roll up very small, are lightweight, and they’re easy to travel with. Most are inflatable but they’re much thinner than standard travel air mattresses. Many come with built-in pillows and can be used in conjunction with a folding cot. 

Important Factors to Consider While Buying A Travel Bed For Your Toddler.

Child’s’s Age:

Safe sleep for babies and toddlers is imperative. If you’re traveling with an infant, only use a travel bed approved for infants. A portable crib is often your best bet.

For toddlers, a factor to consider is how much they roll in their sleep. If your child tends to roll around a lot, a mattress on the ground will likely be a better pick than a travel cot. It’s also to factor in longevity. Ideally you’ll find something that works for several trips.

Sleep Habits:

While some kids can fall asleep anywhere, others need the perfect sleeping environment. Take into account how flexible your child is about sleep at home. If they need pitch dark, a travel crib plus a SlumberPod might be beneficial.

Safety:

Mattress certification is more important than we would like to believe. Every mattress is designed for a different kind of sleeper, age group, weight, etc. So, make sure to read through the certifications and see that the bed you are picking up is marked as a safe travel mattress for kids. If you are opting for an inflatable mattress, it is important to ensure it is puncture-safe.

Portability and Storage:

Portability and storage are major considerations when choosing a toddler travel bed.. Storage is always limited on vacation and you want something that’s lightweight and easy to pack.

Adaptability: 

How similar is this travel bed to their regular bed? Does your toddler easily adapt to sleeping in new places? While carrying a replica of the bed from your kid’s bedroom might not be possible, you can make it more like home with a favorite  stuffed animalor blanket.

Type of Travel:

If you’re a family who hits the roads for your vacations, you’re probably able to bring along a larger and/or heavier travel bed. If you’re flying, you’ll want to stick with lighter weight, smaller items.

Number of Kids:

Traveling with one child is very different than traveling with two, three, or more. If you’ve got more than one toddler in tow, you might want to opt for a larger bed that they can sleep in together. 

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Our Picks for The Best Toddler Travel Beds Right Now

Hugbino Inflatable Toddler Bed

Best For: International travel

Weight: 6.62 pounds

Size: 63.6"L x 42.5"W inflated, sleeping surface of 30 x 52

Maximum weight: 100 pounds

My sister was getting married in London and while I was so excited for the wedding, I wasn’t excited about traveling internationally with our four-year-old and our teenager. The older one made a huge stink about having to share a bed with the little one before we even left. Beyond the complaining, I knew the time change would mean that  everyone would be overtired and cranky, so it was super important that we had a setup where everyone could sleep well. We brought along the Huganino Inflatable Toddler Bed and were very happy with our decision.

I packed this in my checked luggage along with two crib sheets and found it didn’t take up too much room. 

I unpacked it when we got there and watched the set-up videos. Some of the reviews said they had issues with air leaks so I wanted to make sure I was inflating it correctly. Note that the air pump is manual, not electric. It inflated quickly and easily and honestly, I probably could have left the pump home and just blown it up. 

The bed has two separate parts - an inner mattress that fits a standard-sized crib mattress, and an outer inflatable bumper with a bottom. It doesn’t inflate as much as some other mattresses but my 32-pound child was supported just fine. 

My daughter doesn’t sleep in pull-ups and rarely has accidents, but maybe the stress and exhaustion of travel got to her (can’t really blame her) and she wet the bed the first night. The inner mattress is washable, so we just tossed it in and hung it to dry. I was really glad that it had the separate insert and was easy to clean. 

The bumpers lost some air and had to be refilled occasionally, but honestly, they were stepped on repeatedly so I don’t think it’s a product flaw. 

Beyond that, I really liked that it’s flocked in velvet (my daughter loved running her hand up and down it). It doesn’t have that plastic-y feel that some air mattresses have. 

RELATED CONTENT: THE BEST TRAVEL STROLLERS

Why We Picked It?

• Separate mattress and frame: Having a two-piece, machine washable mattress came in very handy when overnight accidents happened.

• Budget Friendly: Hugbino Inflatable Toddler Bed is mid-priced bed that we liked better than several more expensive options.Product Link: 

Redcamp Extra Long Kids Cot:

Best For: Camping trips Size: L53"xW26"xH12" (unfolded) L9”xW7.5”xH29” (folded)

Weight: 11.6 pounds

Maximum weight: 220 pounds

My husband has these super fond memories of a camping trip he took when he was a kid. He says he can still smells the campfire and taste the s’mores. His mother says she can still hear my husband crying because he was scared of bears (there are no bears in England) and can still feel the mosquitoes biting her. 

As someone who prefers the spa to the campground, I was unenthusiastic when my husband pitched the idea of a camping trip (get it…he pitched the idea, like you’d pitch a tent…oh, nevermind).

Anyway, I relented but I wasn’t sleeping on the ground. He may have an irrational fear of bears in England but I have a very rational fear of snakes in California. 

So we spent too much money on an oversized tent and bought camping cots and I was lucky enough to take along the Redcamp Extra Long Kids Cot for our 4-year-old.

I agreed to this camping trip, but we weren’t roughing it. We stayed at a campground where we could drive our car right up to where we camped, which was good - while this cot was great, it’s nearly 12 pounds so I wouldn’t have wanted to hike somewhere with it. 

Once we spent an hour putting up the tent and fighting (ahh, the memories), we started to “unpack” and set up our beds. The Redcamp popped open and took some strength to open, but I think that contributes to it’s sturdiness. It was honestly sturdier than the cot I had for myself. 

The canvas material was thick and supportive - it’s a cot, so you definitely don’t get the plus mattress feel, but it’s what we expected. We used it in conjunction with a sleeping bag that had a built-in pillow and our four-year-old was quite cozy. 

There’s a side pocket, which came in handy because our son likes to have a bottle of water next to his bed. 

I liked that it was longer than toddler beds and held more weight - our son can use this for several more years and it will come in handy for overnight guests as well. 

Why We Picked It?

• Sturdy: The Redcamp Travel Cot was definitely sturdier than my adult cot.

• Convenience: Since it’s elevated, it can be used both indoors and out without worry about it getting a puncture, like with an air mattress.

• Lasts Longer: The 53” length and 220 pounds weight limit means that you’ll be able to use it for several years.

Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed -

Best For: Long vacations

Size: 62"L x 39"W x 12"Th inflated, sleeping surface of 49 x 26 

Weight: 8 pounds

Maximum weight: 310 pounds

Spring break was coming up and I was so excited to take my 3-year-old daughter to Disney World for the first time. I’m a huge Disney fan and I spent months planning every detail of this trip. In addition to hitting Orland for three nights, we drove to Clearwater and spent nine nights there. With long days at Disney and then at the beach, I needed a super comfy sleep spot for my daughter - and for me. She rolls a lot in her sleep and I knew that if we shared a bed, she might sleep fine, but I wouldn’t. The only thing worse than a cranky child on vacation is a cranky mommy. 

So, I was able to bring along the hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Mattress and test it out. 

I can say without question that this is one of the sturdiest air mattresses I’ve ever seen. You can tell the material is really thick and despite it being toddler-size, it holds up to 310 pounds. I’m certain that’s because it uses .42mm vinyl - many use .28mm. That means it’s more puncture-resistant than many other brands - super important with kids. 

The mattress fit came with a travel bag, which was a bit large. And at 8 pounds it was heavier than other options. But it wasn’t too heavy for my checked luggage.

The hiccapop comes with an electric pump and it’s super important to note that this is not dual voltage so it can only be used in North America and a handful of other places. Probably not the best pick if you travel a lot internationally. The mattress inflated in under a minute and in the morning, it hadn’t deflated at all. 

I really appreciated the higher sides on this travel mattress, so my daughter didn’t end up rolling off and hitting the floor. 

The hiccapop is a quality bed. I’m guessing you can use it without the side rails if you just need the mattress. That would cut down the weight and size significantly. It fits mattress fits a standard-size crib sheet, which is convenient.

A double-layered mattress to give your baby extra comfort even while moving is a great idea. That is what Hiccapop's Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers offers.

The inflatable mattress is easy to store, has safety bumpers to ensure that your baby doesn't roll over and hurt themselves, and is easy to inflate. 

Why We Picked Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers?

• Easy to Inflate: This mattress inflates in 30 seconds or less, making it the ideal choice for a toddler bed while traveling. 

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• Durable: The biggest concern when it comes to inflatable beds is that they are not durable. However, this mattress has puncture-resistant PVC vinyl and a lifetime warranty, making it ideal for travel, camping, and sleepovers. 

Milliard Toddler Folding Floor Cot -

Best For: Road trips

Size: 54” x 25” x 7” (unfolded) 25” x 15.5” x 27 (folded)  

Weight: 11 pounds

We were hitting the road and heading to my in-laws where sleeping arrangements at their condo are less-than-ideal. They have a decent-sized spare room with two twin beds and neither my husband nor I were keen on the prospect of sharing a twin bed with our three-year-old, so we tested the Millard Folding Floor Cot.

The toddler bed is big when folded - definitely not something you could bring on a flight - but for a weekend road trip it was easy to toss in the car. When it’s folded, there’s space inside to fit extras, like a stuffy, a blanket, and some clothes so while it took up a lot of space, it reduced what we had to pack in our luggage. 

The mattress is like a bed-in-a-box mattress and takes a day or two to expand when it first arrives, so make sure to unpack it all a day or two before you plan to use it. The fact that it’s not inflatable does make things easy and I liked that I didn’t have to worry about it deflating. 

At 49” x 20” the sleeping area is smaller than a standard crib mattress, but larger than a mini crib mattress, which is a bit inconvenient. I used a standard crib sheet along with grips to keep the sheet tightly in place. Because of this, it is not safe for babies and the manufacturer’s age range is 3-6, though I imagine many 6-year-olds would find it too small. 

My son found it comfy and cozy and had no trouble sleeping on it. While it’s larger than inflatable options, it’s perfect for our road trip and to have a spare bed in the house. 

Why We Picked Milliard Toddler Folding Floor Cot?

• Foam Mattress: Not having to worry about inflating and deflating it makes it convenient.

• Trusted Brand: Milliard is a leading brand in folding mattresses

• Durable: Because it’s foam, not inflatable, there are no concerns about rips or holes.

Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib -

Best For: Traveling with Infants

Size: 45.5” x 31.5” x 25.5” unfolded, 24" x 12"  x 8” folded

Weight: 15 pounds

I was soooo stressed about traveling with my 9-month-old. We were taking her to California on vacation and she had never flown before and honestly, had never slept anywhere other than home. I was certain this was going to be a total disaster and while we had some travel hiccups, the Guava Lotus Travel Crib was a godsend. 

We arrived at the airport with so much gear - a stroller, the travel crib, a car seat, and our suitcases. I planned to gate check the stroller and car seat and carry on the travel crib. At 24” long when folded, it’s *just* a hair too big for most airlines but I was hoping with a large plane that it wouldn’t be an issue, and it wasn’t. 

Thank. Goodness.

After making it through security and arriving at the gate, they announced that we’d have a “short delay” due to a mechanical issue. That “short delay” turned into a full six hours. We had been waiting for about two hours and my daughter was getting super cranky. She desperately wanted to crawl around but there was no way I was going to let her explore the airport floor. It occurred to me that I could set up the travel crib and put her down in there. 

I popped it open in about 20 seconds and was able to put her down near the window and had a much, much happier child. And a happier mommy. 

I don’t know how they did it but this crib is somehow super sturdy and several pounds lighter than a regular pack n play with a more compact fold. 

The pad was thick and comfy and I love the lockable side zipper. My daughter slept will in it at the hotel and I was super impressed with the Guava Lotus overall. 

Beyond the convenience, as a “crunchy” mom it was super important that whatever I tested not off-gas and not contain PVC, which this doesn’t. It’s GreenGuardTM Gold Certified, which means it has low chemical emissions, is better for the environment, and better for my family. 

Why We Picked Guava Lotus Travel Crib?

Fast Setup: Setup was easy and took less than 30 seconds.

Safety: GreenGuardTM Certified and no PVC, phthalates, lead, arsenic, formaldehyde, mercury, cadmium, or flame retardants.

Carry-On Size: I had no problems using this as carry-on luggage, though it might have to be checked if you’re taking a smaller plane. 

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Picking A Travel Bed

Do I Need a Travel Bed for My Toddler?

This depends entirely on your travel frequency, your child's sleeping habits, and your budget. If you travel often, you should invest in a travel bed for your toddler, which gives them a comfortable place to rest their head at the end of the day.

Are Toddler Travel Beds Safe?

Toddler travel beds, like every other baby product, have to undergo rigorous testing and certifications. So, make sure you buy a reliable brand product with great reviews, and you can rest assured that it is safe for your baby.

Why Use a Travel Bed for Toddlers?

Besides being easy and convenient to use, a travel bed gives your child a safe space to sleep. Having a bed similar to the one they have at home is a great way to ensure young kids have a good night's sleep.

Is It Possible to Clean a Travel Bed?

Yes. Toddler travel beds come with detachable fabrics and mattresses that you can wash.

At What Age Can We Use a Travel Bed?

While most travel beds are designed for kids between the ages of 1 and 4, you can also find a few designed exclusively for newborns. But make sure to check with your pediatrician to make sure the bed you pick is right for your baby.

How Long Do Toddler Travel Beds Last?

Picking a toddler travel bed made of durable material and covered by a warranty will ensure that it lasts long enough for your baby to outgrow it.

How Much Do Travel Beds Cost?

You could find folding cots for your toddlers for as little as 20 dollars, while the price of the inflatable beds could range anything between 50 to 200 dollars. The price could depend on multiple factors like size, durability, material, extra features (like pumps for an inflatable mattress), warranty, etc.

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