Hitting the road this summer? Whether you’ll be taking a road trip to Grandma’s house, a flight overseas or just spending hours at the beach, it can be nice to have a portable sleeping solution for overnights and naptime. Here’s a look at some of our favorite travel beds to keep your kid comfy, cozy, and contained while they snooze.
Travel Bed for Infants (0 – 6mo)
Your infant doesn’t need a huge pack-n-play to sleep in, so why bother lugging one along? Instead opt for a smaller travel bassinet with bonus points for those that do double duty.
Look for:
- a sturdy base to provide adequate back support
- ventilation in the mattress support and/or sides to prevent overheating
- a washable mattress sheet for diaper blow-outs
- lightweight since you’ll likely be carrying it and your child
The phil & teds Nest is one of my favorite products. This innovative portable infant bed combines a pop-up travel bassinet with a duffle bag to store all your baby’s necessities. The bassinet pops open to conserve space and provides tall side to keep your baby safe and secure while she snoozes. The bed has a sturdy, ventilated platform to provide both support for your baby as well the ability for air to circulate, and a cushy mattress. The convenient travel bag has room to store the bassinet on one side and a large zippered storage compartment on the other side to hold bottles, blankets, binkies and, of course, a gazillion diapers. Plus the whole thing weighs just 5.5 lbs. and can fit in the luggage compartments of planes and trains.
Travel Bed for Babies & Toddlers (4mo – 2yrs)
Toddlers need more room to roll around and space for their growing bodies. Depending on the age and precociousness of your child, you may be looking for something that offers more or less freedom.
Look for:
- big enough to accommodate a growing baby
- sturdy enough sides to support babies learning to pull up and stand
- easy set-up and take-down
The phil & teds Traveler is perfect for families that travel frequently. The super-lightweight frame weighs just 7 pounds – probably less than your baby! The self-inflating mattress is thermally insulated to keep your baby cozy and doesn’t require any pump or blowing. Plus, it folds up to a compact 24” x 8.6” x 8.6” making it easy to store in the trunk, overhead storage or even in your stroller basket for a day at the park.
Another favorite is the 4moms Breeze. The Breeze is not a lightweight pack-n-play (30 lbs.), but it is one of the sturdiest and by far the easiest portable bed to set-up and takedown. Traditional pack-n-plays require all sorts of futzing to get all four sides to lock before you push down the center support. If you’ve ever tried to wrestle one of these open while quickly getting your little traveler down for a nap or bedtime, you know how frustrating it can be. With the 4moms Breeze, opening involves one single step – push down on the center. That’s it! That one step automatically opens the rest of the crib and locks it into place. Simple, easy, fast.
Travel Beds for Kids (1-4yrs)
If you want a step up from a sleeping bag on a floor, look at these options to give your big kid a comfortable, portable place to sleep.
Look for:
- ability for child to get up on his/her own
- sides to contain sleepers who roll
- enough support and length for big kids
Another one of my favorite travel beds is the PeaPod Plus. This pop-up mini tent is perfect for naps at the beach or park, overnights at Grandma’s or even camping. Plus, during the day, kids can have fun playing fort in it. The PeaPod Plus weighs only 4 pounds, has a machine-washable mattress, and folds up (like a car sunshade) into a 19” diameter circle. It has a mesh door you can zip closed when you want to keep junior contained as well as an additional solid material flap to help block out distractions for naptime. Two mesh windows and a mesh bottom rim will keep your child cool, well-ventilated, and reduce the risk of suffocation.
Older children may prefer the grown-up feel of Regalo’s My Cot Deluxe, a portable sleeping cot with a built-in sleeping bag. I love that it weighs just 6 pounds, sets up quickly, folds up compactly, and is an all-in-one sleeping solution for older kids that don’t need to be confined. The Regalo My Cot Deluxe also works as a great solution for schools and childcare programs that require kids bring their own cot for naptime.
Happy travels!