The Best Toddler Travel Beds for 2022

Here we cover what to look for in a toddler travel bed, different types of kids portable beds, and share some of the best toddler travel bed reviews.

If you are planning a family vacation with a toddler, chances are you will be looking for a toddler travel bed.

Toddlers are often too big for travel cots but not big enough to sleep in a rollaway bed – or if you have two toddlers or small children, you may not want to pay for adjoining rooms or for a suite large enough for two rollaway beds.

Or perhaps you are planning a vacation where you intend to stay with family or friends and they don’t have enough beds for everybody? Visiting grandma for the weekend and your toddler wants to sleep in the same room with you?

What do you do when your toddler has outgrown their travel cot?

You move on to a portable toddler bed!

In this article we cover what to look for in a toddler travel bed, different types of kids portable beds, and review some of the best infant travel beds on the market today. But first, here’s a quick at-a-glance comparison chart to sum up the options.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a booking or purchase using one of these links, we may receive a small commission – at absolutely no extra cost to you. 

Mum on the Move is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Toddler Travel Beds Comparison

What to look for in a toddler travel bed

There are several points to take into consideration when choosing a kids travel bed: How big is it and how easy is it to transport? How easy is it to put up the kids portable bed? How old are your kids? And of course, how comfortable is the infant travel bed?

Let’s look into each of these factors in more detail.

Size and weight

When choosing a child travel bed, the size and weight of the bed is obviously important as it needs to be portable.

This is particularly true if you plan on taking the portable infant bed in your suitcase and/or on an airplane when your weight allowance is restricted. Or if you need to carry your suitcase for long distances.

If you are just looking for a portable child bed for occasional use and you are planning to put it in your car for occasional weekends away with family or friends, then the size and weight may be less important to you.

Ease of use

The best baby travel bed will be one that is easy to put up and put away. You often need to get your portable toddler travel bed ready at the end of a long travel day when everyone is tired.

Likewise, you often have to put it away again when everyone is in a hurry to get to the airport or on the road! If the baby travel bed is easy to use, it will make everybody’s lives easier and less stressful.

Age range

Most toddler travel beds are designed for kids aged 2 years old and upwards. Children younger than age 2 who are still sleeping in a cot at home would be better using a travel crib.

You can read our pick of the best travel bassinets here.

Comfort

This is usually a matter of personal preference. An inflatable toddler mattress is usually pretty comfortable although bear in mind that they can sag after a few days of use and may need pumping up again. They can also make noises when the child moves about.

A folding travel bed may be more comfortable and will give more support whilst sleeping.

Types of Portable Toddler Bed

There are two main different types of toddler travel beds: inflatable and foldable. Let’s take a look at each type of bed in detail and why one would be a good option over the other.

Inflatable Toddler Bed

Inflatable travel beds are a great option for airplane travel or when space is an issue. A toddler air mattress can be easily pumped up when needed and deflated to a small size to be stored when not in use.

Another advantage of a toddler blow up bed is that they sit flat on the floor, so if your toddler wriggles around a lot and falls out of bed, they don’t have far to fall. Often kids blow up beds have built in bed rails or bumpers to prevent your child rolling out.

Some toddler ready beds have built in sleeping bags that can also help with this. If they don’t have built in bedding – remember you will need to pack this too!

Some kids inflatable beds come with an electric pump, some with a foot pump. Often it is a case of weighing up the weight and size of the pump for travel against ease of use.

Folding Toddler Bed

A kids folding bed is usually easier to put up, as often it just means you need to unfold it. Sometimes they do require a bit more effort though, especially the kids camping bed style, which may require some construction (an exception to this is the Regalo MyCot Portable Travel bed below, which is super easy to put up).

The disadvantage of the foldable toddler bed type is that they will take up more room for storing. For this reason a fold up toddler bed is often a better option for car travel, staying at friends and road trips than plane travel and overseas trips.

Kids Travel Bed Reviews

We haves selected our pick of the best travel toddler beds and listed them below. We have detailed all the most important features in our toddler travel bed reviews and highlighted any advantages/disadvantages of each bed.

All of these top toddler travel beds can be bought on Amazon and delivered to your doorstep.

Shrunks Toddler Bed

This award winning Shrunks travel bed is an extremely popular kids air mattress and definite contender for best travel bed. It is sizeable and comfortable but extremely lightweight, weighing just eight pounds, including the pump.

One of our favourite features of this kids air bed is that can be inflated in just 30 seconds with the included electric pump.

We also love that the soft flocking on top of the Shrunks toddler travel bed prevents squeaking noises so often associated with a kids blow up mattress. Much better for a good night’s sleep.

This toddler air bed has guard rails on all four sides, making it extremely difficult for a child to fall out or roll off the bed. The sheet-tuck feature of the Shrunks inflatable bed means that sheets are tucked into the inner travel cot mattress, making for a snug fit as well as keeping the sheets off the floor.

At a sizeable 60 x 37 x 9 inches when fully inflated, the Shrunks travel bed deflates down to a compact 16 x 7 inches and comes with its own drawstring bag. This makes it an ideal children’s air bed for both air travel and car travel.

The Shrunks air mattress is definitely a strong contender for the best toddler travel bed.

The Shrunks toddler bed can be used with standard crib sheets, but we love all their little accessories, including the Shrunks sleeping bag, waterproof pillow, waterproof sheet, cotton blanket, and especially the Shrunks play tent, which attaches to the bed and would be great fun for little kids.

Features:

• Lightweight, weighs just 8lbs including pump
• Sizeable at 60 x 37 x 9 inches
• Guard rails on all four sides
• Soft flocking on top prevents squeaking
• Takes just 30 seconds to inflate with included pump
• Sheet-tuck feature keeps bedding off floor
• Includes carry bag, electric pump and repair kit
• Suitable for air travel

Click here to check prices for the Shrunks Toddler Bed.

Hiccapop Travel Bed

Hiccapop claims that their bed is the safest inflatable travel bed on the market. Combined with its large size, quick inflate pump and comfortable velvet-flocked removable mattress makes this one of the most popular travel beds available today. 

The bed takes less than 30-seconds to inflate, so perfect for when you arrive at your destination late and night and just need to put the kids straight to bed. 

At 62 x 39 x 12 inches it is among the larger beds in our selection and yet this inflatable mattress folds up small and offers easy storage in the included travel bag. 

Oversized side bumpers ensure that wriggly sleepers stay-put in the bed throughout the night and it fits standard crib sheets, so no need to buy any specially.

Another claim to fame for this toddler bed is that it is made with puncture-resistant reinforced vinyl, which is 40% thicker than its nearest competitor, meaning less chance of damage.

An all-around winner. 

Features:

• Lightweight
• Large size at 62 x 39 x 12 inches
• Oversized side bumpers
• Plush velvet flocked removable mattress
• Takes just 30 seconds to inflate with included pump
• Includes carry bag and high speed electric pump 
• Suitable for air travel

Click here to check prices for the Hiccapop Kids Travel Bed.

Regalo MyCot Portable Travel Bed

If you are looking for a cheap toddler travel bed, then the Regalo MyCot bed is the most affordable toddler travel bed solution we review here. This kids fold up bed looks like a toddler camping bed and is ideal to be used as one.

The fold and go system of the Regalo portable travel bed is so easy to set up; it takes less than a minute. Unlike a lot of foldable baby beds, it folds up really small and could easily be fitted into your suitcase. When set up it is a compact size too, at just 48 x 24 x 9 inches, making it ideal for fitting into hotel rooms.

The steel frame and waterproof nylon canvas makes this children’s camping bed really sturdy, and yet it is also lightweight, weighing just four pounds! The included fitted sheet that fits over the frame is removable and machine washable.

Where this collapsible toddler bed differs from others in this review is that it is lifted off the ground. This has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that it is lifted away from dirt and insects if you are using it for camping or outdoor use. It also makes it more versatile and can be used as seating for the garden or beach.

The main disadvantage is that it is less stable than a toddler travel mattress that sits on the floor so may not be as good for young toddlers not used to being in a bed yet. Although it doesn’t have built in bed guards, the weight of the child should cause the centre to sag enough that rolling out of bed is prevented.

Features:

• Lightweight, weighs just 4lbs
• Small and compact at just 48 x 24 x 9 inches
• Very easy to set up and collapse
• Easily removable fitted sheet for washing
• Includes carry bag
• Suitable for air travel
• Great for camping and outdoor use

Click here to check prices for the Regalo MyCot.

Intex Kidz Travel Bed

The Intex Kids travel bed is a large and deep children’s inflatable bed. The mattress of the Intex toddler bed sits inside the outer frame, meaning two main advantages:

Firstly, this means there are deep guard rails on all four sides of the Intex travel bed making it virtually impossible to roll out of bed. Secondly this makes it easy to tuck in sheets and keep them off the floor.

At 66 x 42 x 10 inches, the Intex inflatable toddler bed is the biggest bed in our toddler travel bed reviews. This can be a good thing if you are looking for something comfortable and that will still be good in a few years time as your child grows.

However, at a good 6 inches wider than the Shrunks inflatable toddler bed above, the Intex toddler air mattress is not ideal if you want to squeeze into a small hotel room, or if you have two portable baby beds to fit in.

The Intex toddler air bed comes with a hand pump. Inflating takes around 5 minutes of continual pumping. While this is fine, if you are not restricted by weight allowance and especially if you are planning a road trip when you will be putting up the bed several times in one vacation, we would recommend investing in an electric pump to make this process easier.

The Intex toddler travel bed weighs just nine pounds and comes with a carry bag for storage.

One thing we did notice with this child air mattress is that the smell of plastic is quite strong when you first take it out of the packaging. This does go away after a little time, so we would recommend taking the Intex inflatable kids bed out and giving it an airing before using it for the first time.

Features:

• Lightweight, weighs just 9lbs
• Very large at 66 x 42 x 10 inches
• Deep guard rails on all four sides
• Sheet-tuck feature keeps bedding off floor
• Includes carry bag, and hand pump
• Can use standard cot sheets
• Suitable for air travel

Click here to check prices for the Intex Kidz Travel Bed.

 

Peapod Plus Infant Travel Bed

The Peapod Plus is a fun looking pop up toddler bed that doubles as a mini tent. The lightweight mesh cover allows for air to flow through the tent, and also provides UV protection and protection from insects, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

This Peapod travel bed is super easy to set up – you just pop it up, with no assembly required. It folds up small and flat and comes with a carry bag, making it easy to pack into a suitcase or squeeze into a car already full of luggage.

At 52 x 34 x 22 inches this baby camping bed is large enough to comfortably sleep children age 1 – 5 years old.

It is also super lightweight at just 3.5 pounds, making it ideal for air travel or even taking with you on a day trip when you want your little one to take an afternoon nap on the go.

Features:

• Mesh cover provides protection from UV rays and insects
• Lightweight, weighs just 3.5lbs
• Small and compact at just 52 x 34 x 22 inches
• Very easy to set up and pack away
• Includes carry bag
• Suitable for air travel
• Great for camping and outdoor use

Click here to check prices and buy on Amazon.

LeachCo BumpZZZZ Travel Bed

This LeachCo travel bed is made from soft foam with soft cushioned bumpers on all sides, to prevent children falling out of bed. It is a good size too at 58 x 39 x 7 inches.

Out of all the kids travel mattresses here, this is the softest and probably most comfortable kids travel bed set. However, it does come at a price. Not only is it the most expensive option in our best kids portable toddler bed reviews, it is also the largest when packed up.

Once folded, this child’s fold up bed still measures 20 x 37 x 15 inches, which is larger than the average suitcase and therefore this fold out toddler bed is not really suitable for air travel. For a weekend at the grandparents or as a toddler sleepover bed however, it is a great option.

The fold and go functionality of this children’s fold out bed make it super easy to put out and to fold away again. It can also be used folded over as a lounge cushion.

The foam pad and outer bumpers are easily removed for washing. At 11.5 pounds, it is the heaviest portable toddler mattress we review, but is still light enough to easily carry to the car and in and out of the house.

Features:

• Soft foam with cushioned bumpers make it very comfortable
• Sizeable at 58 x 39 x 7 inches
• Fold & Go function makes it easy to set up and fold away
• Foam pad and outer bumpers easily removed for washing
• Includes carry bag
• Large when folded so not really suitable for air travel

Click here to check prices for the LeachCo BumpZZZZ travel bed.

 

My First Ready Bed

The My First ReadyBed is a little different to the other inflatable toddler travel beds in this review, as it is only aimed at children aged 18 months – 3 years old.

Click here to check prices.

The advantage of this is that it is super lightweight and small, weighing just over three pounds making it perfect for air travel. It measures just 51 x 24 x 9 inches, making it easy to squeeze in just about anywhere. The downside is that there is not much room for growth.

The other thing we love about this toddler blow up mattress, is that it comes with a built-in sleeping bag, meaning you don’t need to pack additional bedding. These sleeping bags come in lots of fun designs and are easily removed for washing.

Unlike the other kids inflatable mattresses reviewed here, the My First Ready Bed does not have guard rails all the way down. We first used our Ready Bed when my daughter was still used to sleeping in a cot and she is a real wriggler – she spent most of the time rolling onto the floor and sleeping there!

Click here to check prices.

This children’s blow up bed comes with a hand pump. Inflating takes around 5 minutes of continual pumping. If you are not restricted by weight allowance for the plane, and/or if you are planning to put this bed up several times in one vacation, we would recommend investing in an electric pump to make this process easier

Features:

• Lightweight, weighs just over 3lbs
• Small and compact at just 51 x 24 x 9 inches
• Built-in sleeping bag
• Range of fun designs
• Easily removable sleeping bag for washing
• Includes carry bag and hand pump
• Suitable for air travel

Click here to check prices for the My First ReadyBed.

 

Don’t forget the Accessories!

Not all of these junior travel beds come with fitted sheets, so packing these or a sleeping bag is a good idea. You might also want to upgrade to an electric pump for some of the children’s inflatable mattresses. We love the following options:

Looking for more travel products to make travel with kids easier? Click here to read our guide to the best luggage for kids and click here to read our guide to the best travel booster car seats.

 

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Note: Mum on the Move is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a booking or purchase using one of these links, we may receive a small commission – at absolutely no extra cost to you.