How to Find the Right Toddler Travel Bed Taking your toddler on a big trip, but are worried they won't sleep well away from home? Here's everything you need to know about what to look for when choosing a portable bed for your toddler. Every parent knows that traveling with a toddler can be stressful. Your little one might have a hard time adjusting to new surroundings and a crazy schedule. But where your toddler is going to sleep doesn't have to be on your list of concerns. You can get your very own toddler travel bed to ensure that your child -- and therefore your whole family -- gets a good night sleep.What to Look for in Toddler Travel BedsToddler beds range from cheap and simple to elaborate and expensive. Before making an investment, you should determine how often you will use the bed and which features you would like it to include. If you may only use the bed once over the course of your child's toddler years, a cheaper style will do the trick.However, if you're a jet setter who often flies coast-to-coast with your toddler in tow, investing in a higher quality, lightweight travel bed may be the way to go.
The ease with which you can set up the bed is also important, as you don't want to be fussing with a bed when rolling into a hotel in the middle of the night. As with any purchase of sleeping equipment, you should make sure that the product you choose meets all current safety standards and is certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.Here are four popular styles of travel toddler beds for you to consider: Air MattressAn air mattress is a simple solution for sleeping on the go. This style is perfect for kids who are beyond the crib stage, but not quite ready for a big bed. You should choose a toddler-specific air mattress that is perfectly sized for your little one and has raised edges that act as rails.Simply inflate the mattress with an air pump and place it on the floor at bedtime. When not in use, air mattresses can be deflated, which allows for easy storage. The Shrunks Indoor Travel Bed is a model made for toddlers that features the ability to tuck your child's crib sheets into the mattress, making it feel even more like home.
Travel CotA travel cot is another great option for a hotel room, Grandma's house or even a tent. It assembles very quickly, as the frame folds out just like a folding chair. Most cot styles have a lightweight canvas pad rather than a mattress, which makes them very portable. Children who are used to sleeping in a toddler or twin bed with no bed rails would do best in this setup.Before making a purchase, you should check the age and size recommendations for different styles. For instance, the Regalo My Cot portable bed is recommended for kids ages 2 to 5 that are up to 75 pounds and 52 inches tall. Portable Bed RailBed rails are a simple, easy solution that can turn virtually any adult bed into a safe sleeping environment for kids. You can install bed rails on the side of an adult bed in order to keep your child from rolling off the mattress onto the floor. Bed rails come in different lengths and styles to fit a wide variety of travel needs. The inflatable Shrunks Wally Bed Rail packs flat and will fit under the sheets of normal beds.
Traveling CribWhether you call it a pack n' play, a play yard or a traveling crib, there are numerous versions of this portable toddler bed on the market. A traveling crib is relatively easy to set up and doesn't take any special equipment. If your toddler is used to sleeping in a crib already, a traveling crib may make sleeping away from home easier.When selecting a traveling crib, you should give careful consideration to the space and weight of the item. After all, you will have to carry it, pack it and maybe even stow it on an airplane. The phil&teds Portable Traveller Crib with mesh sides only weighs seven pounds, can fit in an overhead airplane bin and will keep your toddler traveling in style until about the age of 3.A toddler travel bed can make all the difference between a good night's sleep and a restless night -- don't leave home without it!Victoria Georgoff is a freelance writer and psychotherapist who enjoys writing about parenting, helping other parents and, of course, being a parent herself.
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