Best Toddler Travel Beds

Whether you’re road-tripping to grandma’s or embarking on your first family flight, traveling with a toddler presents some unique challenges. One big one that might leave you scratching your head for a solution? Where your toddler is going to sleep, especially if they’re in that strange in-between phase where they’re too big for a travel crib but not quite ready to snooze the night away in a full-size bed.

Meet the toddler travel bed: a perfectly pint-sized sleep solution for your tiny traveler. Toddler travel beds are lightweight, portable and built to take on the go. They’re also designed with toddlers in mind, with special features like sized-down mattresses and built-in bumpers.

A portable toddler travel bed is worth investing in if you’re a family that travels frequently or if you regularly stay somewhere that’s short on beds (think a relative or friend’s home, or even a hotel) and need a spot for your toddler to sleep. These expert-approved parent favorites will help you narrow down which toddler travel bed is best for you.

Babylist’s Top Picks for the Best Toddler Travel Beds

• Best Inflatable: hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers
• Best Twin Size: The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed
• Best for Older Toddlers: Stokke JetKids CloudSleeper
• Best Nap Mat: Wildkin Original Nap Mat
• Best Padded Nap Mat: Miliard Toddler Nap Mat
• Best Travel Cot: Regalo My Cot Portable Toddler Bed
• Best Affordable Inflatable: INTEX 66810EP Inflatable Kidz Travel Bed Set
• Best for Camping: KidCo PeaPod Camp Lightweight Child Portable Travel Bed Camp Tent Extension
• Best for Sleepovers: Funboy Convertible Kids Sleeping Air Mattress

Babylist’s Picks for the Best Toddler Travel Beds

Do You Need a Travel Bed for a Toddler?

A toddler travel bed isn’t a must-have for some families, but it’s an item that can come in pretty handy in certain situations—especially if you’re a family who is regularly on the move. If you’re on the fence about purchasing one, here are a few reasons why you may want to add a toddler travel bed to your cart.

• The “in-between” phase. Your toddler needs a safe place to sleep when they’re away from home. Many playards and travel cribs—especially ones with raised mattresses—have weight and height maximums, usually around 30 pounds and 35 inches. A taller, heavier toddler may hit that mark by two years old. But most two-year-olds aren’t quite ready for a full-size adult bed. Many will feel intimidated by such a large sleep space or run the risk or rolling out. A toddler travel bed is the perfect solution during this period of transition.
• You’re short on space. Staying in a hotel room that only has one bed? All the bedrooms taken during the holiday celebration at the grandparents’? A toddler travel crib is a quick, easy way to add an extra sleeping space to a room or a house that doesn’t have enough beds (or space) for your family.
• You want your toddler close—but not too close. Toddlers move around a LOT during the night; sharing a bed with one can be a little bit like snuggling up next to the blades of a helicopter. If you want your own sleep space, but don’t want your toddler out of sight, a toddler travel bed is a good idea.
• They’re fun. Never underestimate anything that makes bedtime a little bit more fun. Toddlers love anything pint-sized and designed just for them. They also love to feel special and included. A portable toddler travel bed checks all of these boxes and can help your little one get a little more excited about bedtime—which can be tough to accomplish when you’re away from home.

Types of Toddler Travel Beds

You’ll notice a few categories of toddler travel beds when you start shopping. Choosing which type is best for you comes down to how you’ll be using the bed and personal preference.

• Inflatable travel beds are the most common type of toddler travel bed. They inflate via a hand or motorized pump, making them light and travel-friendly when deflated. (Just note that not all inflatable toddler travel beds come with a pump, and some pumps are bulky.) Some inflatable toddler beds come with built-in bumpers.
• Travel cots are folding cots that are raised off the ground. They’re commonly used in daycare or other childcare settings but can be used at home or in a hotel, too. They don’t have side rails or bumpers.
• Sleep tents, sometimes also called sleep pods or pop-up travel beds, create a breathable, enclosed sleep space over your toddler. They’re ideal for camping or if you have a tiny wanderer on your hands.

What to Look for in a Toddler Travel Bed

These are the features to consider when you’re trying to find the best toddler travel bed to meet your needs.

• Portability. Much like a travel crib, size and weight matter when you’re shopping for a toddler travel bed since you’ll be schlepping it around on the regular. If you plan to fly with your toddler travel bed or if you travel quite a bit, choosing a lightweight, compact bed is even more important.
• Ease of use. Be sure the toddler travel bed you choose is easy to set up and break down. Also check that it comes with all necessary parts and accessories (think pump, fitted sheet, pillow etc.) or if you have to purchase them separately.
• Ease of cleaning. Accidents happen, especially with toddlers, so be sure your toddler travel bed is easy to clean.
• Safety. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), never use an inflatable air mattress with infants and children under 15 months due to the risk of suffocation and rolling. Always be sure to follow any other safety warnings and specific usage directions associated with your toddler travel bed.