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The 15 Best Toddler Travel Beds in 2024

Figuring out where our children will sleep is one of the trickiest parts of planning family trips. Whether we’re booking a hotel, staying at a relative’s house, or camping, we’re always looking to create a solid night of sleep for our kids on adventures away from home. We’ve traveled with inflatable beds, bed rails, toddler tents, and travel cribs on road trips and plane trips alike.

To help you plan your next family vacation, we’ve rounded up the 15 best travel sleep solutions for toddlers in 2023, from high-end products to budget-friendly steals. While some are compact and easy to carry around, others offer more comfort and safety for active little sleepers.

Travel Sleep Solutions for Toddlers: The Top 15

Intex Kids Travel Air Mattress

From inflatable toddler beds to protective bed rails, cots, nap mats, tents, and cribs, here are the best toddler travel beds for 2023:

Inflatable toddler beds:

Toddler bed rails:

Travel cots and floor mats:

Pop-up tents and travel cribs:

Our Favorite Toddler Travel Beds: Details and Specifications

Let’s dive deeper and find out why these 15 winners made our list of the best toddler travel beds.

Inflatable toddler beds

Intex Kids Travel Air Mattress

Air mattresses and inflatable floor beds are among the most popular sleep solutions for children and adults alike. Although they can take some time to set up and occupy serious floor space, they’re comfortable, practical, and compact for traveling.

We’ve narrowed this year’s inflatable toddler beds to our favorite high-end (over $100), mid-priced ($50–100), and budget-friendly (under $50) choices:

High-end top pick: EnerPlex Kids Inflatable Travel Bed

  • Approximate cost: $105
  • Dimensions: 66” by 44” by 13”
  • Weight: 13 pounds (including pump)
  • What’s included: Air bed, backpack carrying bag, and electric pump

The Kids Inflatable Travel Bed by EnerPlex comes with a convenient travel backpack for hands-free carrying and an electric pump for speedy inflation. The wraparound safety bumper has lower walls toward the foot of the bed, protecting toddlers from rolling out while allowing them to climb in and out easily. The EnerPlex has a whopping 150-pound weight limit and is compatible with any standard fitted crib sheet.

High-end runner-up: JetKids Cloud Sleeper

  • Approximate cost: $130
  • Dimensions: 59” by 30” by 7”
  • Weight: 3 pounds
  • What’s included: Air bed with built-in foot pump, packing cube, and fitted sheet

At only three pounds, the Cloud Sleeper by JetKids is ideal for air travel. Its innovative packing cube compressed the entire mattress to just 15” by 11” by 4”. With low-profile side bumpers, the Cloud Sleeper is suitable for youngsters over age 3. A simple foot pump is incorporated right into the body of the mattress to reduce the need for bulky parts, and a machine-washable fitted sheet is included with purchase.

Mid-priced top pick: Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed

  • Approximate cost: $80
  • Dimensions: 62” by 39” by 12”
  • Weight: 8 pounds
  • What’s included: Air bed, electric pump, and travel bag

Hiccapop’s Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed comes in three fun colors and includes an extra-fast electric pump for quick setup. The 49” by 26” mattress fits a standard crib fitted sheet, and bed bumpers with extra height at the head, foot, and sides of the bed help keep toddlers from falling to the floor while asleep. Children are ready for the Hiccapop once they’re able to climb out of their crib, and will fit until they reach 49” in height.

Mid-priced runner-up: The Shrunks Inflatable Toddler Bed

  • Approximate cost: $70
  • Dimensions: 60” by 37” by 9”
  • Weight: 6 pounds
  • What’s included: Air bed, electric pump, repair kit, and travel bag

With a 200-pound weight limit and sturdy, water-resistant materials, the Shrunks Inflatable Toddler Bed is a great sleeping solution for children from ages 2 to 6. A small space between the attached mattress and frame allows parents to tuck a fitted crib sheet in securely, and low side bumpers keep active sleepers safe overnight.

Budget-friendly top pick: Intex Kidz Travel Bed with Hand Pump

  • Approximate cost: $32
  • Dimensions: 66” by 42” by 10”
  • Weight: 9 pounds
  • What’s included: Air bed, travel bag, and hand pump
Intex Kids Travel Air Mattress

The Intex Kidz Travel Bed (reviewed here!) has been a safe and sturdy sleeping solution for our son for almost two years now. The included hand pump makes setup slow, but the mattress is compatible with other electric pumps for families who already have one at home. The Intex is appropriate for ages 3 to 6, and it fits a standard fitted crib sheet. The tall wraparound bumpers keep active sleepers more contained than any of the other inflatable beds on our list.

Budget-friendly runner-up: Intex Cozy Kidz Inflatable Airbed

  • Approximate cost: $12
  • Dimensions: 62” by 35” by 7”
  • Weight: 4 pounds
  • What’s included: Air bed and carry bag

The Intex Cozy Kidz Inflatable Airbed doesn’t have safety bumpers or an included pump, but its low price can’t be beat. It’s a lightweight, simple, and roomy place for children to snooze, from ages 3 to 10.

Toddler bed rails

Toddler Travel Beds

If your toddler already has a designated bed at your destination, bed rails will help keep them safely tucked in for the night. Here are our three favorite bed rails for travel:

Best inflatable bed rails: Hiccapop Inflatable Bed Rails

  • Approximate cost: $55 for two rails
  • Dimensions: 52” by 7” by 5” each
  • Weight: 1 pound each
  • What’s included: Two bed rails, removable nylon cover, and carry bag

Hiccapop’s Inflatable Bed Rails are innovative, lightweight, and space-saving. Appropriate for kids age 2 and up, they fit under the fitted sheet on any twin, full, queen, or king mattress. An attached no-slip flap with a silicone bottom lies underneath that snoozing child to keep the bumpers in place. Parents can inflate each bed rail by blowing into a valve, and they can remove and machine-wash the water-resistant nylon cover when needed.

Most protective bed rails: Munchkin Toddler Safety Bed Rail

  • Approximate cost: $48 for one
  • Dimensions: 36” by 18” by 3”
  • Weight: 6 pounds
  • What’s included: One bed rail
Toddler Travel Beds

We use our expandable Munchkin Toddler Safety Bed Rails nightly for our son at home and fold them flat to put in the car for road trips. Although not suitable for flying, they create an extra sturdy barrier to prevent children from 2 to 5 years old from falling out of bed. Adjustable straps lie underneath the mattress and span its entire width to keep the barrier in place. We can put two rails side by side to match the length of any standard twin, full, or queen bed. The rails fold down and out of the way when not needed.

Best budget-friendly bed rails: Delta Children Inflatable Bed Rails

  • Approximate cost: $25 for two rails
  • Dimensions: 48” by 7” by 5” each
  • Weight: 2 pounds each
  • What’s included: Two bed rails and foot pump

The Inflatable Bed Rails by Delta Children have a grippy texture underneath to prevent them from sliding off the bed. An included foot pump makes inflation easy, and the bumpers fit under the fitted sheet on any twin, full, queen, or king mattress. Although they can’t completely stop children from falling out of bed, inflatable bumpers deliver a gentle reminder to little ones 2 and up that the edge of the bed is near.

Travel cots and floor mats

Nugget Play Couch

If you’re looking for a cozy spot for your toddler to sleep on the floor without dealing with the hassle of inflating an air bed, folding cots and floor mats make for convenient sleep solutions. In addition to our beloved Nugget play couch (pictured above) that doubles as a nap mat, here are some of our favorite options:

Best folding cot: Joovy Foocot Travel Cot

  • Approximate cost: $54
  • Dimensions: 48” by 25” by 10”
  • Weight: 7 pounds
  • What’s included: Cot and travel bag

Joovy’ s Foocot Travel Cot has no safety bumpers, but it rests low to the ground and folds down to 25” by 8” by 6” for traveling. With four bright color options and an attached storage pocket, the Foocot is great for kids up to 75 pounds or 48” tall.

Best budget-friendly folding cot: Regalo My Cot Portable Toddler Bed

  • Approximate cost: $33
  • Dimensions: 48” by 25” by 9”
  • Weight: 7 pounds
  • What’s included: Cot and fitted sheet

The My Cot Portable Toddler Bed from Regalo is perfect for indoor and outdoor use. It’s appropriate for children from 2 to 5 years old (or up to 75 pounds), and it comes with a soft fitted sheet.

Best travel nap mat: Milliard Toddler Nap Mat

  • Approximate cost: $67
  • Dimensions: 57” by 24” by 3”
  • Weight: 9 pounds
  • What’s included: Nap mat and removable cover

Milliard’s foam Toddler Nap Mat measures 19” by 24” by 9” when folded into thirds. The included bamboo cover is machine washable, and a carrying case is available for separate purchase.

Pop-up tents and travel cribs

Toddler Travel Beds

For times when you need your child to be in a protected, enclosed area for sleep, tents and travel cribs give toddlers a safe and isolated spot to nod off peacefully.

Best toddler travel tent: Joovy Gloo Portable Kids Travel Tent

  • Approximate cost: $100–160, depending on size
  • Dimensions: 44” by 25” by 18 (regular size), 52” by 28” by 25” (large size)
  • Weight: 4 pounds (regular size), 6 pounds (large size)
  • What’s included: Tent, travel bag, and mattress pad with removable cover

The Gloo Portable Kids Travel Tent by Joovy features a quick pop-up setup and fully enclosed mesh sidewalls to protect from bugs or sand. The Gloo comes in two sizes: the regular size is suitable for toddlers from 6 months to 3 years old, while the large fits children from 6 months to 5 years old. A self-inflating mattress pad with a machine-washable cover creates a soft barrier between your little one and the floor or ground, and a fabric shade rolls down for added sun protection. If you’re looking for something more like a portable blackout curtain tent, the Slumberpod is great (read our Slumberpod review).

Best tent for beach naps: Babymoov Anti-UV Sun Tent

  • Approximate cost: $60
  • Dimensions: 39” by 39” by 31”
  • Weight: 2 pounds
  • What’s included: Tent, carrying case, and pegs for securing into the ground

We bought the lightweight Anti-UV Sun Tent to shield our son and daughter from wind, sand, and sun when napping outdoors. Since it doesn’t come with a mattress, it’s great for soft, sandy beaches. The water-repellent tent, which has built-in UPF 50 sun protection and mesh ventilation windows, pops open automatically when removed from its case. We can zip the tent completely shut for naps or tie the mesh doors in the open position. Babymoov’s sun tent is appropriate for newborns and up.

Best travel crib: Guava Lotus Travel Crib

guava lotus travel crib review
The Guava in Cape Town
  • Approximate cost: $230
  • Dimensions: 46” by 32” by 26”
  • Weight: 15 pounds
  • What’s included: Travel crib, backpack-style carrying bag, and folding mattress

We used Guava Family’s Lotus Travel Crib for our son from his newborn months until he grew too large for it, and now we use it for our infant daughter whenever we travel. The crib is appropriate for children from day one until age 3, or whenever toddlers can climb out of it (which, for us, was at 18 months old). The Lotus folds down to 24” by 12” by 8” and fits into the thick, durable backpack-style travel bag for hands-free carrying.

The bottom of the crib sits directly on the floor, which eliminates any specific weight limit. A zip-down door on the side allows us to lie down next to our kiddies to help them fall asleep. Guava’s travel crib is easy to unfold and set up, but disassembling it and fitting it into the carrying case is more complicated. See our complete review of the Lotus travel bassinet and crib here.

The Final Verdict: Finding the Best Toddler Travel Bed

Toddler Travel Beds

We hope our guide helped you narrow down the search for the right sleeping solution for your little one on nights away from home. If you’re looking for an inflatable toddler mattress, we think you can’t go wrong with air beds from EnerPlex, Hiccapop, and Intex. For older toddlers who only need soft bed rails, Hiccapop’s inflatable bumpers are an excellent purchase, while the Guava travel crib is a great option for younger tots who still fit in a pack-and-play.

No matter how much you plan out your children’s sleeping spots, we know from experience to always be ready for an extra little person in our bed when we’re away, because you never know when that toddler will need some overnight snuggles.

For more of our top travel gear picks, check out our guides on the best compact strollers, best strollers that fit in the airplane overhead bin, and best baby carriers for travel.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links that support us at no extra cost to you when you purchase through them. We only recommend products we love and use ourselves. Your trust always comes first!

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One Comment

  1. This is a great post on a travel toddler bed. In my opinion, the Intex Cozy Kidz Inflatable Airbed is the best because it is so budget-friendly that everyone can buy it.

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