PeaPod Plus Baby Travel Bed: More like a cocoon than a bed

Urban Mommies always seem to be on the go, especially in the summer! When traveling with our little ones, finding a comfy place for them to sleep can be a source of concern.  It’s easy to feel like Goldilocks in the house of the Three Bears:  our children are too big for a pack-n-play or a crib but they are too small to be comfortable in a large adult bed.  What’s a mom to

do?  We need to find a bed that is just right, and these travel beds for small children do the trick.

The solution?  A Travel bed specially designed and shaped to accommodate infant/toddler and young child age groups.  There is an assortment from which to choose including: inflatable air mattresses, simple and light-weight cots, lightweight play yards many of which come with a bassinet for small babies.  Some travel beds are also equipped with folding bed rails for children who have a tendency to roll out of bed in the middle of the night.  Most importantly, because many of the travel beds are inflatable, they are also quite portable, light-weight and c

an easily be folded to fit into a car or a closet.

Several makers of child travel beds and different styles of travel beds are available.The Urbanmommies Editors found the following child and infant travel beds particularly pleasing:

PeaPod Plus Baby Travel Bed

Unlike the hardier and bulkier play yards of our youth, the PeaPod Plus Baby Travel Bed is more like a “travel cocoon.”  The mattress is inflatable and, when baby is finished sleeping, can be folded into a compact tote for easy carrying; no more lugging around the heavy pack-n-play! This travel bed is also outdoor-friendly: the mesh bubble blocks bugs, wind, and half of the UV rays. The mattress inflates in less than 5 minutes using the a specific pump (sold separately by Leaps and Bounds).

Guava Family GoCrib

Guava Family GoCrib

The GoCrib is a standard size, ultra-portable travel crib that packs into a lightweight backpack for families that are on the go.

Because it’s inflatable, it is pretty easy to assemble.  But, once it is set up the rigid structure creates a strong and safe environment.  The product features a 27″ x 39″ insulating mattress and a 25″ depth sleeping and play area (same as a standard play yard).

My Cot Portable Travel Bed

My Cot Portable Travel Bed

I wish that they had something like the My Cot Portable Travel Bed when I was a child.  It would have made sleeping at my grandparents’ house a lot more comfortable.  This portable cot can go to Grandma’s, day care as easily as it can be transported to sleepovers!  The bed is slightly lifted off the ground leaving enough room underneath to ensure that the children sleeping on it stay comfy and dry whether the cot is indoors and out. It even comes with its own carry bag.

Tuck-Me-In Travel Bed with Removable Mattress

We love the Tuck-Me-In Travel Bed with Removable Mattress. It’s so easy to assemble my daughter and her cousins argue about how’s turn it is to inflate the mattress.  The famous inflatable bed features a larger, fully-detached mattress, for snugglier sleepovers and easier linen changes. Soft and cushy, with a flocked surface that’s not sticky, it also built-in safety bumpers. The Tuck-Me-In  is very light and folds compactly.  The pump and tote included in the price of the bed. Further, if your little one is a sheet lover, like my daughter is, you can purchase the coordinating travel bed accessories from One Step Ahead too.

Intex Cozy Kid Air Bed

My 8 year-old daughter is begging me for a bed that can accommodate all her friends when they have a sleep over.  Rather than pull out the old sleeper sofa’s mattress, we elected to go the less time consuming and affordable route and took a look at the Cozy Kidz Airbeds.  The Intex Cozy Kid Air Bed Twin Size comes in three bright fun colors: pink, blue and orange . Both the pillow-top and mattress-top are lightly flocked which adds comfort while also preventing the sheets from sliding off of the mattress.  This is the perfect air mattress to take on a sleepover or even family camping trips. The beds are 34.5″ Wide x 62″ Long x 7″ height (slightly shorter than the average twin bed) but the dimensions may vary up to two inches depending on firmness and come with built in pillows. Even better?  The mattresses can withstand more than 200lbs which means more than one child can sit on it at a time before having to worry that they are going to cause the mattress to deflate.  One note, the mattress does not come with a built in pump.

Traveling with small children doesn’t have to be painful.  Most Urban Mommies know that the first step to having a happy child is ensuring that child has had a good night’s sleep.  With so many great travel bed choices, we know that you & your family will find the right one (or two?  or three?)  that works for you.

Good luck! And safe travels!