5 Best Toddler Travel Beds to Tote on Your Next Vacation

These lightweight, travel-friendly picks are usually just a few pounds in weight—far less than even the thinnest kids' mattress options. Ideal for taking on short-haul adventures, camping trips and overnights at Grandma's, they promise a comfortable sleep experience without the hassle of a cot.

PeaPod Travel Bed

Weighing only 1.1 kilograms, the PeaPod is light in weight and on your wallet. This innovative sleep solution is suitable for children ages one to three, giving toddlers a head start on the glamping trend. It's also large enough at 18 x 28 x 46 inches to keep them rested well into the big-kid years.

Essentially a pop-up tent with an inflatable mattress, the PeaPod comes equipped with its own nylon carrying case. It is compact enough for travel and can be used indoors as a crib replacement in a hotel room at the best all-inclusive resorts for families or an Airbnb.

And, because it zips fully closed (see you later, bugs!), it’s ideal for outdoor use, too—take it camping or bring it to the park for a picnic and a nap. The mosquito netting makes it one of the most practical portable toddler travel bed options for outdoorsy types.

The prospect of a long flight with a toddler is so daunting to even the most seasoned travelers that they give up on the pipe dream of their child (who isn’t the best sleeper to begin with) ever sleeping soundly in an upright position. Especially on a cramped airplane.

Visions of a screaming toddler sprawled out over a neighboring passenger, kicking the seat in front of them or tangled up in a frayed seatbelt, could turn any wanderluster into a homebody. Enter the convenient and light (3.7 kilograms) and carry-on-sized BedBox by the clever team at Stokke.

 This option is best for toddlers aged two and up. The ride-on suitcase allows bigger kids to barrel through the airport long enough to tucker themselves out for the ride. Once on board the plane, unpack said ride-on, equipped with a mattress and protective side cushions, and attach it to the seat and it becomes a bed.

Once they’re fast asleep, grab the flight attendant for a drink and relax—it’s going to be a long flight after all. We love the stylish look of this kids' travel bed and how downright jetset it makes little ones feel.

When playpens no longer do the trick and you’re too nervous to tuck your jerky little sleeper into a hotel bed, this inflatable number, by the family-run operation The Shrunks, is a smart solution for tots aged two and up.

Boasting a 30-second set-up (pump included), this clever design mimics the construction of a full toddler bed, allowing for the mattress and guard rails to separate and making the whole travel bed cleanable. It's one of the most practical beds for toddlers and a breeze to set up.

Though the bed is easy to pack (three kilograms and 7 x 7 x 16 inches when deflated), once inflated, standard-sized (machine washable!) sheets tuck right into the inner air mattress for your little one to stretch out and sleep comfortably. Now that’s a holiday!

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Milliard Portable Toddler Bumper Bed

Though slightly bulkier (at 4.7 kilograms) than an inflatable mattress, this solution from Milliard is a practical choice for parents who put a premium on their toddler’s comfort.

Plush and cozy and raised on all sides, this foam travel bed measures 7 x 26 x 55 inches when open and folds up into a convenient suitcase that measures 14.5 x 25 x 27 inches when closed and even has room to stuff in your child’s favourite pillow and blankie. Lullaby not included.

Though not recommended for toddlers who still tend to roll in their beds, Joovy’s foldable toddler travel cot, made of a stretchy nylon and steel bar construction and available in an array of bright colors, is the most transportable sleep option of them all.

Though this toddler travel bed is a comfortable size (at 9.5 x 25 x 48 inches) for a luxurious sleep, it folds up easily and fits into most suitcases. That said, with its simple set-up and lightweight (three kilograms), your child can probably carry it and put it together all by themselves. And it holds up to 75 pounds of body weight and is extremely affordable at about $50. Win! Montessori diploma not required.