12 May 2016

The Best Cots and Portable Travel Beds for Kids

By Marie Davis Home

Published 12 May 2016

Last updated 7 June 2021

If you are looking for different options to use as a travel bed for infants, toddlers, and kids, there are lots of great cots and portable travel options available. The models that are designed specifically for kids are sturdy, durable and great for temporary use. Children’s cots and travel beds are useful when staying in hotels, for camping, and also for sleepovers with family or friends. The following are some of our favorite styles that are perfect for traveling with kids. Not only are they best-sellers, but they are also highly rated by consumers and experts.

The Shrunks Toddler and Child Travel Beds

The Shrunks Travel beds are a great option if you are looking for a product that you can easily take on a plane. You can get them in a few different sizes, including a Toddler size which is about the size of a crib mattress for kids 2 to 6 years old, and also a child’s size which is about the size of a twin mattress. For those individuals who are looking for a mattress for camping, they also have a special outdoor version that comes with a foot pump rather than the electric pump. You can inflate all of the different Shrunks designs in about 30 seconds so that the setup couldn’t be easier.

One of the cool features in these Shrunks products is that the mattress is separate on the sides from the bolster (white) portion, so you can tuck sheets and blankets to help them stay put. The mattress itself is also not slippery, so you can use a sleeping bag without worrying about sliding off. The toddler version of this bed has inflated bumper with side rails that keep your child from rolling out of bed. It uses phthalate-safe, BPA-safe, and lead-safe PVS material. One downside of this mattress is that your kids are going to want to jump on it like crazy. Luckily it is very durable and will be able to withstand some pretty rough treatment

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AeroBed Airbed for Kids

The Aerobed for Kids is another great option if you are looking for a good quality air mattress for your kids to sleep comfortably while away in a hotel, camping, or for an overnight visit at the grandparents. The size of this mattress is equivalent to a regular twin size mattress, but there is a 4-inch bumper that surrounds the entire mattress to help keep your kids from rolling onto the floor.

Aerobeds are one of the leading companies in ‘airbeds,’ so you can rest assured this model is made with high-quality materials and uses some of the innovation that Aerobeds are known for. The Material that is used is heavy-duty PVC, and it also has electronically welded seams to help avoid leaking and punctures. It comes with an electric pump, as well as the thick fitted sheet that you can see in the image (the design may be slightly different depending on where you buy it from). It can inflate in under a minute and can deflate in 15 seconds. It is designed for kids ages 4 and up.

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Regalo My Cot Portable Bed

The Regalo Portable Children’s cot is a great, inexpensive solution for sleepovers, hotel or even naps at daycare. This cot is pretty small, so it’s only suitable for kid’s ages about 2 to 5 who weigh up to 75 pounds and are less than 52 inches tall. It is an extremely popular option, mainly due to its low price. If you have one of those foldable canvas chairs, it is a little bit like that. Depending on how much you need to use it and how well you treat it, you may be able to get a fair amount of use out of it.

Some kids find this cot a bit uncomfortable due to a strap that runs down the middle of the cot, but if your child doesn’t have trouble getting comfortable when sleeping, they may not notice the strap. If you are planning on using this cot occasionally, then it will probably work out well. If, however, you are using it frequently, you may want to invest in something a little sturdier. The cot cover is machine washable, so it’s quick and easy to clean after each use.

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Lotus Travel Crib and Portable Baby Playard

If you are shopping for a temporary bed for an infant, one of the most popular options is the Lotus Travel Crib (its main competitor is the also very popular BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light). It offers a safe, secure, temporary crib set up to use in hotels or on overnight trips, to help ensure that your baby stays safe while sleeping. The Lotus Travel Crib meets the dimensions to fit as carry-on luggage when it is not set up, making it a great option if you are traveling by plane. It is relatively light at only 13 lbs, and you can set it up in just 5 seconds.

It is much more portable than a standard pack in play, due to its easy setup and lightweight, but can serve much the same purpose. When your baby isn’t using it to sleep, the side mesh panel unzips, so your child can climb in and out giving them a safe, secure space of their own. It exceeds all safety standards and has been tested to ensure it is free of PVC, Lead, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, and Heavy Metals. If you have ever tried using a crib that is supplied by a hotel chain, you will know that investing in a portable crib of your own is well worth it.

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Kid-O-Bunk with Organizers

Kid-O-Bunk is a unique design that could be perfect for a lot of different types of temporary sleeping situations. You can use it as a bunk bed, two singles, or you can turn it into a sitting bench. It is durable enough to be used indoors and out. Most kids find it comfortable, especially since there is no central bar or strap (unlike other cots) to interfere with comfort. Surprisingly the setup is even relatively easy, with no tools required. It can hold up to 200 lbs per cot and comes with two zippered storage bags.

Some users find the cots to be somewhat cumbersome, so you wouldn’t get the Kid-O-Bunk for anything that you would need to be carrying it long distances like for hiking or a plane ride. It would work well for overnight trips to grandparents’ house, vacations or hotel stays, and camping (if parked close to the site). Some users find that the option to turn the Kid-O-Bunk into a bench doesn’t work that well and can be somewhat uncomfortable as a sitting option, but for use as a cot, the quality and durability of the Kid-O-Bunk are hard to beat.

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Types of Available Beds:

The two most common types of temporary beds are inflatable or cot style. Both are very convenient and are portable enough to take traveling. Here are a few more positives and negatives for each kind.

Inflatable

Pros:

Comfortable
Usually come with electric pumps, making them very easy to set up
Very compact when deflated
Some models have toddler guard rails to prevent children from rolling onto the floor
Close to the ground, so kids won’t be hurt if they roll off

Cons

Will have to deflate before packing, or it may not fit back in the bag (may take extra time)
Since it is inflatable, there is a chance of having a leak or a puncture
Some inflatable mattress can be noisy if you move around a lot when sleeping
May have a strong rubber smell when new
You need use (usually an electric) pump.

Travel Cots

Pros

Low to the ground
Easy to set up and put away
Don’t take up much space
Easy to pack and store.

Cons

Not usually much padding on cots
Might not have as much support as some kids need to be comfortable.

Features

Ages and Weight Limits – Most products clearly state the age and weight restrictions. You will want to consider how long your child will be able to use the bed before they grow out of it.

Dimensions – When you are looking at sizes you will want to look at the sleeping area dimensions as well as the overall dimensions. If your child is tall for their age, you should pay particular attention to the length of the bed to ensure that you get the right size, making sure you will be able to have many years use out of it. You will also want to note the dimensions of the product when it is folded up or collapsed if you are interested in using it for travel, especially airline travel.

Weight – If you are planning on using a travel bed for hiking, camping or air travel, look for a design that is under 15 lbs when folded up and put in a travel bag. Anything more than 15 pounds will be challenging to transport comfortably.

Material – Inflatable mattresses are usually made from a heavy-duty PVC material, while the cots have a steel frame with a canvas liner. The infant travel beds may have a lightweight mesh and may have some UV protection. Ensure any material is Phthalate, Lead and BPS free.

Warranty– The warranties for the different product range quite a bit in length, the lower-priced options, not surprisingly, have the shorter 90-day warranties, while the higher end products have 1 or 2-year warranty.

Safety Rails– Both the Aerobed and the Shrunks bed have slightly raised sides on the mattress that act as safety rails to help stop your child from rolling off the mattress onto the floor.

Portable travel beds and cots for kids are an excellent investment, whether you are staying in a hotel and need extra sleeping options, or for overnight visits with friends and family. They are inexpensive, easy to store and are comfortable for kids.