Travel "bed" for kids post-crib but pre-twin-bed?

[Anonymous]

We are planning several trips to visit friends this summer (sometimes we will stay in hotels, sometimes at friend's places) and are wondering what to bring for our 2-yr-old now that she has outgrown the pack-n-play. She sleeps in a toddler bed at home and moves ALL OVER the place -- this way, that way, half on, half off the bed all night. A regular bed or rollaway would not work for that reason -- even with safety rails, I'm not sure we could block off enough to keep her from tumbling out. I've heard of that Peapod thing that zips up but I highly doubt she would go for that. I just saw an inflatable bed in the One Step Ahead catalogue - maybe that's a good idea? If you have that, do you like it?

Any suggestions welcome... Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My son slept on a toddler-sized air mattress that had built-in bumpers on the side called a Ready Bed. It came with a foot pump and I loved how compactly it folded. I bought it at Costco a few years ago, but I haven't seen them there lately. Here's a link for Amazon, although they appear to be sold out:

http://www.amazon.com/Toddler-Thomas-Tank-Ready-Bed/dp/B000JR4UZK

We had the Thomas version, but they make many different character versions. We paid about $20 for it and used it all of the time. I have seen a version that comes with a battery-operated pump that sells for a little more. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Wow, I was just thinking about this yesterday. DC has outgrown the travel crib we have, but still not ready for a "real" bed.

[Anonymous]

Another poster here. The Ready Bed looks like a great idea, but I'm not finding it in stock anywhere.

Has anyone tried these bed rails before?

[Anonymous]

Why not use a twin mattress on the floor? THen you don't have to take anything with you, just move the mattress that your hosts offer you.

We actually used that as DD's first bed, rather than buy a toddler bed or rails. If she rolled off, the fall is only 6 inches, and she always slept through it. When she was old enough, we bought a frame and box-spring.

[Anonymous]

http://www.amazon.com/Small-Fry-Design-Travel-Trundle/dp/B0002VG68W

We use something like this. We got it from One Step Ahead but this is the basic idea.

[Anonymous]

I had the same question last summer when my son was 2. A lot of people suggested this:

http://www.amazon.com/Aero-40010-AeroBed-for-Kids/dp/B00006IV33/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1238676763&sr=1-1

At the time, it was about double the price, so I didn't buy it, but now it seems much more reasonable. We ended up just putting our son in a regular bed and putting pillows between the nightstand and the bed. We found he was often so tired at the end of the day, that he didn't seem to move as much as he does at home.

[Anonymous]

We are using the Aerobeds for Kids this weekend at my ILs for the first time. My child is almost 3 and normally sleeps in a crib - although he's been in a twin with rails and been fine. I'll let you know how it goes!

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks for all the advice. I think we will go with the AeroBed for kids.

To the PP -- we do have her sleep on a crib mattress on the floor at home, actually (I called it a toddler bed for simplicity's sake) -- but most of the people we are visiting either do not have enough floor space, or don't have an extra bed, to chuck their twin mattresses on the floor.

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Target has something for about $25 in the camping aisle - it is like an Aero bed- jsut not branded as one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son slept on a toddler-sized air mattress that had built-in bumpers on the side called a Ready Bed. It came with a foot pump and I loved how compactly it folded. I bought it at Costco a few years ago, but I haven't seen them there lately. Here's a link for Amazon, although they appear to be sold out:

http://www.amazon.com/Toddler-Thomas-Tank-Ready-Bed/dp/B000JR4UZK

We had the Thomas version, but they make many different character versions. We paid about $20 for it and used it all of the time. I have seen a version that comes with a battery-operated pump that sells for a little more. Good luck!

We have 2 of these (1 Thomas, 1 Dora) for our kids. We purchased them for a trip when our kids were 2 and 4. The kids are now 5 and 7 and still love those things! Now they are old enough to inflate the bed and carry the deflated bed themselves, like luggage. I find the included air pump really easy and wouldn't spring for the battery operated pump at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are planning several trips to visit friends this summer (sometimes we will stay in hotels, sometimes at friend's places) and are wondering what to bring for our 2-yr-old now that she has outgrown the pack-n-play. She sleeps in a toddler bed at home and moves ALL OVER the place -- this way, that way, half on, half off the bed all night. A regular bed or rollaway would not work for that reason -- even with safety rails, I'm not sure we could block off enough to keep her from tumbling out. I've heard of that Peapod thing that zips up but I highly doubt she would go for that. I just saw an inflatable bed in the One Step Ahead catalogue - maybe that's a good idea? If you have that, do you like it?

Any suggestions welcome... Thanks.

we have one from one step ahead and its great....rolls up to store nicely...and its practically on the floor so no worries about tumbling out....

[Anonymous]

We bought a Peapod Plus for our almost 2 year old. He still sleeps in a crib and is a big
move around the crib person. We have not used it yet, but it got good reviews.
http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5