The Only 3 Toddler Camping Beds of 2023 Worth Your Money!

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Whether you’re tent camping with a toddler and need an all in one toddler travel bed or are an avid traveler and need a conveneint fold away bed, you’re in the right spot!

I know we often end up spending a night or two in a hotel, even if we are using our pull behind, if we are on an extended trip just so that we can shower and catch up on laundry.

With my little boy now a 43 pound massive toddler who kicks like a donkey, co sleeping while in hotels isn’t really an option – even more so this season when my twin girls who just don’t sleep well with me!

We’ve started planning our first camp trip, and looked at a variety of options – toddler travel beds, air mattresses, that shrunks travel bed, bed rails etc.. and I found that there are a couple that really stick out as being awesome (and the thousands of raving Amazon reviews reinforces that!)

I’ll cover the various sorts of camping beds first, but I’ll also include useful things such as good travel bedrails and such that make exploring on the road so much easier!

Related: Check out my 53 best tips to camp with toddlers and babies (I have three now!)

The Best Toddler Camping Beds

I am going to assume that you are tent camping, and are looking for a safe, portable sleep option for your toddler in your tent. The first choice is always going to be to use something you already have, such a pack n play if you’re toddler is still small enough for one.

If not, here are the top three portable bed choices that would work well for a camp trip with your toddler.

P.S. If you are RV camping with your toddler, there’s a pretty quick fix to make a safe sleep area in your camper bunk for him!

Hiccapop Inflatable Travel Bed

This is by and far the best selection for both a camping toddler bed and for travel!

I love that this bed can fit standard crib sheets, making it super easy to swap out after accidents while camping or traveling (which seem to happen way more often since they are in a new exciting place).

Another great feature of this toddler air mattress is that it has built in bed rails that are soft and decently high so that it’s not quite as easy to roll out! Normal kid travel beds don’t have this and normally you have to buy it separately!

Related: Find out how to camp with a toddler here (from planning to packing up!) and how to keep your toddler busy at the campground!

Here’s a recap of why the Hiccapop Toddler Travel Bed is the best choice for camping and traveling!

  • Small size for easy packing – It is only 16″ wide and 7″ tall when rolled up!
  • Sheet tuck feature – the top part of the bed allows you to tuck in standard size crib sheets, as well as blankets to keep them all in place on cold camping nights (no more kicking them off!) It also makes it super easy to keep clean!
  • Toddler size air mattress with sides – Most air mattresses are built for big kids or adults, but this one is actually toddler size, and comes with the nice oversized side bumpers built in so you don’t need to buy or pack more stuff!
  • Inflates in 30 seconds – They include a pump specifically for this bed that can safely and quickly get the job done!

Milliard Portable Toddler Fold Away Bed

I wouldn’t say that this is inferior to the Shrunks Bed, but maybe not as ideal for camping just because it doesn’t have all the attachments like the sleeping bag and tent.

However, this bed is extremely high quality – it folds up easy, minimal set up, and can take a beating (toddlers can jump on it!)If you are concerned about holes in the inflatable toddler travel mattresses or the possible sounds, then this is the bed for you!

This could also be the perfect foldable toddler bed for grandma and grandpas once they outgrow the pack n play (reviewers said it fits kids as big as 4 1/2 years old!)

See the current price here.

Overview of the Milliard Portable Toddler Fold Away Bed

  • Easy fold up toddler and up bed – This bed just folds up for storage, and folds down for use!
  • Can store all of toddler’s bedtime stuff INSIDE – Since it just folds up and is a box shape, tht means there is a big gap inside! This is perfect for keeping toddler sleep stuff organized such as PJs, blankies and favorite stuffed animals!
  • Perfect spare bed for Grandmas – When they outgrow the pack n play, this fold up toddler bed is super easy to use and store (though it is large!)

Regalo My Cot Portable Toddler Bed

This one is probably what you had in mind when you think of a camping bed – and it’s ok for the occasional travel or camp trip (though I’d argue making the first trip awesome is super important, and worth spending money on!)

This cot will get the job done – it is lightweight, folds down small and sets up easy. It’s made of an all steel frame and is unlikely to have any issues. However my concern is the lack of bed rails and the tipping ability.

Regalo My Cot Portable Toddler Bed
via amazon.com

If your toddler is anything like mine, he is easily excitable in new places and might jump out of bed or roll around! This cot does tip over if weight is shifted, and it’s so minimal that it would make it hard to use bed rails of any kind.

This might not be an issue if you have an older toddler, or just want to save some money (it’s much cheaper than the first two options).

See the current price on Amazon here.

P.S. This doesn’t come with much insulation, so you may want to buy a toddler sleeping bag for use with the cot!

Overview of the Regalo My Cot Portable Bed for Camping

  • Lightweight and Durable – It has an all steel frame that will hold up to 75 pounds, so it’s unlikely to have any issues
  • Easy set up – Simply fold and unfold it like a camping chair!
  • Potential Concern of tipping and bed rail set up – Reviewers mentioned that this cot tips if weight is shifted to one side fairly easy, and since it’s so minimal it doesn’t really have a spot for bed rails. This might be best for older toddlers that don’t have this risk!
  • Includes fitted sheet – This makes for easy leaning and upkeep!
  • Thrifty! – This is the cheapest option, so if you’re on a budget or don’t plan on using it often, it may be the best choice.

For the easily distracted or new toddler camper… sleep blinders! AKA a bed tent!

Even the sleepiest kiddo can have trouble sleeping when it’s still daylight, there are people coming and going, and there’s always talking. I’ve found using a tent that attaches to wherever they’re sleeping can help darken their sleeping area and block out everything else going on!

I can’t find our exact one, but something that is designed to fit over a toddler/twin sized bed can help a TON in creating a sleep environment.

I love this one because it can also work as a stand alone play tent as well if you wanted to!

RV / Trailer Campers or Hotel Travelers – The Best Travel Bed Rail for Toddlers

A simple solution if you already have a typical bed rail at home would be to just use it in your bunk bed in your camper – it does make getting in and out not possible, but it’s nice knowing your toddlerwon’t be wandering at night!

However if you are looking for a true travel bed rail for your toddler that packs small and is easy to use, you’ll want something a little less clunky than those massive bed rails!

Foam or inflatable bed rails are best as they fit every bed (usually go under fitted sheet), are soft, and retain their form even after being squished and folded down!

Inflatable Bed Rails for Toddler

These bed rails have unique shape that prevent slipping, as well as being soft enough that they won’t injure your toddler should they roll into them!

I also love that it comes with it’s own travel bag, making it compact and easy to pack.

There are inflatable bed rails, but they don’t seem to really be THAT much smaller and some people complained about slow leaks and difficulties returning them!

See the current price for a 2 Pack of these portable bed rails

Overview of the Hiccapop Bed Rails for Toddlers

  • Compact Foam – Foam is soft enough ton ot hurt little heads, firm enough to stop rolling, but also rolls super small and compact in it’s own travel bag!
  • Unique design prevents rolling – Alot of other foam bed rails have a semi circle shape, but these ones have a peak shape that stop even the wigliest toddlers from rolling over these travel bed rails!
  • Easy for awake child to climb out of – While typical gate style bed rails are tall and cumbersome, making it hard or an awake child to get out of bed, these blow up bed rails are high enough for a sleeping child (4 1/2 inches tall!) but low enough to still allow access out should they be awake!
inflatable bed rails for kids traveling and camping
via amazon.com

F.A.Q regarding toddler sleep while camping

There are tons of questions that people have – toddler sleep while at HOME is a hot topic after all! Here are some common questions about toddler sleep, and how to get the most out of your camping trip!

How do you camp with a toddler?

It’s NOT as hard as you might think! The most challenging part will likely be keeping an eye on them if they are past the cling stage! I have a pretty indepth guide to toddler camping here, but here are the main tips

  • Pick an “easy” campground – That means one with the least amount of potential dangers so that there are less “nos”, helicoptering, and more fun! That means a safe distance from water (even though camping right on the river or lake sounds amazing), preferrably off the road a bit, and without too many hazards like sharp rocks or harmful plants.
  • You don’t need alot of toys – You could repurpose things you are already bringing like pots, spoons cups etc if you are concerned with space. Most people only camp for a weekend at a time, and most toddlers will find PLENTY to do outside with just rocks and sticks!
  • Have appropriate expectations – If you camped before your toddler, then go into this knowing things may take longer to do, daytime exploring may be shorter, and chores may get more complicated (and you may not be lounging in a camp chair for 3 hours straight) However, it is completely worth it!

How do I get my toddler to sleep while camping?

I could go on forever about tips on this one, and I wrote a post about toddler sleep while RV camping here, however here are the main points you need to know about camping toddler sleep

  • Wear them out – Sleeping in a new place is hard, but if you’re completely exhausted, you’re much less likely to care where you’re sleeping!
  • Keep before bed routine similar to home routine – bed, vitamins, story.. whatever it is, send the same sleep time signals at home
  • Expect later nights – Summer days are long, and it’s hard to calm down from the excitement of camping. Just go into this with that expectation, and you’ll find you aren’t near as focused (or dissapointed) by your toddler’s bed time!

Can a toddler sleep on an air mattress?

Since my top reccommendations for a toddler camping bed is an air mattress of sorts, it’s important to address this question!

While I could not find ANY study on toddlers safety with air mattresss, it is definitely not recommended for babies under one to sleep on them due to suffocation hazards that come with immaturity.

I am not a doctor, but most toddlers can likely correct themselves should they get stuck in a spot where they couldn’t breathe.

The Shrunks toddler travel bed has a page about their safety verification and testing process here in case you were interested!

Now that you know the best toddler travel bed, go on some awesome camping adventures!

Sleep is SERIOUSLY important to a camp or travel vacation being enjoyable, and if your kids dont sleep no one sleeps!

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