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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

travel bed for a two-year-old?

17 replies

silverten · 18/06/2012 09:40

Up til now have used a play-pen style travel cot, with the usual bedding and extra blankets if camping. Totally brilliant as this kept all the required cuddly toys in one place as well as stopping Houdini-child DD escaping at 2am

However it's now too short, so I need to get another travel bed for DD. She's not at the point of sleeping in a proper bed yet, and anyway we still need something for camping/staying in places where there isn't a spare bed. I don't think using a self-inflating mat arrangement will quite work yet, she's a bit of a wriggler!

I have discovered the existence of longer travel cots, which is possible. I've also found out about Ready Beds, and Bed-in-a-Bags, although I've never seen these. Alas no Mumsnet reviews to compare these with, so it's a bit of a shot in the dark to just buy one. Are they any good for all-round use, or just an expensive gimmick? Does anyone else have any other brilliant solutions for young children's sleeping arrangements?

OP posts:
SeaShellsUnderCanvas · 18/06/2012 15:49

Ready beds are good, but ime they are no better than a SIM - ds still will fall asleep next to his bed or on us or in the car as we frantically try to get him to sleep and then we move him onto it. A double SIM that fills the bedroom pod gets round this a degree. However we are currently having a nightmare getting our 1 and 3 yo to sleep, so probably not the best to advise!!!!

issyocean · 18/06/2012 16:47

My D has been camping from an early age and always slept in a readybed.The My First Readybed with raised sides when she was very small and now the junior one.

She likes the characters and the fact that it's her special bed.

mammadothebump · 18/06/2012 16:55

We used a ready bed for travelling before dd was out of her cot and she took to it amazingly well. Whilst being a proper wriggler in her cot she was really settled in the ready bed and I think made the transition to 'big bed' a bit easier too.

Original poster
silverten · 19/06/2012 09:24

So two votes for the ReadyBed then! Did you find that the attached bedding was a bit of a PITA if anything got spilt, or the children were sick (can you even use the ReadyBed without the special bedding?)? I know it comes off for washing but you can't do that mid-trip really; so can you use the inflatable bit with other bedding if necessary?

Was also looking at the Kampa Easy Beds (a sort of lilo with raised edges). But I think they might be quite short, so not last particularly long...anyone used one of those?

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 19/06/2012 09:34

My First Ready Bed good, but you need extra bedding.

peachypips · 19/06/2012 21:18

No no no! Kampa Airlock junior bed! They are amazing and much cheaper than a ready bed. Kids can't roll off due to the sides, and they are so snug- like a little nest! Look on amazon!!!

peachypips · 19/06/2012 21:20

Oh and not too short- my five yr old is still comfortably in his. Will last til he's about eight I reckon.

bobkate · 19/06/2012 21:27

peachypips have you got any recommendations for where to buy the kampa airbed from. Good to hear your 5yr old is still in it comfortably. Want to get one for my DD who is almost 5.

pmgkt · 19/06/2012 21:36

they are 15.99 on camping world

bobkate · 19/06/2012 21:47

Thanks pmgkt

thisisyesterday · 19/06/2012 22:00

Asda are selling those airbeds with sides at the moment for £10

bobkate · 19/06/2012 22:29

I'd forgotten to look at Asda...I now remember seeing them on there, quite possibly been pointed in that direction before and had forgotten. hey ho - already ordered one from an ebay seller. Ah well. Had a bit in my paypal account so that's covered that.

Original poster
silverten · 20/06/2012 08:55

Oh great tip yesterday thanks! A tenner is a great price with free store delivery, and I already use an airbed myself so I've got the pump anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
silverten · 20/06/2012 08:59

BTW has anyone tried using fitted cotbed sheets on those fancy airbeds??

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MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 20/06/2012 10:18

bit of a long shot - but does anyone know if these ready beds or kampa airlock beds are suitable for babies? My 6.5m old is a good sleeper and this would be much easier than putting him in a travel cot. Or is it not recommended?

Original poster
silverten · 20/06/2012 12:11

I've no idea about recommendations.

FWIW the reason I used a play-pen style cot was that I didn't like the idea of DD rolling around/off a SIM or getting wedged up against something impermeable (like the side of an airbed) when she was very little. Maybe a bit PFB but I needed to be able to relax having convinced myself she was safe, so that I could sleep. I'm not sure I would use either ReadyBed or Kampa mattress for a really small baby, for that reason.

It also had the advantage of being a nice safe playpen for when we were pitching/striking the tent etc.

OP posts:
peachypips · 20/06/2012 12:21

I tried cot sheets but they kept popping off in the night. I put a blanket on the flat bottom part instead.

The youngest I have used the bed for is my youngest when he was 18 months. Would worry about suffocation for a small baby...

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