Inflatable kids bed/Long Haul

[Flyingtodd]

Travelling to the other side of the world with 3 year old and looking at the approved options for convertible beds for kids. Child will be in a window seat, with us taking up the middle and aisle seats.

The Plane Pal and the Flyaway seem to be the best options, the latter of which I particularly like but the price of both is right up there.

Has anyone got experience of either of these, or any other flight beds? The hammock types are not approved with my airline but I don't think they'd be any use anyway.

I've looked at the Stokke a little bit, but something tells me it wouldn't be very comfortable and it doesn't look like the case can hold much when it's packed away.

We do a lot of travelling so I could probably convince myself to part with cash if one of those two options was really worthwhile, although most of our flights are short haul at the moment but I can see these would be handy for older children.

Would appreciate any experience anyone has had, good and bad, to help me decide.

Edit to add - I've looked for both Plane Pal and Flyaway on Ebay but can find basically nothing second hand.

I would check with the airline first before you purchase this . A lot of airlines ban the use of these for aircraft safety issues. They cannot be used during take off and landing.

Thanks, as mentioned in my OP I have checked what my airline approve.

There seem to be knockoffs on Amazon.

Yes, I’ve seen the Amazon ones hence asking for people’s personal experience as whilst I don’t want to spend a fortune, I also don’t want to find myself on a 16 hour flight and a piece of cheap rubbish that’s not fit for purpose.

I think there are companies that you can hire them from?

I'd be open to hiring one, but as said I'd like to hear peoples personal experience of using them. And if hiring one, I'd also rather take recommendations as it looks like it would be a nice easy way to scam people.

We took a small child ( just turned 4) long haul to NZ and they were fine. Just watched films and slept when they wanted to. In a normal seat. Nothing is going to make a long flight fun. You just have to accept that.

I borrowed some inflatable ones for a long haul night flight when mine were small. They were possibly better than nothing but kept deflating so I lost a lot of sleep trying to reinflate them and keep my kids comfy! They were the “proper” ones too, (can’t remember the brand name) not knock offs.

I think the hammock style ones are a better bet, take up less space in carry on and no risk of deflation. But haven’t tried them.

TBH my child sleeps best on her side with her head on my lap (on a pillow), feet tucked up and various bits of padding around her to pad any spiky bits like seat belt clips etc. I think this is the best solution with a 3 year old.

Also interested in this as we’ve got a 13hr flight coming up with a 2 & 8yr old. I am seriously debating whether to bring my old breastfeeding pillow for the 2yr old as I think it would give her nice support and a big scarf to make my own hammock for her feet.

Are the hammock ones banned because you have to tie them to the seat in front of you and movements can affect the person in the seat in front?