SlumberPod Blackout Sleep Tent review

How easy is it to set up and take down?

When unboxing the product, it does seem like there are a lot of components, similar to a camping tent, which could be very daunting for some users. However, the instructions are clear and we were able to assemble the SlumberPod without even needing to look at the instructions — it just takes common sense and is very easy to see where the parts need to go.

The setup itself was simple, but my only observation was that you do need ample space to be able to set it up – once assembled the product does not actually take up much room which is fantastic, but you need a lot of room at first to put it up as the poles are very long! My husband was able to do it single-handedly without help and it took no more than ten minutes – this time would surely become shorter with practice.

How portable is it?

We travelled with the SlumberPod in our suitcase, bringing it with us to Thailand where we split our time and have a home. The carry case meant that we were able to unbox the product in the UK, pack it all up in the provided bag and pop it into our suitcase. It was so easy to travel with and we had peace of mind that it was safe and secure in the carry case which really took up no space at all. It would also be easy to travel with in the car and can easily slot into a small space.

How well did your child respond to using it?

When we first used the SlumberPod, our daughter was a little apprehensive about it as it's basically a huge black tent. However, once we put her inside, she found it really entertaining to have her own little den. We didn't ever zip up the pod completely as she was scared about not being able to see us but fortunately, she is able to fall asleep even with the pod window open as it is still incredibly dark.

This may not be the case with other children but something to bear in mind as our daughter really does not like being zipped fully up in there. Our 4-year-old son climbed in there with her to tell us what it was like and he said that even with the window unzipped it was still super dark so we haven’t found that to be a problem at all.

How comfortable is it for the child?

It is wonderful that she can have her own space in their shared room and that if needed my son, or we, can go in the room to put clothes away and turn on the light without disturbing her sleep. Being in Thailand, we sleep with the air-con on at night time and we were worried at first about her becoming too hot inside the SlumberPod as we didn’t know just how breathable the material was. Turns out this is not an issue in the slightest as she has been nothing but comfortable ever since we started using it.

She is able to stand up easily and poke her head out of the window without any struggle. The airflow is fantastic and she has never shown any signs of overheating or being uncomfortable. I would say however that the SlumberPod fan offers very little by way of ventilation as we could hardly feel it when putting our hands inside. I don’t know if this is because we were positioning it incorrectly or if her cot was blocking out the airflow but we found it did very little.

How well did it work in shared family rooms?

In a shared family room, it really is brilliant. We found that our sleeping daughter wasn't disturbed at all when using it and it allows our son to go to bed at a later time and not have to get ready for bed in the dark or get ready outside the bedroom. My husband and I have both been able to go into their bedroom while she is asleep to tidy up or put the washing away, even turning on the light.

How flexible is it across different travel situations?

I know that it will be a very welcome addition on our travels, especially in hotel rooms when we often opt for a larger room with a sofa instead of going for a suite with separate bedrooms. It will mean that she can have her own designated sleeping space and we will not have to tiptoe around or sit in a dark room waiting for her to fall asleep. At home, we have used the SlumberPod for both her daytime naps and night sleep – it works perfectly.

Is it easy to keep clean?

The pod comes in a black colour and as a mum I was worried that it would get dirty easily from little hands but I have been very pleasantly surprised at just how hardy it is. The material is wipe clean and machine washable but so far we haven’t even had to do that since it barely picks up and dust or dirt.

There is no doubt it was created with parents in mind because it has stayed cleaner than most other things in our house! I wouldn't worry about the product becoming dirty at home, but I would definitely clean it after each use in a new setting, so that we weren’t bringing germs from different places along with us each time and to make sure that it was always clean and fresh ready for when we next wanted to use it.

What’s in the box?

The box comes with the SlumberPod canopy, two poles and a lightweight carry case. There is also a separate SlumberPod fan that can be used in the designated fan port which I thought was a very thoughtful addition.

The fan is corded meaning that you will need to think carefully about positioning the SlumberPod near a power source as it needs to be plugged in to be used, which is something that may not always be possible. Had the fan been rechargeable or cordless, it would have offered far more flexibility especially in hotels where power outlets always seem to be located in the most awkward places.

Even in our children’s bedroom at home, the power outlets are not located anywhere near their beds so we specifically had to set up our daughter's bed in a different place just to be able to test out the fan compatibility. Fortunately, we found that we do not need to use the fan as the material is very breathable so this will not be an issue for us in the future.

Is it worth the money?

The SlumberPod retails at around £199.99, which is quite expensive. I am not sure that I would've spent this much on a non-essential product. Before using the SlumberPod, we would turn out the lights in our hotel rooms, have a small side light switched on and just wait for our daughter to fall asleep, which luckily she doesn’t take very long to do. However, if my daughter was unable to fall asleep in different environments then I would absolutely consider the SlumberPod a worthwhile investment.

We have been lucky enough to never have to try any DIY alternatives such as tin foil to black out the windows, which I know some of my friends have done before! I also believe that it is important for our kids to be able to fall asleep in different environments and not to become too accustomed to a specific sleep setting. I think some children and families may become too reliant on using the SlumberPod and if there ever was a situation where they could not use it (for instance if there was not enough space in a hotel room) then they may struggle to put their child to sleep.

In terms of quality, I can fully understand why the product is priced the way it is as it's easy to build, the material is luxurious and it's easy to use. The fact that it is so breathable and lightweight makes it an ideal product for travelling families or for families with room-sharing children.

Sustainability features

Durable and long-lasting material that seems to withstand even the busiest of little hands. Packaging was minimal and essential to avoid any damage to the product.

Where can I buy the SlumberPod?

It is available from Amazon and SlumberPod

MadeForMums verdict:

The SlumberPod is a great product for travelling families or for those whose children share a room. It offers privacy and peace of mind that your little one is safe and comfortable without compromising the comfort of other family members. Although the product is by no means a necessity, it is a very welcome luxury.