SlumberTot toddler travel bed review: the compact sleepover solution parents will love?

The SlumberTot inflatable toddler bed is designed as a lightweight travel-friendly alternative to a travel cot, giving children aged roughly 2 to 6 a secure place to sleep away from home. With raised side bumpers to help prevent rolling out and a compact fold that fits easily into luggage, it’s aimed at families navigating sleepovers, holidays and overnight stays with toddlers who’ve outgrown a cot but aren’t quite ready for a standard bed.

Priced at around £90 and supplied with its own electric pump, it sits in the mid-range of toddler travel beds. To see how easy it is to carry, set up and sleep in on real journeys, we tried it at home and on train travel with a 3 year old and a 5 year old.

How easy is the SlumberTot inflatable toddler bed to set up and pack away?

The instructions are very clear and easy to follow. There aren’t many parts and it’s such a simple but innovative design that it’s very easy to assemble and figure out.

Blowing up the bed is a cinch. You plug the adapter into the pump, connect it to the bed and it’s up in a few minutes. I did add a few breaths manually to top it up as I wasn’t quite quick enough to snap it shut, but it only took one or two breaths and hardly any air escaped.

Folding and unfolding the bed is also very straightforward. It took us less than 5 minutes to have it fully inflated and definitely under 10 minutes from unpacking to bedtime-ready. It was surprisingly easy to fold back up too. I’ve folded enough camp beds to know how difficult it can be to get things back into their bags, but the SlumberTot was such a breeze. The storage bag is big enough to fit everything back inside without any struggle at all.

Does it fold down small enough for travel and storage?

This was easily the smallest air bed I’ve taken away with us. It would have fit in a backpack if we’d wanted. We packed it in our carry-on luggage and still had space for our clothes for a weekend away.

On a train trip to France, we had four trains to catch, so luggage space was really important. We travelled with one child’s backpack, one adult backpack and a carry-on suitcase, and the SlumberTot fit comfortably inside the suitcase along with everything else we needed for the weekend.

How comfortable is the SlumberTot inflatable toddler bed?

Both of our children were very excited about the bed.

Our child slept all night and it gave us a more restful night too, as I didn’t have to worry about them falling out of bed.

We inflated it once and it stayed up for the whole trip without needing any extra air.

The mattress felt very supportive and is actually a bit thicker than my child’s cot mattress at home. Our child felt safe and secure all night long.

My 5 year old is tall and the bed did feel slightly short for them, although they were still comfortable with their legs curled up.

Did your child stay covered through the night?

Our child slept soundly and stayed covered all night. We tried both tucked and untucked blankets and both worked well, although tucking them in made it feel a bit cozier.

Is it practical for travel and sleepovers?

We mainly used the SlumberTot for travel and sleepovers. On previous trips I’ve had to get creative with twin beds to stop my child rolling out overnight — using rolled towels, extra pillows and even dining chairs — but none of that felt very secure.

It was fantastic not having to worry about a child rolling off the bed.

It’s also great when visiting family or having friends stay over for the weekend. Because it packs away so well it’s easy to store and transport, even in a full car. It’s small enough to fit under a seat and very portable.

It also works well in smaller spaces and can be placed next to our bed when travelling somewhere new so our youngest feels more comfortable.

Can it be used as a spare bed for siblings or guests?

Yes, we used it as a spare bed when friends came over. My children’s friends loved trying it out and because it rests on the floor it feels especially cozy for younger children who are more used to sleeping in a cot.

How portable is the SlumberTot inflatable toddler bed?

The SlumberTot is very compact and easily fits into hand luggage or a small backpack. It can also be carried on its own in the supplied storage bag using the handle.

My 5 year old could easily carry it themselves, although it may be a bit heavy for younger children over longer distances. My 3 year old helped carry it to the car but would probably struggle for longer.

We travelled with it by car and train, and we’re planning to take it overseas with us when flying later this year.

The carry strap made it easy to transport, although I do wish the storage bag was slightly sturdier. We got a small hole in it on our first trip, although it was easy to tape up and hasn’t caused any further problems.

How easy is the SlumberTot toddler bed to clean?

It’s very easy to clean. So far I’ve just wiped it down and it’s stayed looking like new.

To clean it properly you can wipe it with a damp soapy cloth and leave it to air dry. I found this especially useful when travelling with a potty-training toddler, as it’s much easier to clean than a mattress and no liquid reaches the floor.

So far it has held up well after repeated use and cleaning, and there’s also a repair kit included if needed.

What is the build quality like?

The SlumberTot feels sturdy and well made and like it will hold up for many years, which is especially helpful if you have younger siblings who could use it later.

I’ve owned several inflatable mattresses before and even an inflatable tent, and this one held up very well — even with two children rolling around on it. The valve feels strong and it held the same amount of air for our entire stay without needing topping up.

The only downside is that the storage bag material isn’t as sturdy as I would have liked.

What's in the box?

• Inflatable mattress
• Inflatable air bumper
• Electric air pump
• Patch repair kit
• Instructions

Is the SlumberTot toddler bed worth the money?

At £89.99, I think it’s good value.

Budget toddler air beds can cost around £25–£30 and often don’t include a pump or raised bumpers. It’s also more portable than a travel cot and sometimes cheaper, and definitely much easier to set up.

It’s especially useful for children aged around 2 to 6 who are too big for a travel cot but still need protection from rolling out of bed.

Where can I buy the SlumberTot inflatable toddler bed?

It is available from SlumberPod

MadeForMums verdict:

The SlumberTot inflatable toddler bed is a clever and portable sleep solution that works particularly well for travel and sleepovers.

It packs down small enough for carry-on luggage, inflates quickly and helps prevent children rolling out of unfamiliar beds, making overnight stays much easier for parents.

It may feel slightly short for taller children and the storage bag could be more durable, but overall it’s a practical and reassuring option for families travelling with toddlers who've outgrown a travel cot.

Read more:

• SlumberPod Blackout Sleep Tent review
• Best travel cots
• Best kids and toddler travel beds