What’s in the bag?
- Indoor Tuckaire Toddler Travel Bed
- Jetaire electric pump
- Repair kit
Any additional extras?
How quickly did the cot inflate?
It was super-fast! The bed inflates in two parts; first, the inner conventional-looking mattress and then the wider bed rails that go right round the mattress and raise up at the sides to keep your child safe. It took 10 seconds for the inner mattress and around 15 seconds for the outer. These are clearly marked so it’s obvious which way round to inflate the bed. Using the manual foot pump, it took me 50 compressions to inflate the inner and 60 pumps to do the outer. The valves are wide and there’s a rubber flap inside each one that allows air to go in but not rush out. I was impressed that when I removed the pump to close the valve there was not a great whoosh of air escaping.
How was it to store?
It easily fitted into our medium-sized suitcase but the bag was also sturdy enough to throw into the car boot. The bed is a lightweight 3kg and the electric pump is 600g (the foot pump is lighter at 400g).
What did you think of the Jetaire electric pump?
The electric pump was incredibly noisy - Catherine jumped out of her skin when I switched it on. The cable is also quite short at 180cm so I needed to find enough floor space next to an available socket to blow it up.
What type of bedding do you need for the travel cot?
The mattress fits standard cot sheets, which means you don’t have to spend more money on compatible sheets, and your child can have familiar bedding to help them settle. The Shrunks have patented their ‘sheet-tuck’ system - I tucked the sheets around the mattress and they were kept in place between the inner and outer parts of the bed. The mattress itself is coated in a soft brown velvety material, which I found helped to keep the sheet from slipping.
How did the bed rails work?
I liked how wide the rails were - the mattress itself is 66cm by 127cm but the whole bed is 94cm by 152cm. My friend’s eight-year-old boy stayed two nights and even at 130cm tall he had more than enough room for a comfortable sleep. Although this is technically a toddler bed - and there’s another product for children aged six and over - the mattress can take up to 68kg so it would last you several years.
How comfortable is the Indoor Tuckaire Toddler Travel Bed?
Catherine enjoyed her first night’s sleep but I found she wriggled upwards off the top because there’s no rail to the head of the bed. I found it better to position the mattress with the head against the wall rather than in the middle of the room.
How did it compare to other travel cots you have used?
I was really impressed with how quiet the whole bed was, especially because we were sharing a hotel room and normally Catherine would be in her own room. The air mattress did not creak or squeak as she moved in her sleep so she didn’t wake herself up. More importantly it was quiet for me too! We’ve used other travel beds with built-in sleeping bags and I found the rustling synthetic material disturbed everyone.
MadeForMums verdict:
The Tuckaire looks smart and does its job - our toddler had a quiet, safe and secure night’s sleep - and that meant we slept well too. The bed and manual pump are not a cheap option at £64.99 - and the electric pump costs an extra £24.99, although shop around online and you’ll find a similar pump for between £10 to £15. Either way, it’s a worthy investment if you’re going to use it travelling with your toddler. It will still fit your child years down the line, giving you plenty of shut-eye at the grandparents, friends’ houses and hotels. And as any sleep-deprived parent will tell you, a good night’s sleep is priceless.
