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This article has been updated on 6th June 2020 with new and improved products based on new research and feedback

Quality sleep every night is vital for all toddlers, but even more critical, especially for children with special needs. As good sleep helps a toddler’s body to grow and develop, the logical brain gets a rest from the activities of the day and helps calm down the toddler and makes them feel relaxed when they wake up.

Travelling away from home, whether it’s a fun vacation abroad, camping locally, or even visiting grandparents can be tough for children with special needs. Your main concern is for your toddler to sleep safely and sound in their home away from home in a comfortable environment, and ensuring you have the right bed is paramount to a good night’s sleep.

Leaving the home can be a stressful experience for parents or carers, but it can be especially tough for children with autism. We’ve covered all the ways you can prepare to safeguard your child so they can sleep better while you’re away on vacation. To ensure you have all avenues covered, we’ve created this guide to help you navigate the confusing marketplace of portable travel beds for toddlers and babies who have special needs, read on to find our top picks!

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Our Top Pick: The Ultimate Portable Toddler Bed 🌌

“Family Owned Business, Supreme Quality Build, Practical”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reasons to Buy ✅ Super easy to put up and take down

Easy access via two entry/exit points

Includes bed & straps

Transparent netting for visibility and circulation

Undergone Certified CE Safety Testing

Thick material to withstand bites and scratches Reasons to Avoid ❌ Manual pump (if you choose that option)

Without a doubt the Safe Place travel bed takes the award for best portable travel bed for toddlers. Firstly, it’s a perfect sized twin bed that can easily be attached to another bed with the straps that come fitted on every model. This is especially ideal if you’re in a hotel and only have a larger bed to secure the travel tent on.

This is one of the only safety beds we’ve come across that’s undergone rigorous CE lab safety testing and passed. The build quality clearly demonstrates this too. Especially during summer, you’ll want a bed tent that not only gives your loved one the security they need, but also the comfort through the transparent side netting. We also know some kids can get quite feisty at night and may kick (I know from experience!), so the side netting can come down to give your toddler some room for their legs to hang out.

You can find this product in the “bed only” form, or a “bundle” which includes a travel bag, electric air pump, and straps.

As of June 4th when writing this, there’s currently a great offer if you buy the “bed only” version which comes with a free manual pump, travel bag, and incontinence pad.

Read the detailed testimonials from people who have purchased this tent.

Best In Class Runner Up🌌

“Lightweight, practical, portable, and well-reviewed”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sale 1,140 Reviews Lotus Travel Crib - Backpack Portable, Lightweight, Easy to Pack Play-Yard with Comfortable Mattress... WORRY-FREE AIRPORT TRAVEL - Designed to be easy to fly with the compact, light backpack carrying case. Set up is simple in 15 seconds and only weighs 13 lbs packed.

CERTIFIED SAFE & NON-TOXIC - The only playard with GreenGuard Gold non-toxic certification (low voc & no lead, phthalates, pvc, heavy metals, etc). Full-height mesh guarantees best, breathable airflow.

QUIET SIDE ZIPPER DOOR - Nurse or cuddle your little one to sleep, then just zip the lockable access door. Easier on your back, and when it’s time to play & crawl, more fun!

Reasons to Buy ✅ Super lightweight

High-quality materials used

Comfortable portability backpack

Airport friendly backpack

Prestigious GreenGuard Gold Award

No Flame Retardants. No PVC. No Phthalates. No Lead. No Heavy Metals. Low-VOC Reasons to Avoid ❌ Not many colors to choose from

The Lotus Travel Crib presented by the Guava Family is hands-down your best option for a portable toddler bed. Each baby travel bed comes with a 2-year warranty so you’ll have peace of mind. However, the reputation of this product will already put any doubt aside. A super lightweight build weighing on 13lbs means either parent can easily carry the entire bed on their own. Taking less than a minute to set up altogether means less hassle and more time for your little one to rest easy.

This toddler travel crib comes with a zipper flap, which allows you to have open access through the side, a useful feature when it’s playtime or storytime with your gorgeous little one. The crib is roughly 42″ in length and 25″ in width, which supports most toddlers and babies aged 0-3 years old. The travel backpack is excellent also and can quickly be taken on flights, which is ideal if you have any layovers or even extra legroom on the plane to fold it open.

Although the sheets are not included, you will receive a mattress and a travel bag with this, so it’s a great offer. Guava Family also offers organic cotton fitted sheets, which you can find below.

Sale 235 Reviews Guava Lotus Travel Crib Sheets (Set of 2) - 100% Organic Cotton Crib Sheets, Baby and Toddler,... Luvberries Fitted Crib Sheets - with 2 original patterns

Designed with 4 tab slots to fit the current Guava Lotus Travel Crib Mattress (DOES NOT FIT THE 6-TABS GUAVA LOTUS CRIB MATTRESS)

Super Soft Jersey Knit with premium, fully encased elastic - Washer and Dryer friendly

The Easiest Portable Toddler Bed To Set up

“Super portable and incredibly easy to set up”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reasons to Buy ✅ It takes seconds to setup

Highly portable

Secure frame to protect babies and toddlers

Solid build – long-lasting

Supports up to 30lbs

Lifetime guarantee

Travel bag included Reasons to Avoid ❌ A little too heavy

One of the other most successful products on the market that is ideal for both babies and toddlers is the 4moms Breeze Plus. It ticks all the boxes for portability, practicality, and ease of use. This is ideal for any vacation, short trips, or just a sleepover at their grandparents. Familiarity when it comes to sleep time for toddlers is essential to ease them into a comfortable state of mind to fall asleep and rest well. This is why something like this can be used at home every so often to have your little one recognize and adapt to the sleeping style.

With just one push, you can have this baby travel bed up and running, ready for your little one to sleep in – those precious saved minutes means you can get the much-needed rest and recovery too! The Breeze Plus comes with a bassinet too, which is handy – we’ve also reviewed the best portable bassinets separately.

Everything done in just one push

Ideal For Smaller Toddlers and Babies: KidCo Peapod

“Small, quirky, and comes in lots of colors”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

385 Reviews KidCo P3010 Peapod Portable Indoor Outdoor Travel Bed Cranberry Children’s Travel Bed

For use with children one to three years old

Lightweight mesh; great for air flow and as an insect screen

Reasons to Buy ✅ Great airflow and ventilation

Light and compact

Great for outdoor use

Portable and easy to use

Passes the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Reasons to Avoid ❌ Not as durable as larger playards

The Peapod comes with a unique portable design made specifically for parents or carers who travel a lot or spend a fair amount of time in the outdoors. With smaller dimensions, foldable, and weighing only 2.5lbs (1.13 kg), it’s the ideal lightweight travel cot for toddlers. Its design is perfect for hotel stayovers, camping, the beach, trips to grandparents, or any vacation trip. This toddler bed can very easily be transported and set up for your little one to nap or sleep.

The biggest sell for the KidCo Peapod is just how easy they’ve made it. A hassle-free design that’s easy to carry, easy to assemble, and ready whenever you want to go. It’ll fit in the car no problem, and can easily be tucked away in the house when it’s not in use. It’s effortless to open, which means that you can put your baby to rest quickly and smoothly. No more last-minute cursing simply that the bed cannot be set faster. It’s also a relatively cheap purchase compared to more popular brand name products.

Due to its portability, it’s great for the outdoors. But it also has UV protection, an airy mesh to protect against bugs and insects but also allowing for a gentle breeze to flow freely in the bed – keeping your loved one happy and healthy.

The Most Stylish Portable Toddler Bed: BabyBjörn Travel Crib

“Sleek, stylish, but comes with a price tag”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

38 Reviews BabyBjörn Travel Crib Easy Go, Greige BABYBJORN Travel Crib Easy Go, Greige

Easy to set up in just one move

Removable and washable fabrics. High-resilient PU foam mattress

Reasons to Buy ✅ Looks great

Stylish travel bag

Easy to wash and clean Reasons to Avoid ❌ Doesn’t include fitted mattress cover

Baby Bjorn travel bed is light, weighing only 11lbs (5 kg), including the compact transport case. Taking only a minute to assemble and re-pack, it’s practical, portable, and superb on the go. One of the other great benefits is that it takes up little space in the car when packed away. The quality of this bed is excellent, that is, it should take several children and always be available to go to a friend. For the price you pay, the time you’ll save, and the years you’ll keep this – it’s a resounding ‘Yes’ from us.

For babies from 0 – 36-month-old toddlers, the Bjorn crib is not only open and airy so you can keep an eye on them, but also, so they don’t feel too enclosed and claustrophobic. The baby bed Bjorn travel is effortless to put – which is essential when it’s time for an impromptu nap or a when your little one is feeling very tired. The cotton fabric mattress cover is breathable, and the cradle is also detachable and machine washable in case of any spills or accidents.

The quality of this bed is excellent, which means that it should last through several children and can always be passed down to a friend. The fabric is nice and soft; it would feel good against the skin of the baby. Also, all materials that come into contact with your baby’s skin are free from harmful substances.

The Best For Low Budget: Delta Children Viaggi Playard 🌌

“All the practicality without the price tag”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

72 Reviews Delta Children Viaggi Playard, Mosaic Recommended for children unable to climb out, less than 35 lbs. and up to 35"

Overstuffed mattress pad

Convenient slim fold and carry bag make travel and storage easy

Reasons to Buy ✅ Affordable

Stylish travel bag

Easy to wash and clean

Quick to set up

Very light

Overstuffed mattress pad Reasons to Avoid ❌ Only one design / color

If you’re looking for a low-cost option or entry-level toddler bed, then the Delta Children Viaggi is the one. It definitely won’t match the high-quality build as seen in the previous bed tents, but it’ll tick most of the boxes—super light, open space, easy to assemble, and easy to store.

Some toddler beds come with the superior build quality and features, but if you’re looking for an entry-level playard to figure out whether it’ll work for your child, then this is your best bet. In some cases, it can be difficult for a toddler with autism to adapt to something like this, and therefore a low-cost option can be a more practical option.

The Lightest Portable Toddler Bed: Phil & Teds Traveller Crib

“All the practicality at a fraction of the weight”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

81 Reviews phil&teds Traveller Crib, Black LIGHT & SUPER COMPACT FOR TRAVEL - at only 6lbs its lighter than the baby!

INSIDE/OUTSIDE USE - at home, at the beach, waiting for the train or plane

OKEO-TEX CERTIFIED FABRICS - so gentle on baby's skin

Reasons to Buy ✅ 6lbs – the lightest bed

Zip to open

Global Safety Certified

Yoga mat sized portability

Amazon’s Choice Reasons to Avoid ❌ Difficult to assemble

While this is a great travel crib, compared to some of the other higher quality and better-built products, it doesn’t hold up as well. A similar open, mesh design, and very easy to pack away into a yoga mat sized bag, which is perfect for families on the go. The build quality isn’t the best, especially given the price point.

There is plenty of room to move around. Full mesh walls mean that you can see your child at any time, whether playing or sleeping. You can close a zipper side into a large playground during the day. A unique front zipper design that allows your baby to play outside as well as sleeping in it fully closed.

This cot is also UV protected, which means its great for the outdoors. Complimented with a 100% cotton cloth gives that perfect amount of coziness that your little one needs for a beautiful sleep. The ability to fold it up into a small yoga mat sized bag is ideal, perfect for the car, and perfect for carrying by hand!

Highest Price Point: Nuna Sena Aire Travel Cot

“Sleek, stylish, but comes with a price tag”

Safe Sleep Systems Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1 Reviews Nuna - Pack-N-Play - Sena Aire Mini Iron W/Sheet Sets up and folds with one hand

Mattress’s zip-off design is machine washer and dryer safe

Ventilated mattress panels easily remove for deep cleaning

Reasons to Buy ✅ Looks great

Stylish travel bag

Easy to wash and clean Reasons to Avoid ❌ Doesn’t include fitted mattress cover

Nuna has won over 154 awards worldwide for its products, which says a lot! The Nuna Sena travel cot has been built with both the parents and child in mind. A super easy “one-hand” assembly playard that can be transported very quickly from one location to another. This is a brilliant option, and if you are looking for a playard that is nice and aesthetic, it is an excellent go-to product.

While the Nuna Sena might look similar to other travel beds for toddlers, the thought and design behind it stand out. It is four times more porous than the acceptable level for baby cots. This means the amount of airflow that travels through the mattress is significantly higher than other products on the market, allowing for more fresh air and more relaxing sleep for your little one. It’s also built with a super sturdy aluminum frame, meaning it’s lightweight as well as long-lasting.

Nuna Sena Aire has taken the time to test and re-test, ensuring that your baby is comfortable. The mesh design is triple layers to allow for both a relaxing and supportive sleep for your toddler. Not only that, but the accompanying organic cotton sheet is Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) certified.

The upper part of the fabric is also machine washable, cleaning made easy for you as you will be able to use the washing machine and keep the bed always clean for a warmer and cozy sleep. The feet of the cot are also skid-proof so that the cot doesn’t move while your baby might be playing or fidgeting during their sleep.

⚠️Covid-19 Update⚠️

We understand as parents or carers of special needs children, you want to rest assured that your child feels safe and secure during times of uncertainty.

For the latest US news on the coronavirus, please check CDC Prevention.

As of 06/28/2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a cloth mask and regularly cleaning and sterilizing it (a washing machine will suffice).

Currently there are washable and reusable masks in stock here.