Traveling Toddler Sleep Setup
Sleep, as I’ve previously stated… it’s a magical thing, even while traveling. LBB has recently begun to outgrow her Guava Lotus Pack & Play, which is making me a little nostalgic thinking about all the places we’ve traveled with that backpack. So I thought it would be the perfect time to give you all an update on how I pack for a sleepy toddler on the road. We had the Guava Lotus for almost 3 years before I decided to jump to the next sleep stage for travel. We could have easily kept going with this pack & play for at least another 6 months, but I think both Aymeric and I were looking for ways to reduce what we bring along for our quick trips to California. We are firm believers in carry-on only travel whenever possible. The last time I checked a bag was for Europe last April. So all of those trips outside of that, have all been carry-on. With that in mind, whatever sleep setup we migrated to… it had to fit in a carry-on bag. Insert the Little Sleepy Head Inflatable Toddler Bed. A friend of mine who is also a fellow traveler suggested this idea since her two kids had just used theirs on a trip to South Korea and loved them. I’ve also have had other friends suggest this blow-up bed as well, so I figured it was a surefire way to keep LBB’s sleep in check on the go. Plus, it’s less than $100, and I’m sure we can get plenty of use out of this over the years to make it well worth the investment.
The bed is also incredibly intuitive to setup, and better yet, it is very quick when you’re using the automatic pump that comes with it. There have been plenty of late night flights that we’ve taken recently, so the idea that I can set it up in less than 5 minutes when we get to our accommodations makes me a happy camper. Another benefit of the pump is that you can also use it to deflate the bed when you’re ready to pack up. Which is an added time bonus when you’re packing in a rush. The bed has both a large ‘bumper’ exterior and an interior insert mattress with a little felt on the top to keep it non-slip. The interior insert fits a crib sheet, which I always like to bring along for added comfort. I think this added touch gives your toddler something that always smells and feels familiar, which aids in a cozy nights sleep when you’re away from home. I was also told that the Slumberpod fits over the mattress as well, so that is really what sold it for me in the end. I have yet to try putting the pod over it just yet, but I think it might be a bit of a ‘squeeze’ around the edges, but since the Slumberpod material is stretchy, i’m not too worried about it fitting on top. This will be the first trip using this mattress, so I’ll give you an update next week to make sure all went well.
So now… what else do I bring along you ask? Here is my packing list from what I previously took along when we were using the Guava Lotus Pack & Play (packing list only includes what I bring for sleep, I’ll do another full packing list for how to pack carry-on only with a toddler in the next post). This would be for children up to age 3 or children still using sleep sacks and pack & play’s while on the road.
3-4 favorite lovies from her crib at home
1 PJ per night of the trip plus one extra for safe measure
1 pullup per night of the trip plus one for naps (only if you’re toddler still needs one for nap)
Yes, I do promise that all of the above fits in a carry-on suitcase with room for clothing and toiletries (with the exception of the Guava Lotus as it is it’s own backpack). I always traveled on the safe side with extra crib sheets and sleep sacks, since LBB has been known to have a leak or two during the night. Although majority of the time we’ve come home with an extra clean sheet and sack.
So… now that we’ve not only graduated out of sleepsacks at home but now are migrating to the inflatable toddler mattress for travel, here is an updated list of what I plan to take for LBB’s sleep setup:
Slumberpod
1 Crib Sheet
Keababies: Baby Pillow
3-4 favorite lovies from her crib at home
Travel Monitor
Travel Hatch Sound Machine (Rest Mini)
1 PJ per night of the trip plus one extra for safe measure
1 pullup per night of the trip plus one for naps (only if you’re toddler still needs one for nap)
I am pairing down on the number of sheets and blankets I am bringing along since the inflatable mattress does take up significantly more room in the suitcase than her previous set up did. However, we are gaining so much more since we aren’t lugging the pack & play on our backs through the airport. I figure if we do have a leak on the road, we can just remove the crib sheet and she can sleep directly on the inflatable bed if we’re in a pinch. In the case of the Kyte Baby Blanket…I assume we’ll be able to request an extra blanket from the Airbnb or Hotel if we really need one. So here’s to hoping we’ve moved away from nighttime blowouts! For the same space constraint reasons, I’ve also left behind her Little Giraffe Baby Blanket…This is normally laying at her feet at home or I use it as an extra cover if she is using the 1 Tog blanket and it’s a little chilly out, so it isn’t something that she cuddles with every evening. I have started to let her know a few days in advance of our trip however, that blankie is going to stay home this time, but we’ll see her again as soon as we get back from our trip. Honestly, the things I thought I’d have to worry about as an adult…LBB has thus far not put up a stink about it, so I’m hoping we don’t have a full blown meltdown about it when we arrive. We could have likely left this blanket behind the past few trips as it is, but I think in the Guava Lotus, it acted as not only a lovie but also a cozy bumper. I caught her plenty of times snuggling with it on the monitor in our hotel.
So… how does all of this fit into the rubics cube of a carry-on you ask? Here’s a breakdown for you:
Packing Cube 1 (with compression):
Kyte Baby Toddler Blanket (1 Tog)
Crib Sheet
Little Dreamers Baby Pillow
Small Zip Up Pouch:
Travel Hatch Sound Machine
Travel Monitor
Cords
Mesh Bag:
3-4 Lovies
PJ’s
Pullups
Previously, I was able to get all sleep gear onto one side of the carry-on, but now that we’re bringing the inflatable mattress… it takes up majority of one side of the suitcase. So I just tuck in the tech pouch, and a small packing cube of bathing suits/summer hats that are thin and malleable. It looks a little something like this when it’s all finished.
The finished packing product
So here’s to happy naps and cozy dreams while you travel! Enjoy!
