Inflatable bed question

[las3888]

Hi all,

We have graduated (we hope) from having to rent a crib to a toddler inflatable bed for DS (3). we have an inflatable toddler bed already. I can't find a pic of it, but we got it from Avon--has Lightning McQueen with inflated 'side rails' which we thought was a plus. We are thinking of putting a sleeping bag or even just blankets on it, but it is that slippery vinyl. Do you have any ideas of anything to lay over it to keep the sleeping bag or blankets in place? Otherwise, he will be all over the place and I am thinking it will hinder much-needed Disney sleep. It is such an odd shape and size that I can't think any 'fitted' sheets will hold. Any ideas????

Thanks!

 

[Mrs D]

My DS (almost 3) has been using a Ready Bed in prep for our Disney trip. It is a toddler sized air bed with an attached "sleeping bag". I don;t even zip the sleeping bag part, just give him the blanket he uses at home. I will ask for an extra sheet to put on the floor under it, in case he rolls out of bed then he's not sleeping on the carpet.

HTH.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

If you don't want to change the type of bed you have, maybe you could try using strips of adhesive velcro on the mattress and underside of the sleeping bag/sheet. That may help it stay in place.

 

[Taja]

What about that foam-type shelf liner? I can't remember what it is called. It comes in two different widths, but probably just a strip down the center would help keep bedding in place.

 

[las3888]

What about that foam-type shelf liner? I can't remember what it is called. It comes in two different widths, but probably just a strip down the center would help keep bedding in place.

Great idea and I have some of that too. I will try it b4 we go and see how it works out.

 

[Schmeck]

Are you really hauling an inflatable bed all the way from Chicago to WDW for your preschooler? Are you staying onsite? If you are staying onsite, and he is 3 years old, he will be counted as one of the 4 people you can have in your room (unless you are going deluxe/suite) so he could sleep in an actual bed - and they have bedrails available. Then you don't have to worry about the sheets staying on, etc...

 

[AmyBWV99]

We haul our Areo toddler bed everywhere for our 3 year old it just came back from WDW and are form Iowa. I usually stuff it in the carseat back strapping it into the carseat that we check thru since we lap sit the baby at this time and then we still have 2 car seats when we get there while only having to haul one to the gate.

We take it b/c it's familiar to him so as soon as he's ready to crash he just wanders over and lays down. Toddlers can be a fickle breed so we just prefer to make things as smooth sailing as possible after a hard day of run, run, running.

 

[mamaLori05]

We took dd this spring when she turned 3 and we just had her sleep in one of the beds and asked for bedrails. They are pretty long and pretty high bedrails...much longer and higher than the ones we have at home. Anyway, the bedrails worked out great. I'm not trying to start the whole "when should you put your toddler in a bed" debate, just wanted to let you know in case you are looking for other options. I also wanted to let you know because DD has one of those sleeping bags with an airmattress in it and she just can't seem to sleep on it. She starts out fine on it, but then in the middle of the night she wakes up because she is either rolling off it or just isn't comfortable. It seems crazy because she has been in a twin bed since she was 14 months and has never fallen out, but for whatever reason she just can't seem to sleep in the airbed. Just thought you might want to test out your airbed one night just to make sure it will work.

 

[las3888]

I appreciate all the advice...our issue is that we are DVC members and will be staying at OKW. We will have a King bed for DH and me and then there is a pull-out sofa but DS is still just somewhat new to a toddler bed. I am a little afraid for a pulll-out sofa bed with rails in that it is almost too much bed. Let's just say it's untried so I would prefer to have options. We CAN use the sofa bed with rails if need be, but we will have the airbed as an option too. The toddler airbeds are really pretty small...I will stuff it in his carseat that we have a carseat bag for and just check it. It won't take up any luggage space for us. I do wonder if he will last a whole night in it and feel I should do some trial runs. If anything, he will have his sleeping bag and can sleep on the floor with maybe a sheet underneath as PP suggested. He can also sleep in the big bed between us but he has never been big on sleeping with mom and dad. They're ALL different. Toddlers and sleep can make for a touchy situation. This is coming from DS who almost NEVER slept in his stroller.

Thanks again!

 

[mamaLori05]

I appreciate all the advice...our issue is that we are DVC members and will be staying at OKW. We will have a King bed for DH and me and then there is a pull-out sofa but DS is still just somewhat new to a toddler bed. I am a little afraid for a pulll-out sofa bed with rails in that it is almost too much bed. Let's just say it's untried so I would prefer to have options. We CAN use the sofa bed with rails if need be, but we will have the airbed as an option too. The toddler airbeds are really pretty small...I will stuff it in his carseat that we have a carseat bag for and just check it. It won't take up any luggage space for us. I do wonder if he will last a whole night in it and feel I should do some trial runs. If anything, he will have his sleeping bag and can sleep on the floor with maybe a sheet underneath as PP suggested. He can also sleep in the big bed between us but he has never been big on sleeping with mom and dad. They're ALL different. Toddlers and sleep can make for a touchy situation. This is coming from DS who almost NEVER slept in his stroller.

Thanks again!

Yea, I'd say just test it out. Blow up his airbed and tell him he's going to have a sleepover in the livingroom or something. he'll think it's great, and you'll get to see if he'll sleep in it. If he does at home, then I'm sure he will at Disney just because he'll be soo exhausted!!

 

[Mrs D]

We did several test runs at home (in his own bedroom) with the readybed; then took it on a trip to Nashville. He did 'fall out' of it one night and slept on the floor for part of the night (thus I will put a sheet under it so he isn't sleeping on hotel carpet - thats a whole other thread somewhere). We then used it for a weekend in Wisconsin where we put him in a walk in closet. It seemed he did better in the confined space. He does still sleep in his crib most nights, but if not then he's on his crib mattress on the floor of his room.

One other note: I am not the kind of Mom who checks on my kids (or puts away their laundry after bedtime like my SIL ). Once the door is closed, I do not go back in. But we shared a room with DS in Nashville and both DS & DD in Wisconsin (DS was in the closet though ) and DS didn't even turn over when we came into the room at our bedtime. And he didn't wake when Lil sis woke up when we came in.

Overall, I must say DS is more resilient and flexible than I give him credit for.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

My DS (almost 3) has been using a Ready Bed in prep for our Disney trip. It is a toddler sized air bed with an attached "sleeping bag". I don;t even zip the sleeping bag part, just give him the blanket he uses at home. I will ask for an extra sheet to put on the floor under it, in case he rolls out of bed then he's not sleeping on the carpet.

HTH.

I have the same bags for my kids...Lightning McQueen for DS (6.5) and Disney Princess for DD (3). Not sure they will both want to use theirs, but I'm bringing them anyway. It might be lots of fun camping out while on vacation!

 

[Schmeck]

Oh, so if they fit in a carseat checked bag, then they're pretty small when deflated? Our regular air mattresses are so big that I figured a kid sized one would be bulky too, and a hassle to pack, seeing as a 3 year old has to be on the reservation and have a bed space.

At WDW, before you have your child sleep on the floor, check under the furniture in your room for 'ickies' - things mousekeeping missed that your child may see from his low bed. People have posted that they have found used condoms, needles, old candy, etc. under beds and under other furniture.

 

[Mrs D]

The ready beds do deflate rather small. It could even fit into a large diaper bag once it's all rolled up. It comes with it's own zippered storage bag and a foot pump. Again, hubby just blew it up by mouth versus messing with the pump. It is rather flimsy and I have read some reviews that it didn't have a very long life expectancy. I think I paid $20 for mine at Aldi and will considerate a worthwhile investment to have it last through Disney.

Here's a link to one.

 

[AmyBWV99]

We have the children's Aerobed bed and it rolls up small enough to stuff a twin sized blanket in the bed bag and then strap the bed bag into the carseat before packing it all in the carseat bag. It doens't take up any luggage space per se b/c i'd never pack anything else in the carseat bag anyway.