There are some fantastic toddler travel bed solutions, but what if your kids are a bit older or you’re looking for a more lightweight option? Can you turn existing beds in hotel rooms or Airbnb apartments into a safe place to sleep for your little ones with something that weighs next to nothing? Yes, you can! Portable bed rails and especially inflatable bed bumpers are the best invention ever for traveling families!
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When we traveled around South East Asia with our little world traveler we had a small bed tent, similar to the KidCo PeaPod, for him and he loved it. His own predictable, safe space to sleep. At that time he was still used to sleeping in a crib at home. When it was really too hot to sleep in his tent we put a mattress on the floor but more often than not he ended up on the floor next to the mattress. He was a very ‘active’ sleeper and still is. I have to admit I never even thought about bed bumpers at that time but they would have been a fantastic solution.
Also read:
Ultimate guide for buying the best toddler travel bed
Comprehensive guide for the best toddler bed rails
Next trip we’re bringing travel bed rails!
Our son now sleeps in a big boy bed at home (with a fixed bed rail) and he’s gotten too tall to fit in his travel tent. This means that for upcoming travels we need a new (and safe) solution, as we still find him with his feet on his pillow every so often. Next time we’re traveling we’re definitely bringing travel bed rails for toddlers to make sure he doesn’t fall out of bed while on the road. The inflatable bed bumpers hardly take up any space and they’re extremely lightweight, so also a great idea if you’re traveling with only hand luggage.
Best bed bumpers comparison table
NAME | HEIGHT x LENGTH | WEIGHT | MATERIAL | REMARKS | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 5x48 | 1.54 lbs | BPA and chemical free | Water resistant coating- Meets ASTM standards for safety | ![]() |
![]() ![]() | 4x48 | 1.43 lbs | Plastic Free from Phthalates, BpA and Lead | - Compact and lightweight - Perfect for travel and sleepovers - Grip strips to prevent slipping - Foot pump and carry bag included | ![]() |
DreamyPanda Safety Bed Rail Bumper![]() | 4.5x52 | 1.9 lbs | Phthalate and BPA free polyurethane foam / bamboo cover | - Hypo allergenic materials - Machine washable cover - Rolls up quite small - Carrying bag included | ![]() |
![]() ![]() | 4.5x52 | 12 ounces | Non-toxic, Phthalate & BPA Free Urethane Foam | - Water resistant & washable cover - Flame-retardant free - Install in seconds - Non skid silicone bottom | ![]() |
What are toddler bed bumpers
Travel bed bumpers for toddlers are both available as foam bed bumpers and inflatable bed bumpers. Both can be used as travel bed guard rail. Both are lightweight and very easy to install. The foam toddler bed bumpers can be rolled up quite small and usually come with a carry bag. These are perfect for road trips, but can also be used to air travel. If you’re traveling very lightweight or with carry-on only, an inflatable bed rail is the better choice as they hardly take up any space.
An inflatable travel bed guard for toddlers is a lightweight, more or less triangular-shaped, air-filled tube that you place on top of the mattress, underneath the fitted sheet. These inflatable bed bumpers have a non-slip coating on the bottom, so they stay firmly on the mattress, held in place by the fitted sheet. They’re not as high as a fixed bed gate, but high enough for your child not to roll over in their sleep.

Advantages of using a portable bed rail
So what are the advantages of using travel bed rails for kids? Even if your kids are used to sleeping without a bed guard at home, beds in an unfamiliar environment might pose some difficulty at night. With travel side rails for bed you won’t have any issues. Portable bed rails for toddlers are also perfect for sleepovers at the grandparents or at a friend’s house.
Portable toddler bed rails for travel
- turn any bed into child’s bed
- are lightweight and hardly take up any space
- install in seconds
- ensure your child has a safe place to sleep
- make sure you sleep as well, because you child won’t fall out of bed
Cosleeping with travel bed bumpers
Portable bed rails for travel are also great for co-sleeping. If you use one on the side and one in the middle, you can create a safe section for your baby or toddler to sleep together with you in the big bed. You can also put it in the middle of a double or queen-sized bed to create two separate sleep sections for two older kids to sleep together without waking each other at night. This is also a perfect solution if your kids are at the age that they don’t really want to sleep in one bed together anymore.
The best travel bed guard
Obviously we all have our preferences, but what’s the best travel bed rail for kids in our opinion? Personally, we prefer the Delta Children Inflatable Safety Guard. The Delta Children toddler bed guard for travel can support weight up to 220 lbs (99kg) and is 5 inches high. It’s completely phthalates, BPA and lead-free. It comes with a compact foot pump, making it quick and easy to inflate. If you want to limit your luggage, it’s also easy to inflate by simply blowing it up.
We like that we can easily climb in bed with him at night when he wants us to and don’t have to worry about putting too much weight on the bumper. At 48x7x5 inches (122×17,8×12,7 cm) they don’t really work in a toddler bed because toddler beds are usually quite narrow and the bumper takes up some space. But for a twin or a double bed, these portable bed rails for travel are great.

Other bed bumper options
Another option for portable bed rails for toddlers is The Shrunks Inflatable Bed Rail. We prefer the Delta Children bumper because it’s a full inch higher, but The Shrunks has won numerous awards and get great reviews. If you prefer foam toddler bed bumpers, we’d recommend you to take a look at the DreamyPanda Safety Bed Rail Bumper or the Hiccapop Foam Bed Bumpers.
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Thank you for this! So informative. Happy travelling 🙂