On the Hunt for: Best Travel Crib for Tall Toddler? I Got You!

I may only be 5’3″, but my husband’s side of the family has some height! And I’m pretty sure my oldest and youngest boys scored those genes in the game of chance that is their DNA. They’ve both been in the 95th percentile for height since they were born, so I know a thing or two about finding travel gear that works for tall toddlers.

One of the things I’ve learned about having a tall toddler? They grow out of things length-wise WAY before anything else.

Yep, that means they have pants that flood even though they fit around the waist. And they’re all of a sudden too tall for some travel gear before they actually have the skills to be too tall for it. Fellow parents of tall toddlers, you understand, right?

One of those pieces of travel gear just so happens to be a crib. It seems like all of a sudden, they take up the whole crib! Since we travel a lot, we’ve had to come up with a way to keep our little guys safe and comfortable while sleeping. So, here’s my list when searching for the “best travel crib for tall toddler.” And heck, these are great options even if you don’t have a tall toddler!

_{Disclosure: You may see affiliate links throughout this post, which means these are the things I handpicked! If you purchase something through these links, I will get a small commission at absolutely no extra charge to you. And that sure means a lot to me, so thank you in advance!}

Travel Crib for Tall Toddler

First things first, what do I look for when it comes to a travel crib for my baby or toddler? In no particular order (because I really needed all of these things):

• It needs to be compact when folded.
• It needs to be easy to carry.
• It needs to be easy to set up and take down.
• It needs to be safe and comfortable.
• It needs to be big enough to accommodate my kiddo. (No way I’m spending money on something they’ll grow out of right away!)

So, after scouring the internet for a travel crib that had ALL of these things checked off, I came up with my top contenders. Let’s jump into it.

Top Pick: Guava Lotus Travel Crib

Dimensions when folded: 24″ L x 12″ W x 8″ H

Dimensions when open: 45.5″ L x 31.5″ W x 25.5″ H

Mattress size: 41.5″ L x 23.5″ W x 1.4″ H

Weight: 15 lb

Here’s what I love about this travel crib:

Alright, I started with my personal favorite…the Guava Lotus Travel Crib! We’ve owned one of these for years. And it’s held up with all 3 of our boys.

Not only is this travel crib big enough for my tall toddler, but it also has no weight limit since the mattress sits on the floor.

I love that it comes with accessories made just for this crib. That way I don’t have to do any trial and error when it comes to figuring out if sheets fit.

My personal favorite accessories? The quilted sheet and the fun shade.

The fun shade works great at essentially giving our toddler his own space for a good night’s sleep, especially when we’re in a studio hotel room.

The quilted sheet provided a little more comfort once my kids were over 1 year old. Prior to their first birthday, we used the regular sheet with no issues.

The mattress seems thin, and since it lies on the floor, I was worried my boys wouldn’t be comfortable. But I’ve never seen anything that would hint at them being uncomfortable at all when we travel.

As far as the carrier for this crib goes, it makes traveling very easy. Its folded dimensions are compact and could be brought on an airplane as a carry-on. The bag has both backpack straps and briefcase-type straps.

Something unique to the Guava Lotus Crib when compared to my runner-up choice is the side zipper. This feature is great for easily getting your little one in and out of the crib, and I feel like it adds a little more lifespan to the travel crib because it can still be used even if your little one is past the crib phase. My boys have all gotten a kick out of this feature, too, because it gives them some independence.

Click here to see the side zipper feature in action.

Finally, let’s talk safety…and it’s pretty impressive. According to Guava’s website, this travel crib has the following certifications:

• US Federal Standard for Play Yards (16 CFR 1221 / ASTM F406)
• Consumer Product Safety Info Act (H.R. 2020 / CPSIA 2008)
• Playpen Regulations (Canada)
• GreenGuard™ Gold Certified (meaning the materials used are safe for baby’s skin and have no harsh chemicals)

In addition to those certifications, from what I’ve noticed as an owner, this crib is very sturdy. I mean, my crazy boys have never tipped it over, ripped it, or broken it. And if you know my boys, you know that’s just short of a miracle (if you don’t know my boys, then I guess you’ll have to take my word for it…ha!).

Here’s what I don’t love about this travel crib:

The Guava Lotus Crib can be difficult to fold correctly to get back in the bag. I somehow always do it wrong the first time, and I have legs sticking out everywhere. I get it eventually, though…it just takes a minute.

It also weighs a little more than the other cribs on this list, and I feel like every pound counts when it comes to travel gear.

Runner-Up: BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light

Dimensions when folded: 23.5″ L x 19″ W x 5.5″ H

Dimensions when open: 44″ L x 24″ W x 32″ H

Mattress size: 41″ L x 23.5″ W x 1.2″ H

Weight: 13 lb

Here’s what I love about this travel crib:

There are actually lots of similarities between the BabyBjörn Travel Crib and the Guava Lotus Crib. They’re both very well made, are great for tall toddlers, and have no weight limit.

One of the biggest plusses with this travel crib, though, is the ease of setup and take down. The BabyBjörn has a bit of a leg up when it comes to this.

For setup, there are only 4 pieces to attach to allow the mattress to lie flat (versus 6 pieces on the Guava Lotus Crib). And take down isn’t as confusing, making it quicker overall.

I also love that this travel crib is taller than the Guava Lotus Crib, but I just wanted to throw out a little disclaimer. I noticed when I was getting all this info together that the BabyBjörn Travel Crib’s height was significantly taller than the Guava Lotus Crib, but that’s not necessarily accurate.

This crib has more of a slant to it, making the distance along the side of the crib from the ground to the top longer. But the heights are actually pretty similar, with the BabyBjörn Travel Crib being slightly taller.

Finally, the safety certifications:

• EN 716 safety standard for folding cribs and national fire safety requirements
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Class 1 for baby products (meaning the materials used are safe for baby’s skin and have no harsh chemicals)

Here’s what I don’t love about this travel crib:

This is the most expensive travel crib on the list. So while it’s well-made and not a bad choice what-so-ever, the Guava Lotus Travel Crib gets you more bang for your buck.

The folded dimensions of this crib are a bit large compared to the Guava Lotus Crib, so it takes up more space. It wouldn’t be considered a carry-on item on an airplane, so you would have to check it. It also doesn’t have the option of backpack straps.

Finally, it doesn’t have a side zipper entry point, which could come in handy at times. And it doesn’t have as many options for accessories.

Budget Pick: Baby Joy 2 in 1 Travel Crib

Dimensions when folded: 23.5″ L x 20.5″ W x 7″ H

Dimensions when open: 45.5″ L x 31″ W x 27″ H

Mattress size: 39.5 L x 24″ W

Weight: 10 lb

Here’s what I love about this travel crib:

I mean first and foremost, it’s the price! If you won’t be using your travel crib often or with multiple kids, this is the way the go. (But if you will be, I promise you that you’ll be happier with one of the two options above!)

Some of my favorite things about the Baby Joy 2 in 1 Travel Crib are the side zipper option similar to the Guava Lotus Travel Crib and the fact that it’s lightweight.

The Baby Joy 2 in 1 has an ASTM certification, which basically means it satisfies regulatory requirements.

Here’s what I don’t love about this travel crib:

The mattress size is smaller than the other two on this list, and tall toddlers need all the room they can get. This crib also has a maximum weight recommendation of 33 pounds, whereas the other two options have no weight limit.

This travel crib has similar folded dimensions and carrying case as the BabyBjörn Travel Crib, which means you will not be able to bring it on an airplane as a carry-on.

Finally, I’m a strong believer that you get what you pay for when it comes to baby gear. Just to be blunt, this crib is not as well made as the other two on this list. But again, if you’re not planning on getting a ton of use out of your travel crib, this will do just fine.

Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed for Tall Toddler

Ok eventually, a travel crib just won’t cut it. As much as we want our babies to stay little forever, that’s just not reality. So, in comes other sleeping options for travel with kids. First up on the docket, an inflatable toddler travel bed.

These beds really surprised me because as an adult, an inflatable mattress is not the most comfortable thing in the world. And it always seems to be a pain to store. These inflatable toddler mattresses aren’t that way at all, though!

My kids not only love them and sleep comfortably all night, but they also fold up fairly small. Small enough to fit in a carry-on actually!

Here are my top two contenders in this category:

The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed

Total dimensions: 60″ L x 37″ W x 9″ H

Dimensions of mattress: 47″ L x 28″ W

The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed has been sold since 2007, so it has lots of years and positive reviews under its belt!

This inflatable toddler bed has two side bumpers and utilizes standard-size crib sheets…so no need to buy a special sheet! It comes with a pump that inflates the bed within 30 seconds.

Setup and takedown are very simple with this toddler air mattress because it’s all one piece. It also comes with a bag that can fit the mattress and the pump.

hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed

Total dimensions: 62″ L x 39″ W x 12″ H

Dimensions of mattress: 49″ L x 26″ W

Similar to The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed, a standard crib sheet can be used with the hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed. It also comes with a pump that inflates the bed within 30 seconds. And it has a bag that can fit the mattress and the pump (plus a little more if needed!).

There are some main differences, though. First of all, if you notice the dimensions, the hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Bed is bigger…which is great for a tall toddler!

It also has 4 side bumpers on it instead of 2. So, if your little one is a mover and a shaker at night, this would be a better choice.

As far as ease of setup and takedown, this mattress comes in two pieces instead of one. So, while it’s not a deal breaker by any means, it’s not quite as simple as The Shrunks.

Travel Bed Rails for Toddler

The last toddler travel bed I want to talk about is…well, the bed that’s at the hotel!

Once your toddler is ready for the big bed, inflatable bed rails might be your next move. Now, we have a set of these, and absolutely love them! BUT there’s also a little trick you can use, too, if you don’t want to pack these.

Let’s jump into it:

hiccapop Inflatable Bed Rails for Toddlers

Dimensions: 52″ L x 7″ W x 4.5″ H

I’ll just come out and say it…we’ve owned these hiccapop Inflatable Bed Rails for a while now and absolutely love them.

I mean, an inflatable bed rail is an inflatable bed rail. How unique can it get?

Well, these bed rails have a flap attached to them that really keeps them in place. Setup and takedown are a little tougher with the extra material, but it’s been totally worth it to us.

Plus, I like the dimensions of these bed rails since they’re a little longer and a little higher.

These bumpers don’t come with a pump, but it doesn’t take much effort to blow them up. They do come with a travel bag though, which keeps things organized in your bag.

Tip: If you have two kiddos sharing a bed, and you want to give them their own space, stick one of the inflatable bed rails in the middle of the bed. Click here to see what it looks like.

The Shrunks Inflatable Bed Rails

Dimensions: 48″ L x 7″ W x 4″ H

Now The Shrunks Inflatable Bed Rails might not have the flap, but they still stay in place pretty well. Similar to hiccapop Inflatable Bed Rails, they don’t come with a pump but they do come with a travel bag.

The dimensions are smaller but not by much. And if you have a toddler that no longer uses a diaper overnight, the shorter dimensions of these bed rails make it a little easier to get into and out of the bed if they need to use the bathroom.

Bed Rail Trick for Toddlers

When we don’t want to bring along our inflatable bed rails, it’s pillows to the rescue! We just stick pillows under the sheet on either side of the bed, and voila! Bed rails! Click here to see the setup.

This trick is great for saving space in your luggage or if you forget the inflatable bed rails. But the pillows do slip out of place a little easier so just be aware of that.

The other instance in which we prefer the inflatable bed rails over the pillows is if my boys are sharing a bed. It’s nice to stick one bedrail in the middle of the bed to give them their own separate space.

What Hasn’t Worked for Us

Ok, I’ve talked about my favorites, but I think it’s also helpful to know what we tried and didn’t like!

Of course, everyone is different, but one type of toddler travel bed that my kiddos have NOT liked at all is a travel cot. And I really can’t blame them.

I tried to lie down on the thing, and it’s just not comfortable. So, unfortunately, the travel cot was one of the pieces of travel gear we bought but never really used (maybe I should make a post on that?! Ha!).

Another thing that didn’t work out well is a pop-up tent like this. These work great for the outdoors (like a nap on the beach!), but my kids had a hard time associating this to sleep in a hotel room. Plus I was nervous they would flip the whole thing over in the middle of the night while we were all sleeping.

It’s also important to be aware of baby and toddler gear that hotels offer. If you’ll be staying at a hotel that has a pack n’ play or crib available, that might be the best option instead of lugging around more stuff. For example, whenever we travel to Disney, we always take advantage of using their pack n’ play. Some hotels also have bed rails available.

When we road trip, we almost always bring our own travel crib, toddler bed, or inflatable bed rails. But when we fly, we get a little pickier about what we bring to save space in our luggage.

Finally, something I learned when it comes to purchasing baby and toddler gear is that if it’s super cheap…well, you get what you pay for. I’m all for a great deal! But there have been more times than I choose to admit that I bought something since the price was right only to find out that the quality was terrible. To me, it’s just worth spending the money on good quality gear that will last for years, especially when it comes to a travel crib since safety during sleep is so important.

And that’s a wrap!

Those are my absolute favorite options for toddler travel beds if you have a tall toddler. Of course, these would work just fine for shorter little ones, too. But parents of tall toddlers…I feel you when it comes to finding things that fit them. It can get tricky. So, I hope this helped!

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