Need Advice on Travel Bed

I traveled by myself with my daughter when she was 15 months old and brought the stroller, carseat, luggage, diaper bag and pack 'n play and I was ok. We put the pack 'n play in a big canvas bag that I could pull on the ground directly to curbside check-in and then pull off the luggage carousel and drag with me to the car while carrying hte carseat in a backpack, the diaper bag slug across me, and my daughter in the stroller with another bag hanging off the handles with our clothing. It wasn't great, but the pack 'n play is safe and it does travel well. With my husband, we have flown with it 2 other times as well. I'd definitely recommend, if you do have one or can borrow one, not using the bag it comes with but a very large wheeled canvas bag instead.

Good luck and happy traveling!

We have LOVED traveling with our PeaPod Bed ordered from One Step Ahead. It is SO light and is only the size of a steering wheel. It's like a mini-tent and is super easy to set up and pack away. My 5 month old slept in it for 3 weeks on our extended holiday vacation.

Just to ease your anxiety I will reassure you that many, if not all of us have traveled with little ones in tote. It can be cumbersome carrying along a lot of new or extra items which are indeed bulky, however we all make it through the trip, mostly enjoying it, and our babies make it too! Now, if you are staying in a hotel or motel usually they have portacribs for a small added charge. If you are staying elsewhere, you may want to consider a pack and play because they tote along and are easy to carry with you plus they'll put them with luggage if you want as well. I am not familiar with the Phil and Ted's Cot but I will personally comment that many of the inflatable cots and travel beds are not ideal for your concern of SIDS. Why don't you share a bed with your little one. She is only 5 months old and could easily fit on a bed with you. Otherwise, for the least bulky you could simply bring with a bunch of thin blankets and make a bed on the floor. I would not worry too much about SIDS cause it may end up affecting your trip and I'm sure you wouldn't want that. Just enjoy, relax, and have an absolutely wonderful time. Oh, and by the way, the plane ride will be a breeze. They are so easy to fly with when they are so little, just put them to your breast during take off and landing and while nursing she may even fall asleep. Good luck and enjoy!

We recently bought a co-sleeper to use for overnighters since it is smaller and lighter than our pack n' play. It works well for us.

We traveled with our son when he was 4 months old. I don't know about the Phil & Ted's Cot. But we did take our pack and play. It traveled well. We had no problems with it at the airport. We checked it and that was that. For my peace of mind I knew that it was safe rather than using the hotels crib.
Happy Travels.

I think at 5 months you are better with the pack n play then a travel cot. My daughter jsut turned 2 adn all of our family is in Ohio. we bought a travel cot from The Right Start and love it because it is easy to pack away and has carrying strap. My daughter on the otherhand misses the security her crib gives her an has fallen out of it a couple of times. We just had another baby in November and wouldn't imagine putting him in anything but hte pack n play until he is older.

When we traveled with our daughter where we would be staying in a hotel, we always requested a crib from the hotel and never got charged for it.

A.

This travel bed from Target would be perfect for you: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_7/601-###-#...

I am travelling with our 8 month old and I almost just bought that and then she went and learned to crawl and climb out of things, so this bed wouldn't be good for her now. But for a 5 month old it would be ideal.

Depending on how "active" your daughter is at this stage you may want to put her in bed with you, but use one of the "in bed" co-sleepers like the "snugglenest". We used one with my son when we traveled until he was 4-5 months old, but then he got too rolly. Still, it was great until then and packed down into nothing. I wouldn't worry about SIDS much.

Also just a word of warning. Our 9 month son does NOT sleep well in unusual environments (ie anywhere but his our our bedroom). We recently took a trip and were staying in a hotel room (they can provide you with a crib, by the way) and we ended up giving up on having him in the crib after half the first night. He slept in bed with me because he just couldn't settle himself all alone in a strange place. He was back to normal as soon as we got him home, though. You may encounter the same issues with your daughter, so like it or not, she may end up in bed with you. You won't squash her, and she won't die, though - I promise. Just keep the pillows and blankets away from her.