Don't lose sleep trying to decide which Toddler Travel Bed is right for your child. It used to be when parents took their kids overnight to grandmas that grandma and grandpa had a second-hand crib that the toddler could sleep in. Or when traveling on vacation parents would rely on some crummy old crib setup by the hotel.

Safety and comfort is number 1 at all times when it comes to your child - and even more so when travelling with you son or daughter. Have you ever had that one night when your child cries all night - and you just know it is a result of them sleeping in an uncomfortable bed? How about getting to a hotel room and you see the crib they have set up for your son or daughter - and there is absolutely no way that you will be placing them in there to sleep - not clean - not safe - and so on. You may be ready for a toddler travel bed. There are many good quality beds to choose from - but how do you decide on the one that is the best option for your family. Read our 7 tips to help clarify your decision.

1. Look for a bed that is light to carry. When on the go with your child there is always lots of gear to take along. A lightweight travel bed helps to make it easier when on the go. Stay away from the heavy monsters - get a bed that weighs less than three kg. (that's under six pounds).

2. Easy to carry and load into your car. The bed you select should have its own travel case and when packed away it should be no larger than 24x8x8(in.) or 60x20x20(cm.). No matter where your travels with your child take you - on a plane on a cruise ship or to grandpa's house you have to carry all the gear and it all has to fit into tight spaces - like your car trunk or as checked baggage on a plane. A small, compact bed will help with this.

3. No hassle set up and put away process. Speed and simplicity are the keys when setting up or putting away your toddler travel bed. You arrive at your destination - your child is tired - you don't want to struggle to get the bed set up. You want a bed that one person can handle on their own for set up and for putting it away in its travel pack. The bed you get for your child should be easily set up in less than one minute or so, and it should be put away in a similar amount of time.

4. Able to reach your child with ease. It's midnight and your child is awake. You want to be able to easily put them back to sleep by patting their back or you want to pick them up. You want to easily and effortlessly get to your child. Look for a bed that has a side panel that zips down so that the panel can be lowered allowing you to reach for your son or daughter.

5. Mesh panels for good air flow. When travelling the room your child may be sleeping in may be stuffy. Choosing a bed with mesh panels on the side will maximize the amount of air circulating past your child helping to keep your son or daughter comfortable during their sleep-time.

6. Light and comfortable mattress. The mattress in a toddler travel bed can sometimes be heavier than the bed frame itself. Look for a travel bed that comes with a foam mattress - it will be both comfortable for your child and lightweight to carry.

7. Warranties. Think of the purchase of a toddler travel bed as an investment in your family's peace, happiness and safety. Make sure that the bed you purchase will be used for many years. Bed manufacturers of well built beds will provide a life time guarantee - make sure that your bed has this kind of guarantee. In addition, the retailer that you buy from is important as well. If you get the bed home and it is not what you expected - will the retailer take it back - with no arguments or difficulties?

There are lots of essential pieces of baby gear that make life better and easier for families. We consider a toddler travel bed to be essential to our family - and maybe you feel the same way for your family. When the time is right for you to look for a bed for your toddler child use these tips to help to make the right decision for you.