Taking the comforts of your home outdoors doubles the fun and makes camping an enjoyable activity for the whole family. A camping cot isn’t only lush and soft, but it also has multiple benefits. The raised distance lets your children sleep isolated from the cold hard ground.
This is in addition to keeping them away from insects, bugs, warms, and other grass dwellers. If you’re planning a family camping trip, you'll want to bring a comfortable camping along to make sure they get some good sleep. To help you with choosing the right one, here is a list on the best camping cots for kids.
Top 8 Camping Cots for Kids
ARAER Foldable Outdoor Cot for Traveling
The ARAER has more than enough ample space for a kid to sleep soundly. It’s sturdy, comfortable, water-resistant, and on top of all that, it’s a budget-friendly cot. Kids from a young age up to full-grown adolescents can enjoy the luxury of going camping with this sleeping cot.
The headrest is slightly tilted to a 10-15 degree angle, which adds to the comfort of the bed. The smallest cushion will feel incredible with that thoughtful little detail. Also, it’s nice for napping or reclining during the day.
The generous dimensions, together with the sturdy structure, make it an excellent alternative to camping beds. However, it does make the cot heavier. The combined weight of the ARAER is about 16 pounds, which is somewhat heavy if you’re hiking with kids. But it is one of the best options for road trips.
When it’s not used as a cot for kids, you can use the sizeable taut space in a variety of ways. It’s a perfect spot for extra seating, storage, or simply to laze around. It also comes with a useful carry bag.
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Baby Delight Go with Me Bungalow Travel Cot
The Baby delight Bungalow cot is novel in every conceivable way, from the removable canopy to the curved structure of the metal frame. It doesn’t just provide a comfortable place to sleep at night, but it also doubles up as a play area that’s protected from the sun during the day which is something other cots don't offer.
This cute bungalow is a fantastic travel bed for toddlers and young children of around 75 pounds. It has a sleeping space of 50x26 inches, which is quite spacious for babies and toddlers. This portable camping cot is raised about 16 inches from the ground.
The frame is quite sturdy, and it doesn’t only open up to take shape. It also has a locking mechanism that provides added safety for the young ones. When you need to fold it up after the camping trip, it’s designed to collapse in seconds. Packing and unpacking are also super easy.
It has sturdy construction materials that are also highly durable. One of its best features that make it stand out is its UV blocking capabilities. It can ward off around 90 of both UVA and UVB harmful rays. This is definitely a big plus while camping outdoors in the summer or in other sunny weather.
When it’s not used for camping, you can still keep it at home for other purposes since it’s fully portable and compact. So, you can set it up in the kids’ room, living area, or outside in the backyard.
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Coleman Folding Camp Cot and Air Bed
Coleman is one of the biggest names and most trusted brands when it comes to camping gear. They’ve been in the business for almost a century, so when it comes to making top-notch cots, they know what they’re doing.
The best part about camping is exploring during the day and sleeping like a rock at night. And this is only possible with an extra comfortable camping bed like the Coleman. The air mattress is total bliss, and the side tables on both ends are a thoughtful addition that always comes in handy.
It comes in a twin-sized or a larger queen-sized variety, so you can pick the size that provides comfort for your kids. Also, it offers a bit of flexibility regarding the packed weight and portability while hiking. If your kid doesn’t want to use the air mattress, you can remove it and instead use their sleeping bags.
After all the fun, you ideally want to pack up all the gear as easily as possible. The whole cot folds easily into the size of a small tent bag, which is precisely what you need to start the trip back home without too much extra effort. This option by Coleman is definitely up there as one of the best camping cots.
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Regalo My Cot Portable Toddler Bed
If you want a budget-friendly, fully portable, compact cot for your toddler, then you don’t need to look any further than the Regalo bed.
You can set this toddler bed up in seconds. You have it ready for playing, napping, and of course, sleeping in an instant. The cot has a strong steel frame that’s fitted with a sturdy sheet for convenience. You might want to add a sleeping mat and a little cushion for added comfort.
This tent cot can also be used in picnics, sleepovers, and as a standby bed in preschools. It’s quite versatile, and at its low cost, it’s quite a catch.
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ARAER Heavy Duty Cot for Traveling
The ARAER heavy-duty cot is easily one of the best cots you can get if you’re car camping with the family. It’s a bit large and heavy, but that shouldn’t be a problem on a car ride. And once you reach your destination and set it up, the comfort and extra space are worthwhile.
The camping bed’s large surface measures 75x26 inches, and it has a height of 14 inches from the ground. It folds into three segments, and in its collapsed state, you can fit it into a small carry bag similar in size to a tent’s bag. While it's not small enough to attach it to a kids hiking backpack, you can attach it to a larger bag.
There are several ways you can make good use of the space this cot provides. Your child would only take up a small portion of that cot so that you can use the extra room for storage or additional seating.
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Joovy Foocot Child Travel Cot
This lightweight, foldable, and snug cot comes at a great price. The Joovy Foocot is suitable for toddlers and young children. It has a weight capacity that fits a 75-pound child, and its 48x 25-inch surface is sufficient for the little ones’ comfort.
The solid, innovative frame gives strength without adding extra pounds unnecessarily, so if you’re hiking short distances (don't forget shoes) on your camping trip, you can bring this cot along. The cover is a durable fabric that's made from nylon, offering warmth and longevity.
If you have two or more campers, you might want to get each one a different color. That’s possible as the Joovy cots come in pink, orange, green, and blueberry tones.
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Regalo My Cot Extra Long Portable Bed
The Regalo Extra Long cot is, just as the name implies, designed for tall children. The sleeping surface area is 54x28 inches, which accommodates kids ages 2-8. It’s designed to hold a total weight of more than 80 pounds, suitable for most young campers in that age range.
This portable cot takes seconds to put up, and your kids can use it right away. YouFor extra comfort, you might want to add a few more bedding pieces, like a pillow or a sleeping mat for extra comfort. However, this cot is still nice and pleasant as it is.
When you’re all done camping, you don’t need to dread packing it up. The cot folds in seconds, and it collapses into a 9x8x28 inch manageable size.
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OSAGE RIVER Standard Folding Camping Cot
The OSAGE RIVER cot is wide, convenient, offers extended longevity, and best of all, it’s fully portable. It has a sturdy frame and a bigger than average sleeping surface, but what keeps it extra light is the brilliant design of its components.
The carbon steel frame doesn’t weigh much, but it has a superb weight capacity reaching about 300 pounds. It’s extra-long, measuring a whopping 75x28 inches. It’s raised approximately 18 inches from the ground, which keeps your kids well away from the cold ground.
This lightweight camping cot is sized for adults, but it can be used for children and teens just as well. It’s a great option if you’re car camping, and a small packed size isn’t a top priority.
The camping cot has an elevated headrest, so it’s perfect for reclining or even sleeping without a pillow. This makes life easier if you want to pack a limited amount of items.
The covering is made from heavy-duty 600 D polyester fabric that’s further coated with PVC to enhance its properties. It’s soft to the touch, easy to sleep on, and it’s constructed to last for years and avoid wear and tear.
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What Is a Camping Cot?
A camping cot is a foldable raised bed often used as an alternative to sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and air mattresses. It’s among the best options to get a good night’s sleep in the great outdoors, as it’s the closest thing to an actual bed. This makes it an ideal sleeping solution for kids who tend to be pickier about how and where they sleep.
What Are the Benefits of Camping Cots?
Camping cots have a bunch of perks, and on top of that list is comfort. Having a cozy bed while camping outdoors and enjoying nature is the perfect combo. Here are some of the top benefits:
- Being away from the hard ground reduces the day after aches.
- The few inches off the cold ground lessen the need for heat insulation.
- A raised bed keeps a person far from all sorts of grass dwellers like insects, warms, and other creepy crawlers.
- On a rainy night, it’s best to stay a few inches off the forming puddles.
- A raised cot is easier to get into and out of than a sleeping bag.
Camping Cot Buying Guide
There are plenty of camping cots out there that come in various colors, shapes, and sizes, whether for kids or adults. To make the selection process straightforward, here are a few tips you can use as a checklist.
- Choose a cot that matches your kids’ ages, and sizes are of paramount importance. But bear in mind that children grow quickly, so you might want to consider one that can last a couple of years.
- Comfortable, sturdy cots are often heavy. This is a tradeoff that most seasoned campers know, and thus you should pick your gear accordingly.
- If you’re traveling by car, then the weight and packed size of the cot might not matter that much. You can go for a large cot with a full-metal frame and reliable locking mechanism.
- On the other hand, if you plan to hike or trek, look for a small cot with a carbon fiber frame. This should be a lightweight camping cot that comes in a compact, packable size.
- Camping gear gets dirty, and this is unavoidable. Look for heavy-duty fabric that’s water-resistant and easy to clean. If you’re camping in harsh rainy weather, there is a good chance you’ll get it wet, so don’t brush this aside.
- Setting up and packing the cot should be as easy as possible. Luckily, there are many options that take minutes for assembly or disassembly. They’re much easier to set up than camping tents (even kid play tents) but often a little bit more complicated than sleeping bags. You might also want one that comes with its own carry bag.
- Price and warranty are always determining factors when it comes to purchasing certain camping gear. Generally speaking, you can get a good-quality travel cot without paying a premium for one. Similarly, most quality cots will have a strong warranty if the company believes in their product.
Camping doesn’t have to be a test of endurance, and people rarely need to rough it up nowadays. A camping cot is among the small luxuries that add a lot of comfort to the outdoors. Getting one for your kid is worthwhile.
Martin has been in the summer camp industry for 7 years now. He has worked in different roles for camps, including as a marketing director for summer camps in the United States. Martin enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities but likes hiking and kayaking the most. He’s also a huge fan of traveling.