Customer Reviews

KidCo PeaPod Plus with Self-Inflating Mattress

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First let me say that I am not the type to buy lots of gear for kids. I have four kids, including one set of twins, and we try to keep all the stuff to a minimum.

In December we were travelling to a remote area of Chile with all four kids and needed a travel bed for our 1 year old twins that was easy to carry in our luggage. The Peapod beds were WITHOUT QUESTION a major lifesaver. Key advantages:

1) Very light, easy to pack, easy to set up and take down. I've seen complaints about not being able to fold it... it's really not that hard. Just think of having to create four rings that eventually slide one-on-top of the other. The online directions are helpful.

2) Kids were perfectly happy sleeping inside. I got them used to the idea by putting the tents in their cribs during naps for the week before our trip.

3) They could not get out and did not tip the tent over as other parents complained about. An older child with better dexterity could definitely open zipper from inside, but ours couldn't figure it out.

4) Self-inflating mattress plus pad was perfect. I would recommend a bassinet sheet to hold it all in place as the pad doesn't stay put very well.

5) We used the peapods to take the babies to dinner parties and put them to sleep at other people's houses. They were asleep in minutes and perfectly happy in their sleepaway pods.

6) We also used the Peapods as playpens in the airports. I didn't want the babies crawling around on the ground so we set up one tent and put lots of toys inside. They played for an hour in there, completely delighted. Other travelers thought we had a dog in there or something... but the babies loved it.

One downside:

I would not use the Peapod in a hot climate as the inside temperature is a few degrees hotter than outside due to body heat. We were in a cool climate so that didn't matter... but it would be very stuffy in there if the ambient temp were above the 70s. The mesh that is used on the product is meant to keep out bugs... but because the mesh weave is so tight, it does not let in air. This is a big bummer because when we used it in warmer weather, I did worry alot about how stuffy it was getting in there. I ended up pointing a fan right at the tents to make sure they were getting good air flow.

I purchased the Phil and Ted's travel bed and this travel bed for my 16 month old twins. Both have a self-inflating matress. The Phil and Ted's travel bed was twice the price, but it more closely resembles a crib with an opening at the top whereas the PeaPod resembles a small, but very cool, tent for toddlers/children. I liked the Pea Pod travel bed just as much as the more expensive travel bed for my sixteen month old twins. I set up the travel tent/bed in our home and let her play in it and sleep in it for two non-consecutive nights prior to using it on an overnight trip (and to let it air out a bit since some said that it needed to be aired out). She was apprehensive to use it the first couple of times at home overnight, but by the time we were traveling she had no issue sleeping in it. Although it comes with a comforter/sleeping bag I did not use this, and I used a mattress pad and sheets from her crib tucked in tightly hoping that the smell from our home would bring my child some comfort as well. I bought a second PeaPod as a gift for another nephew because I think it is a really practical, useful product for those that need to stay away from home overnight. Also, the weight and size are ridiculously more manageable(sorry, but much, much better than my pack and play). And after a couple of practice tries and looking at instructions, I figured out how to fold it up quickly after each use. The Phil and Ted's travel bed seemed very sturdy (even though a leg broke during my first overnight use) but took a lot more time to put together and dismantle because there are more parts. The PeaPod was a great purchase for a mom of (tall) twins that were outgrowing the traditional pack and plays and who wanted something easy to carry for overnight excursions. Good luck in your decision making!!!

Update: I did not put the mattress in the sleeve of Phil & Teds travel bed as instructed. I just put it inside, and used a matress pad and crib sheets from their regular crib. This worked well... Please note - This would not be an alternative for babies under 1 year. After using both types of beds for several different vacations, either one will work, but the P&T more closely resembles a smaller, more portable version of a real crib. It is more difficult to put together but it is made to be extremely sturdy. It is also more expensive, but my kids had an easier time adapting to it when we were away from home. If money is a concern, the peapod is an excellent option(use your matress pad and crib sheets from your home), but you need to spend some extra time convincing your kids that it is a great tent to sleep in.

I bought this for my 16 month old grandson to use while here for Christmas. My daughter had suggested a Pack and Play but

after reading up on the versatility of the PeaPod, I decided to try it instead. I could get a Pack n Play later if the PeaPod didn't work out.

My daughter and a neighbor who has 3 grandkids were skeptical at first.

I cannot say enough good things about the PeaPod. My grandson took to it immediately. He even liked laying around in it for a while after he awoke. Being in a different place didn't matter because he was still in his own space inside the PeaPod. The PeaPod is lightweight, easy to set up, and easy to move around. I love the self inflating mattress.

The blue-camo color makes the inside of the tent look peaceful and calm. My daughter ended up liking the pea pod so much that she took

it with her and I will have to get another one for next visit.

Everyone kept telling me to get a pack-n-play...but I couldn't see myself paying more for something so heavy. So, I purchased this. I LOVE IT! My son who is now 5 months old loves staring at the tent while he's playing inside. It gives him plenty of room to roll around, and he slept through the night while we were on vacation for 2 weeks...every night! I recently also used it while I was working in the yard for him to play in. The breeze went through the netted parts just enough to keep him cool and it kept the bugs away. Folding is so easy once you know how and carrying it through the airport, rental cars, and hotels it was the perfect weight and size. Definitely wash the blanket that comes inside before using, it has a very "factory" type smell. The mattress is thin, but just enough padding for comfort, and I'm glad I got the bigger version of this, it will last longer. But no complaints here! No need for a huge, heavy play pen anymore. :) And I know he'll use it for years to come.

Updates: My son is now 20 months and I can't tell you how amazing this tent STILL is! He jumps inside and plays with his toys while I do yard work. The breeze easily goes through the tents screened sides, and no bugs get in or depris. His new favorite thing to do is hide and this tent is perfect. Great size for any room in our house and outside it gives him a safe and convenient place. Plus, it's still so easy to set up, fold up, put away, and carry! I think I may get a pink one for my daughter. :-)

We bought this when our son outgrew the pack and play and we had to travel. Fortunately, I opened it a few days before travel and aired the tent out because it has an extremely strong chemical/plastic smell (which did go away after putting it in the sun for a couple of hours), and washed the sleeping mat because it smelled very strong of chemicals too (it smelled fine after washing).

The peapod plus is easy to pack, easy to set up and easy to fold after a few tries. My son didn't mind sleeping in it, except that he was hot. We ended up having him sleep in only a pair of shorts and his diaper and that helped. My only real complaints were the initial odor and that it gets extremely hot inside. We took care of the hot problem by putting a fan in the room and opening all the flaps (which then let light in but he was cooler), but if we had been in a hotel that would not have been an option. Wish they made this tent in a canvas fabric that wouldn't be so hot.

My 2 1/2 year old twin grandsons know how to climb out of their cribs. We solved that problem with crib tents, which were a sanity-saver. But when it came to travel, it seemed that taking the crib tents off the cribs and transporting the lot would be a hassle and take up lots of space. We ordered two Peapod Pluses instead. They were compact, easy to set up and take down, and the twins slept well in them. I think the fact that the zip-in design was like the crib tents made it easy for them to transfer from one to the other; They didn't object at all. One difference in design from the crib tents is that the Peapod has a zipper pull on the inside as well as the outside of the tent. Fortunately, our twins didn't discover this and let themselves out. If it becomes a problem in the future, we will figure out a way to deal with it. Our daughter and son-in-law, the twins' parents, are thrilled with this product. The service and price from Traveling with Kids were very good. The self-inflating mattress was quick and easy to use - like a Thermarest. Fabulous Product!

Laura

Seems well made. I have no problem folding it up, but I'm not surprised that some find it confusing to twist and fold.

My son likes the idea, and has slept ok in it when we are away a few times, but it gets really hot if you don't keep all the flaps open. Only the screen on one side unzips. The side that unzips everything, also unzips from the outside... I had this idea that it would be like a crib and keep him confined, but he immediately figured out how to unzip it! ( at 2.5 years old).

The blanket that comes with it seems useless, but I didn't buy it for the blanket. I haven't used a crib sheet on it and put the mattress in the inside, but I will next time. The camo pattern comes with a SELF inflating mattress- like expensive camping pads, but the yellow one comes with an inflate by mouth only valve ( I returned this one 1st... but I was bummed because I wanted a non gendered and non military color) ...so be warned you have to read the descriptions of the exact color and size you want to buy carefully because at least the mattress is very different on different models. I really like the self inflating mattress.

So far I'm glad we bought it, and will use it this summer on the beach with my new baby.

I bought this tent for my 1-yr old son for a trip to Sedona, Az. I set it up in our house before the trip to get him use to it. East to get up and down (watch the video online for demonstration on how to close). On the trip we used it every night. The mattress was a little thinner than I would have liked. Also, it came with a sleep mat (not a sleeping bag). The first night my son woke up sopping wet from sweat (I think from all the plastic). The next day I took the air mattress out from the bottom, put the sleep mat (fabric side up) and covered it with one of our crib mattress sheets (which I brought from home). After that he slept like a baby. Be careful zippering it, the sound sometimes woke him up. It was a little bigger than I would like (took up half of my suitcase) but since we didn't have to lug a pack-n-play through the airport can't really complain. We're back home now and have it set up in our family room. My son loves to crawl in it to play hide-n-go-seek. All-in-all we love the tent even though there were a minor flaws, nothing we can't handle.

This product is easily the best thing we have purchased. Since my husband is required to travel a lot, we purchased the PeaPod so our infant son would have a place to sleep in hotel rooms and things of that sort. It assembles and breaks down in seconds. We have used it in airports, hotels, in-laws, and just about everywhere else. It was a little bigger than expected since my four year old on fits in it with ease, but that is definitely not a bad thing. Overall a great product.

Came to us really fast. Works great at the beach. My daughter loves to look at the patterns. Easy to set up and put away.