Inflatable Mattresses for Kids
Whether they're having playmates by the house for a sleepover or going to visit the grandparents in a condo, most kids love sleeping on inflatable mattresses, or air beds. Portable and easily inflatable, these beds are also a boon for working mothers who want to provide a cozy, familiar napping spot for their child at day care. Does this Spark an idea?
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Construction
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Made of heavy-duty polyvinyl chloride (PVC), some inflatable mattresses come in a size for toddlers above age 2 and a larger model for older children over 100 pounds. The recessed sleeping surface, surrounded by a raised safety bumper, often has a channel to accommodate a fitted sheet and for tucking in top covers. The average toddler bed with raised safety bumper is 36 by 60 inches with a recessed sleeping surface that measures 25 by 50 inches. Air beds are also useful under standard sleeping bags for added comfort.
Setup
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Removed from the carrying bag and unrolled, the inflatable beds inflate in about 60 seconds with an included air pump that plugs into a handy outlet. Some operate on rechargeable batteries, great for camping trips. The beds deflate in about 15 seconds and rolls up to be bagged for travel or easy storage when not in use.
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Cost
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The beds can cost from about $29 dollars for a simple flat mattress up to $89 and more for one with a recessed sleeping area with mattress edges and surrounding raised safety bumper. The cost will vary according to the manufacturer and can rapidly reach hundreds of dollars with accessories. These include pillows, mattress covers, sheets, fleece blankets, back-pack carriers and duffle totes on wheels.
Warning
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According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, inflatable beds aren't recommended for infants under 8 months old. The sleeping surface on an inflatable bed is softer than a firm crib mattress with a snugly fitted bottom sheet and poses a danger of suffocation.
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