Gone are the days where your toddler needs to struggle to fit on an economy seat to sleep during a flight. There are many options available to parents to help create a larger space for your toddler to play and sleep, making long haul flights with a toddler more bearable.
There are two types of sleep devices for flying with toddlers that are worth considering. One is an inflatable airplane bed and the other is the JetKids BedBox.
We’ll touch on what the differences are between them in the post and why you should consider one for your next flight. Keep in mind that not all airlines allow the Stokke BedBox or similar devices that turn a regular economy seat into a bed for toddlers. It’s best to do your research before you bring it along on your trip.
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Why Get a JetKids BedBox
When our son was only one year old, we planned a trip from Santiago de Chile (our home) to New York, in the US. It was going to be our first big trip with a toddler and we wanted everything to go smoothly.
For toddler travel essentials, we planned to bring a small travel stroller and our toddler carrier (that we used on a daily basis). Our biggest concern was the flight and how our toddler would sleep on a long flight.
After some research, we were excited to learn about the Jet Kids BedBox for plane travel with toddlers.
What is the Stokke JetKids BedBox?
Simply, Stokke Bedbox is a beautifully designed ride-on suitcase for children, that turns any economy seat into a bed.
Here are the best features of the JetKids BedBox by Stokke:
- Your little one can ride or pull the BedBox suitcase through the airport terminal. This adds a levels of fun when navigating the airport with a toddler. Plus, it makes it easier and faster for you!
- There is ample storage space for your toddlers things. Rather than carry your toddler travel toys and airplane activities in your own diaper backpack bag, you can pack it all in the Stokke JetKids suitcase. There’s storage capacity for books, toys, crayons and snacks.
- The suitcase is top opening, meaning things won’t fall out. This extendable lid elongates the seat to create an in flight bed for toddlers and kids.
(Continue reading for all the specific dimensions and details of this JetKids by Stokke BedBox)
What You’ll Get With the JetKids BedBox by Stokke
When you purchase the JetKids BedBox, you’ll get everything you need to use it as a ride on suitcase and seat extender for your child’s seat.
What you’ll find in the JetKids box:
- a mattress and soft side panels, creating a very comfortable space on the airplane for your child;
- an adjustable strap for carrying or pulling the BedBox;
- stickers, so your little one can personalize his suitcase.
Who Can Use the JetKids BedBox?
As per Stokke, the ride-on suitcase is for children 3-7 years old The bed feature is best suited toddlers and children who are over 2 years old.
Your child would need to have their own seat to use the BedBox.
If you have a larger child, the weight limit of the BedBox is 35 kg / 77 lbs.
Children under 3 years old should not ride on suitcase. If you want your kid to ride it, he should know how to sit on his own and and grab the top handle.
From a personal standpoint, we have used it since our eldest was one. Just know that while this not recommended it did work for our family. We didn’t use it as a ride-on suitcase until he was old enough, but all the other features were ok when we had purchased an airplane seat for our baby.
How to Use the BedBox by Stokke
How do you turn your Bedbox into a bed on the airplane? It is very simple!
The adjustable strap is ideal for parents to carry the BedBox onto the airplane and put it into the overhead bin until the plane has reached cruising altitude.
Once the seat belt sign goes off, it’s 5 easy steps to get your BedBox in place.
- Place the BedBox in front of the economy seat on the floor and unclip the lid.
- Turn the lid upside down to create the platform.
- Use the extendable tray to overlap on the seat and close the gap between the airplane seat and the back of the seat in front.
- Place the mattress and side panels for a more comfortable ride.
- Let your toddler enjoy their extended space!
The added bonus is that the JetKids BedBox doesn’t interfere with the plane’s seat belt.
Our Experience Using the JetKids BedBox
As we previously mentioned, we purchased our Stokke BedBox for a long flight to New York. It was such a big hit on that flight!
As we continued to use the JetKids BedBox with our son, it became part of the overall travel experience for him. It was an element that was present throughout our trip, starting the moment our son was packing his books, coloring pencils, and other small toys in his BedBox.
It made everything easier at the airport, from moving around to playing in those “waiting moments” and especially getting our toddler to sleep on the plane.
Even when he was awake and sitting in his seat, the added space for his legs to rest and to play with his toys (without them all falling on the floor) was such an added benefit.
Ever since that first trip, we have used our BedBox every time we have a long flight where we want our children to sleep.
We are now a family of four, my eldest is almost 4 years old and my youngest is 1 and a half years old, and they love our Bedbox.
They ride it together, or take turns to pull each other, and it’s always lots of fun. It makes everything easier for us as well, because it allows us to move faster through the airport and is a great way of taking the kids stuff in a single and organized compartment.
And once we get to our destination, is very easy to store in a closet, using very little space (it measures 46x20x 36 cm).
JetKids BedBox Alternatives
When looking for alternatives to the JetKids BedBox, I could only find two suitable alternatives.
While both options were cheaper, only one of the main features of the JetKids BedBox was covered by each one.
The two best alternatives to the BedBox that we considered was an inflatable travel foot-rest pillow and a Trunki suitcase to carry children around.
While admittedly I haven’t used either of them, here’s are a few differences to consider:
- The closest inflatable travel bed to the JetKids Bed Box is the Flyaway Designs Kids Bed. The Flyaway Designs inflatable cushion covers both the airplane seat and the area between the two seats to create a bed.
While the set up for the Flyaway Designs Kids Bed is similar, this was something we’d need to carry in our own carry-on, in addition to all our toddler airplane activities.
Set up for the inflatable travel pillow is quick, but it also requires having a pump. - The Trunki ride-on suitcase is similar to the JetKids BedBox, in that kids can ride or pull it through the airport and it can carry all their travel toys.
It is made of easy to clean hard plastic and recommended for kids between 3 and 6 years old. The issue was that it doesn’t convert into an airplane bed. It’s solely for carrying toddler travel gear and for kids to ride on it.
Pros of the Stokke BedBox
Here’s what we loved best about the Stokke BedBox and what helped us make our final decision:
- The BedBox is not only for the plane, but also tremendously useful throughout the journey. Kids can personalize it with the included stickers and it also helps to get them involved in the packing.
- The BedBox for plane travel is so well designed that pulling it around the airport really feels effortless. The material is very durable, both the suitcase and the wheels, and you can tell in each step you take. It can take up to 35 kg (77 lbs) of weight.
- The JetKids BedBox is the only option that works for both a ride-on suitcase and an airplane bed.
- While the Flyaway Designs Kid Bed or other inflatable airplane cushions are great for getting toddlers to sleep on airplanes, you need room in your carry-on for the cushion PLUS all our toddlers essentials. The BedBox allowed us to organize our toddlers things in one space. Having everything more organized is an easier and more relaxed way of traveling.
- The BedBox comes in colors (blue sky, pink lemonade, green aurora, and more) that can also help your child get excited about it!
Cons of the JetKids BedBox
If there is one downside to the BedBox by Stokke it’s the price. This definitely isn’t a cheap option for an airplane travel bed and it more expensive than any of the other alternatives. The price of the JetKids BedBox is $199 USD and if you want the bundle which includes the expandable Crew Backpack then it’s $249 USD.
One important thing to consider is how frequently you use it. The more you use it, the more the per use cost goes down!
For us it has been totally worth it, considering how much we use it, and how easy it has made traveling for us. More rested parents and kids equals a better time for everyone! Yes, it is expensive, but it’s a well-made, high quality product that you should get a ton of use out of.
The only other negative is that if your kids get bored of riding it or don’t want to pull it, then the parents are stuck with one more thing to carry!
Is the Stokke JetKids BedBox Worth It?
For us the JetKids Bed Box was definitely worth it. I would recommend it if you find yourself in a similar situation:
- Your child is older than one, can sit by himself and knows how to grab the handle (if not, he won’t be able to use all the features of the suitcase until he’s older).
- Your child has his own seat in the airplane and will be sleeping through the flight.
- You won’t be carrying your toddler travel stroller around the airport, but checking it with the rest of your luggage.
- You plan on travelling with your kids several times, so you will get a lot of use out of it.
For us, using the Bedbox has meant a more comfortable and stress-free flight for the kids and the adults, that made our purchase a good investment. And it will be for you if you plan on traveling with children regularly!
I don’t recommend it if:
If you are flying with a baby under one. You can either fly with your baby as a lap infant, look into an airplane bassinet or purchase an extra seat and use your travel car seat.
If your toddler is under 2 years old and you won’t be purchasing his own seat. In this case, you’d be using it only for transportation around the terminal and it’s easier just to use your airplane travel stroller.
You are not going to use it regularly. It’s an expensive purchase if you won’t be using it frequently.
Final Tip: If you want your Bedbox to last, I would recommend only using it in flat even floors (such as the airport floors), avoiding putting liquids inside of it, and not over filling it. And of course, never allowing children to use it unsupervised.
JetKids Bed Box Specifics
Here are some of the specific details about the JetKids BedBox:
- Meets carry-on size requirements with dimensions of 18.1 x 7.9 x 14.2 (LxWxH)
- Interior capacity is 23 L.
- Ride-on suitcase is for children 3-7 years old. Only children over 2 years old should use the bed feature.
- Weight limit of the BedBox is up to 35 kg / 77 lbs.
- The weight of the BedBox suitcase is 3 kg/6.6lbs.
- Swivel front wheels make it easy to maneuver.
- The included adjustable strap can be use for parents to carry it over their shoulder or for kids to pull.
- There’s a handle for children to hold on to when riding the BedBox.
- Top opening ensures items don’t fall out.
- 2 Year Limited Warranty
Which Airlines is the JetKids Bed Box Approved On
JetKids has a list of airlines that allow the BedBox. They claim that is has been approved on over 50 airlines. You can see some examples like Cathy Pacific who have officially approved the use of children sleeping devices on planes.
The list you’ll find on the Stokke website is a mix of airlines that have officially approved the JetKids BedBox (in bold) and airlines where people have been successful in using it as a toddler airplane bed on a flight.
Tips for Successfully Using the BedBox
Many people, including us at Baby Can Travel, have had success using toddler airplane beds on flights. Here is the best advice we have for getting to successfully use one of these toddler sleep devices on planes:
- Use may be up to the discretion of the flight crew, even if you are on a bedbox “approved airline”.
- If you’ve called your airline and they’ve told you that all airplane beds for kids are not allowed, that may not be the case. It’s possible that the use of one of these plane beds for kids is up to the discretion of the flight crew.
- You risk purchasing it and not using it, but there will be future flights! The JetKids BedBox has a recommended age of 3 to 7 years old, so you’ll have plenty of time to get use out of it.
- Don’t try using a toddler airplane travel bed during takeoff or landing.
- We recommend waiting until the meal has been cleared and everyone is settling into their flight. This is the best time to discreetly set up the JetKids in flight bed without any disruption to your fellow passengers or the flight crew.
- Don’t use it if it’s not allowed.
- If you are told you can’t use the toddler airplane bed, please be respectful to the flight crew, apologize and remove it.
- Follow all rules about toddler airplane beds and which seats you can use them in. Typically only window seats or the middle seat in a plane that has a middle section of seats.
- Use a seat belt when using the JetKids BedBox. Seat belts will still work whether your toddler is sitting up or sleeping.
- Always put the seat belt on your child, whether they are sleeping or just sitting on the BedBox.
- If my child seems uncomfortable with the seat belt as he’s getting his wiggles out before he falls asleep, I’ll put it on immediately after he falls asleep. I usually take the time to get the seat belt ready before he falls asleep.
- If you know you will be getting plenty of use out of the ride-on suitcase with your children, and your kids are old enough to ride it safely, then I totally recommend this suitcase. Traveling with kids is not only possible and fun, but it can also be very smooth!
- Always position your toddler so his head is opposite the seat tray (on his own seat with his legs over the JetKids BedBox suitcase). This will ensure he isn’t hit by a reclining seat and you can use the seat belt easily.
Where to Buy JetKids by Stokke BedBox
There are several places you can buy the JetKids BedBox. One of the easiest places to shop is Amazon, where you’ll find both the BedBox or the BedBox Bundle.
Other places you can buy the JetKids BedBox are Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.
JetKids BedBox by Stokke – FAQs
What age is BedBox for?
The BedBox is intended to be used by children aged 3 to 7 years old.
Do all airlines allow JetKids?
No, not all airlines allow the JetKids BedBox by Stokke. Some airlines have officially approved the use of the BedBox on flights. You can find a list of the approved airlines on the JetKids website.
Is BedBox allowed on planes?
While there is no issue using the BedBox for carry-on, using it as a seat extender is not permitted on all flights. Some airlines don’t allow it, while other have approved it’s use.
Can you use BedBox on British Airways?
Unfortunately, British Airways does not allow the JetKids BedBox. They state that “Seat extenders (including suitcases that convert into a leg rest or bed) are not permitted for use onboard”. Inflatable footrests are also not permitted for use onboard.
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