Everything changes in your baby’s sleep environment when you travel, whether it’s sharing a hotel room, or simply a lack of blackout curtains in an Airbnb, there are just too many things that affect our baby’s sleep. I’ve learned through experience that there are many great products, like the SlumberPod, which can help replicate your baby’s at-home sleep experience.
For some families, the SlumberPod might not be the right fit, which is why I have made this list of SlumberPod alternatives.
What is a SlumberPod?
So what is a SlumberPod and why look for alternatives? A SlumberPod is an opaque cover that envelopes your baby’s crib, completely blocking out external daylight and gives your child privacy. This in turn helps in getting baby to sleep on vacation. I like the SlumberPod so much, I’ve included it in my list of essential infant travel sleep solutions.
If the SlumberPod is so great, why did I write an article on the best SlumberPod alternatives? The only problem with the SlumberPod is how expensive they can be, especially if you don’t plan on traveling with your baby frequently! But worry not, because that’s where my handy list of SlumberPod alternatives comes in.
When sharing a room with a baby or toddler share on trips, SlumberPod is still the gold standard for creating a truly dark sleep space over a Pack n Play or mini crib.
I like that the SlumberPod 3.0 version includes multiple ventilation panels, a monitor pouch, and optional fan pockets, which helps with comfort in a well-ventilated indoor room. It’s designed to reduce light by 95 percent or more and fits most play yards and compact travel cribs.
For additional information, don't miss my complete SlumberPod review.
- Creates the darkest sleep nook in shared rooms
- Fits over most playards and mini cribs
- Packs small and sets up fast
- Optional fan pockets and monitor window
- Premium price
- Indoor, ventilated use only
This post contains compensated links.
Only use these crib tents and blackout canopies as the manufacturer intended. Be sure to read any specifics on where and how it can be used (i.e. only indoors in a climate controlled room).
Best SlumberPod Alternatives
Here are the best alternatives to the SlumberPod. While I still think the SlumberPod is the best option to create a dark sleep environment for your child, I understand that it might not be the right travel sleep solution for everyone.
If you prefer a lighter, mesh-based cover, SnoozeShade is the one I recommend. It uses scientifically tested air-permeable fabric and is designed to block about 94 percent of light rather than full blackout, which can be a great balance for naps in bright rooms or daycares.
The bottomless design of the SnoozeShade fits standard rectangular playards and travel cribs and packs down smaller than a tented pod.
- Air-permeable mesh fabric
- About 94 percent light reduction
- Compact and lightweight
- Zippered panels to adjust light
- Not a full blackout like SlumberPod
For a low-cost SlumberPod alternative, this stretchy mesh cover dims the sleep space nicely without sealing it off. It ties at the corners of a standard Pack n Play or travel crib, and the top and side panels unzip so you can partially open for airflow or quick checks.
It does not create a pitch-black environment, but it’s lightweight and travels well. I still set expectations that this is for dimming, not full blackout.
- Very affordable
- Lightweight and easy to pack
- Top and side panels open for checks
- Compatible with most playards
- Not fully blackout
- Fabric and stitching feel basic
This stretchy cover is a straightforward SlumberPod alternative. It’s designed for standard rectangular playards with zip panels to adjust light and access. Expect a dimmer, calmer sleep space rather than full blackout.
- Affordable and simple to use
- Zip panels to adjust light
- Fits standard playards
- Packs down small
- Only partial darkening
A newer canopy-style cover that’s compatible with standard Pack n Plays, with corner ties for a more secure fit and a design that emphasizes breathability while darkening the sleep area.
- Easy fit
- Darkens well without full blackout
- Corner ties help keep it in place
- Good price-to-value
- Not brand-established like SlumberPod
- Quality can vary between batches
If you already own the Guava Lotus Travel Crib, the FunShade is a purpose-built accessory that shades the top, adds UPF 50 outdoors, and slightly darkens the sleep space. It is not a full blackout solution and it only fits the Lotus. I recommend this for families who want a lighter shade for naps in bright areas or outside.
- Designed specifically for Lotus
- UPF 50 for outdoor use
- Packs small
- Simple to attach
- Not universal fit
- Only partial dimming
Instead of covering the crib, you can darken the entire room. I pack a portable blackout curtain when we stay in rentals or hotel rooms with thin drapes.
Sleepout’s curtain uses premium blackout fabric with safety certifications and strong suction cups, so it’s easy to put up and remove without tools. It’s also helpful for siblings sharing a room where a pod or cover isn’t ideal.
- Darkens the whole room
- Tool-free setup with suction cups
- Certified blackout fabric
- Works for any sleep setup
- Another item to pack
- Windows with heavy texture may need extra prep
What to Look For in a SlumberPod Alternative
Whether you call it a sleep tent, a blackout canopy, or something else, this baby travel essential comes in many forms. Your mode of travel, holiday destination, as well as your baby’s sleep habits and overall temperament, will determine which baby sleeping tent is ideal for you. To make this process easier, here are certain parameters to look for before buying a SlumberPod alternative.
If a crib canopy isn’t for you, consider blackout curtains for travel. If this sounds good to you, I personally like the Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain.
Safety
It is paramount to make sure that anything that comes in direct contact with your child is safe and secure. Make sure that the fabric of your crib tent is made from good, durable, and especially breathable materials. This will ensure that the tent does not overheat and prevent serious mishaps like suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) from taking place.
Universal Fit
When it comes to a baby canopy tent, size does matter. If the tent is too small, your child will probably reach out and move the tent around. This can cause accidents. On the other hand, if the tent is too big, it might create folds and crevices which can prove dangerous.
Another important factor in fit is that it will fit different travel cribs and even toddler travel beds. The real benefit of the SlumberPod is that it can also work over toddler travel beds, ensuring the longevity of use. This makes the cost much easier to bear knowing you’ll be using it for years to come!
Ease of Cleaning
You do not want to look for a laundry service while holidaying with your family, but when with babies and toddlers, messes are inevitable! So, look for a canopy that is spill-proof, easy to wipe clean, and washing machine safe.
Blackout Capacity
Your child’s sleeping habits and temperament will help you determine the blackout needs of your SlumberPod alternative. While some kids need complete darkness to sleep, others just need a little privacy, shielding from pests, and dim lights. The blackout capacities of tents range from less than 50% all the way up to 100%.
Portability
The unique selling point of any travel accessory is its portability because that’s what makes it so travel-friendly! Most sleep pods are not only easy to assemble and dismantle but are also pretty lightweight, making them easy to carry them around. Many options also include a case or a pouch for attaching to your diaper bag, so keep an eye out for those.
Fasteners
While most sleep tent alternatives are easy to put together, care needs to be taken to secure them properly to ensure the safety of your child. These primarily include either ties or velcro strips, but some pods also use single or double zippers to open and close the panels.
Be careful when operating these as you do not want to be stuck with a broken zipper on holiday! When choosing your product, look for fasteners made with materials of superior quality to prevent any mishaps from happening.
Found this post useful? Share it with your friends!
This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.