Airplane Beds for Toddlers: Which Airlines Actually Allow Them?
After 12 years as a long-haul flight attendant and testing most of these with my own kids for sleep on a long haul flight, my top three are clear: the Flyaway, PlanePal and Stokke JetKids BedBox. These are the ones most likely to be allowed on your flight.
Some types are consistently NOT allowed and will be a complete waste of your money.
Here’s what most buying guides miss: the product that works best is the one your airline will actually let you use. I’ve gone directly to airline safety teams and official airline websites so you don’t get to the gate with something that gets turned away. (Sometimes the companies that make the products have their own approval lists – but I have noticed mistakes with some.) Scroll down for the full airline-by-airline approval table.
Jump to Airline Rules for Toddler Beds – details which airlines allow seat extenders, which officially allow or prohibit them and state this on their website. Just click on the airline links to view their entire policy.
Parents often discover airplane sleep products before they discover airline rules and that’s where most problems start. Especially when the rules change. eg. Delta no longer allows toddler beds of any kind and British Airways now allow four specific types. I frequently review this article to keep this resource updated and current.
Many of the devices marketed for flights promise a flat sleeping surface, but they are treated very differently by airlines depending on how they’re used, when they’re set up, and whether they interfere with safety procedures.
Whether any of these can be used depends far more on airline policy and crew discretion than on what the product claims. My children have used or tried to use them on several airlines.
The seat extenders least likely to be approved (and I’ve never seen officially approved on an airline website), are ones that attach to the seat in front via a fastening around the tray table. These include foot hammocks and board extender types.
Most airlines do not allow these types because a tray table is not safety tested for the additional weight for this purpose – and it could potentially cause some safety and insurance issues e.g if someone was injured and the airline allowed it despite it not being tested for this purpose.
Of course, some people have managed to use these on board, (usually hiding it under a blanket so the crew can’t see), but this is not advisable due to the issues mentioned above.
It could also end up being a complete waste of money for you, so I only recommend only using an approved sleep gadget.
The resale value is pretty good, so if you get to use it for a couple of trips and then sell it on then they are even better value.
Best Airplane Beds: My Top Picks
I’ve tried many options with my kids and various ages and carefully research which ones are likely to be approved or not – from official airline sources. I’ve reviewed them with pros and cons of the different types airplane beds for kids and found the details of which airlines OFFICIALLY allow seat extenders and sleep devices on planes. I’ve not just guessed or said so, I’ve gone straight to the official source.
We contacted many airlines safety departments via their press office directly to get the correct answer when the answer wasn’t clearly available on the airline website. I tend to trust the airline website over a products website as the airline safety team would have to ok it to be on there.
My top picks though are clear: The ones which are most likely to be approved by airlines themselves. That includes, Flyaway, PlanePal and Stokke Bedbox. I would not purchase the cheaper versions on Amazon unless it was 100% clear on the airline website that they were approved.
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Airplane Beds for Toddlers
• Child Airplane Seat Extenders • Sleep Devices & Inflatable Leg-Rests
We’ve tried and tested most, researched and updated which airlines do & don’t allow them and found out all you need to know before making a purchase. Airlines do not provide these!
Inflight sleep products like these, have become a natural part of our families cabin baggage, (shared out to friends to try too), and have a degree of influence over which airlines we now choose for long haul.
More and more airlines are updating their policies to allow them – the most recent being British Airways who used to have a zero tolerance, but now only allow the 3 we previously recommended.
They all take little time to set up, are relatively light and don’t take up much space: all attractive qualities for parents traveling with kids. Applies to travel strollers for toddlers too!
The three main contenders for the best airplane beds for toddlers (and the ones which are currently most likely to be approved by airlines are):
Jetkids BedBox by Stokke
This is the only one I haven’t tried personally on a flight, but I have friends who have. It not only converts an economy seats into an inflight bed, but also acts as a ride on suitcase with some extra storage space inside. (It also houses the mattress.) Friends said the storage is minimal as that’s also where the mattress is stored.
This is one brand that is specifically approved by BA and Virgin as these two airlines ONLY permit 3 or 4 brands.
With the straps you can pull a 3 year old along around the airport or offer them somewhere clean to sit whilst in a queue.
On board, you simply take out the mattress, stand the suitcase up and et voila the bed is made! Make sure to use the seatbelt as per the instructions.
- You can transform the suitcase into a bed in 5 simple steps
- It has a tiny bit of storage and once packed, can be pulled or ridden by your little one
- The wheels swivel so its easy to pull along
- It comes with an adjustable strap so you can pull or carry it over your shoulder
- Weight: 7.26 pounds
- Dimensions: 18 x 14 x 8 inches
- Check prices here
Pros: It doubles up as a ride on and is very easy to set up.
Cons: Not a lot of storage space and bulky if your kids doesn’t want to ride on it! It is the priciest option but you could easily sell on after using.
PlanePal
Dimensions: 75cm wide x 37cm long x 44cm high
Age range: 2-8 years
Price from PlanePal UK: £92.99 (Discount code: KEQWELCOME for 10% off first order.)
Planepal stockist in USA (Keep ’em Quiet) $119.99 (Discount code: KEQWELCOME for 10% off first order and free shipping for orders over $75.)
The PlanePal is another great option to consider if you are looking for child airplane seat extenders & sleep devices for planes.
This inflatable foot rest made of smooth black vinyl which is simple to use: blow it up and position in your child’s foot space.
The inventors have designed in flexibility by allowing you to use it in three ways: lengthways in line with the seat ideal if you have the extra space at the bulkhead bassinet position), widthways across the seat base, or upside down.
That’s because the Plane Pal is T-shaped and wider at the top than the bottom, so if you’re struggling to squeeze it in behind the seat in front, just flip it on its head.
It takes just over two minutes to inflate using a hand pump, which comes in the Plane Pal carry case along with the mattress.
It takes just over two minutes to inflate using a hand pump, which comes in the Plane Pal carry case along with the mattress.
Again, this is one brand that is specifically approved by BA and Virgin as these two airlines ONLY permit 3 or 4 brands.
Pros: Packs up small, easy to set up. An adult or older child will like this even more at the bulkhead row.
Cons: Can be a bit fiddly with the pump. For a full PlanePal review on Singapore Airlines see here
FlyAway
The Flyaway product has been made with the IATA (International Air Transport Association) guidelines in mind. For those airlines which specify only certain brands of seat extenders can be used, in my opinion, I think this one will be added to their lists.
If you are wondering how can I get my child to sleep on a plane, this may be the answer? More than a travel pillow or an inflatable leg rest pillow, the Flyaway is an L-shaped mattress, where the uppermost section rests on top of the aeroplane seat, supported by a ‘leg’ which braces against the floor and keeps the bed level.
Made of light grey vinyl, it’s a very slick piece of product design. It takes about 100 seconds to inflate. There are two inflation valves which operate one-way to prevent any air escaping while you blow it up, and a third escape valve which releases air pressure if you over-inflate.
It even has a couple of token side bolsters, though whether they’d have the heft to stop a kid rolling off sideways is questionable. However, these are useful during play time; to stop toys and crayons rolling off the wipeable seat.
It is pricier than other sleep devices such as the Plane Pal and Fly Tot but cheaper than than Stokke JetKids Bed Box. The Flyaway comes in a convenient travel pouch with its own small pump and easily fits into your carry on luggage.
It takes about 100 seconds to inflate, given there’s less volume to blow up than in the Plane Pal. Again there are two inflation valves which operate one-way to prevent any air escaping while you blow it up, and a third escape red valve which releases air pressure if you over inflate.
Although, we have since found this amazing tiny electric pump which works, if you want to save a bit more space.
- Dimensions: 50cm wide x 60-80cm long x 52cm high
- Load: up to 50kg/110lbs
- Max height: 130cm/4 ft,3 “
- Age range: 2-7 years
Price: $120.00/£98.00 Currently only available from the Flyaway website, although they do ship internationally. Get 10% off Flyaway using the discount code FLYINGWITHABABY
Read my full FlyAway review here. Get 10 US$ off the Flyaway direct from their website – they ship internationally and can deduct the equivalent discount amount of your currency.. Code is also below- just click it to go to their website.
Again, this is one brand that is specifically approved by BA and Virgin as these two airlines ONLY permit 3 or 4 brands. Other airlines allow generic types of similar style as per below
Airline rules for toddler beds
Are inflatable footrests allowed on planes? Quick answer? Some do and some don’t. Below details which airlines allow seat extenders, which officially allow or prohibit them and state this on their website. Just click on the airline links to view their entire policy.
Airlines who officially do NOT allow most sleep travel gadgets/airplane beds for toddlers and say so on their website are:
- Air France
- Air New Zealand – they do have a SkyCouch though. Note: they do not allow the CoziGo either.
- Alaska – they do not allow any inflatable footrest or anything that extends a seat or attached to the seat.
- Condor
- Delta – List of things prohibited: Knee defender, footrest or sling (Designed to attach to seat-back or window) Inflatable wedges, beds/cubes, Infant/baby hammock, personal pods and tents.)
- Emirates – will only allow Cozigo bassinet cover
- Eurowings
- Jetstar
- Hawaiian – no inflatables or travel mattresses are allowed.
- Lufthansa
- THAI
- TUI
- Turkish Airlines – Confirmed directly with safety team that they do not allow any inflatable devices)
- South African
- Qantas
- Qatar
- United .
Airlines which OFFICIALLY APPROVE some sleep devices for children (as long as certain guidelines are met) These airlines give clear guidelines and rules for use on their website:
However, note that the final decision will always rest with the crew.
- Air Asia They must meet certain criteria, including, fitting the seat’s pitch and width and properly secured onto the seat without interfering or causing damage to the armrest, tray table, and seat pocket.
- Air Canada – Infant beds like eg Flyaway, Bedbox can be used onboard when the plane seatbelt sign is off ie NOT during taxi, take-off, turbulence and landing. If traveling with Air Canada, and queried, please ask the crew politely to check their manuals as this is a recent change. Similar items are not permitted if they attached to a fixed part of the aircraft.
- Air Mauritius Note: children MUST be removed from any device if the seat belt sign is switched on.
- American Airways – Yes – see image below for full details.
- American Airlines – see image below
- ANA (Hammock-type bed products cannot be used) but inflatables such as Planepal, Flyaway or Bedbox types are allowed.
- British Airways. Now allow Planepal, (Can be used on a window, centre and bulkhead row centre seat when the person sitting in the window seat is in your party. Not permitted in an emergency exit row or on an aisle seat) Flyaway (Can be used on a window, centre and bulkhead row centre seat when the person sitting in the window seat is in your party. Not permitted in an emergency exit row or on an aisle seat) .and Bedbox (Can be used on a window and centre seat when the person sitting in the window seat is in your party. Not permitted in an emergency exit row, bulkhead row or an aisle seat.)and Kooshy Kids Kushion: (Can be used in all window and centre seating, including bulkhead rows when the person sitting next to the child is part in your party. Cannot be used in aisle seats. Not permitted in an emergency exit row, or one row forward or behind an emergency exit row.)
- Brussels Airline Inflight bed/leg rest extension e.g. BedBox, Fly Tot, 1st Class Kid Travel Pillow, Plane Pal are allowed. A device of this type is allowed, as long as it is not attached directly to the seat. It may not be used during take-off, taxiing or landing and it may not hinder other passengers.
- Cathay Pacific
- Etihad
- EVA air
- Garuda Note: fasten the seatbelt at all times when using
- JAL
- KLM – (e.g. Wick, BedBox, Fly Tot, 1st Class Kid Travel Pillow, Plane Pal). (Inflight bed/legrest extensions that are attached to the seat (e.g. Fly LegsUp or FlyeBaby) are not permitted.
- LATAM
- Malaysia Airlines -(I verified with a current Malaysia Airlines crew member in Jan 2025 that Planepal was allowed.)
- Singapore Airlines – Note: Fasten the seatbelt at ALL times when using.
- Swiss: Some are allowed as long as they don’t attach to the seat. Devices for extending the seat cushion to create a flat space for small children may be used on seats next to a window or on middle seats in a block of seats between two aisles.
- They may not be used on aisle seats, in the row of seats behind a bulkhead, or on emergency exit seats.
- Virgin Atlantic – allow JetKids by Stokke BedBox (can only be used in middle or window seats (not in aisles). and Planepal and Flyaway brands only. Note: Fasten the seatbelt at ALL times when using.
- Virgin Australia
- WestJet – Say on socials they are permitted as long as they don’t attach to the seat.
Choose Your Seats wisely Before using
All airlines that permit the use of the BedBox, PlanePal, FlyAway et al, do have certain requirements about their use, and where they can be used. For example, they must not be used on an aisle seat. Other rules include: (but are not limited too)
RULES FOR USING AN INFLIGHT SLEEP DEVICE
- Inflatable inflight beds may only be used at the window seats or the middle seat between the aisles.
- The child’s head must be toward the back of their own seat.
- Your child must also be able to fasten the seatbelt under his or her arm when using the inflight bed.
- If your child is under two years of age, he or she must be removed from the convertible inflight bed, and secured with an infant seatbelt whenever the seatbelt sign is switched on.
- The item must not interfere with the comfort of another passenger
- It must not be attached to any part of the aircraft.
- They can only be used in the cruise portion of the flight, Not takeoff or landing.
For a run through of alternatives to the detailed airplane beds above, see below.
Alternative options
Budget Alternatives to the Original ideas Above.
Some airlines are very specific on what types of airplane bed, inflatable leg rest, pillow sleep device for kids etc are approved to bring on board. If your airline allows generic brands then the options below might be worth considering. Products like the Kooshy Kids, Bubba Board are less likely to be allowed as they attach to either the plane footrest, tray table or both – British Airways, Virgin, Emirates, American Airlines and many more specifically say an item must not attach to any part of the seat.
Koala Kloud 3
- designed with our unique wide-circle, leakproof valve so you can fully inflate in less than 1 minute
- made of super-soft, highly durable and eco-friendly PVC flocking
- shrinks down into a small, lightweight 4″ x 4″ x 7″ cylinder when deflated
- comes ready to go with a machine washable dust cover, compact carrying bag, and a handy attaching clip that makes for even more portability
- Material: Premium PVC Flocking
- Weight: 15.2 ounces
- Dimensions: 2.76 x 1.73 x 1.73 inches
Maliton
- designed with two double cap valves and adjustable height
- the double cap valve design makes inflation very quickly and you don’t need an extra pump
- when not in use, you can fold it into its drawstring bag
- cleaning is easy, just wipe the surface with a soft dry cloth
- You can adjust the foot rest pillow to 1 or 2 layers
- Material: Polyvinyl Chloride
- Weight: 0.8 Pounds
- Dimensions: 18 x 17 x 12 inches
HOMCA
- this footrest can be used to fill the gap in front of your seats and increase the rest space on the plane
- easy to inflate, No air pump needed, It takes about one or half minutes to inflate
- deflating takes only 3-5 seconds
- has two valves designed, which is much leakproof compared with competitors
- 3 different height that can be adjusted through different valves
- comes with a bottom dust cover and storage bag
- Material: Polyvinyl Chloride
- Weight: 0.8 Pounds
- Dimensions: 91.68 x 60.48 x 40.8 inches
Sunany
- made of washable soft PVC flocking, which is environmentally friendly and healthy, soft and durable.
- can be compressed to 7 by 4.2 inches and put into its drawstring bag for travel/storage
- 2-in-1 double valve design – the upper black air valve is a one-way air inlet for inflating or replenishing air, the bottom transparent air valve can be quickly inflated and deflated
- can be adjusted into three different heights
- Material: Rayon
- Weight: 0.8 Pounds
- Dimensions: 18 x 15 x 9 inches
Other sleep options
Although there are gadgets like Fly Legs Up and the Flyebaby hammock, there are even fewer airlines which permit their use. This is because they directly apply weight to the tray table or seat which hasn’t been built or tested for that. I do not recommend purchasing these.
It can also cause damage to the seat and tray table. Below are a couple of products which seem to be permitted on most airlines as they are effectively a larger version of a travel pillow. There may, however be restrictions on their use; for example on take off and during landing.
Travel Snug
The Travel Snug encompasses a child with a fleecy material. It pads out the seat a bit more and makes the arm rests a comfortable place to rest a weary head. It’s a bit bulky to carry, although it does have straps to make it easier, but it is very comfy as an airplane bed for toddlers. Read my full review for further details here.
Seat To Sleep
The Seat to Sleep is a very portable travel pillow. It packs up small and it is inflatable. We liked using it for night flights where a plane bed wasn’t allowed or we forgot to pack one! .
Where can I buy the Seat to Sleep?
Currently the Seat to Sleep is available to buy on the Seat to Sleep website for £39.00 (around US$50). UK delivery is charged from £4.99 per order and shipped worldwide for £9.99.
Seat to Sleep Discount Code: Flying with a baby readers can add the code FLYINGWITHABABY to receive 10% off at checkout.
Read my full review for further details here.
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