Inflatable Bed

[tifpaul]

We are thinking of purchasing an inflatable bed for houseguests to use. They arrive in a couple of weeks.

I think we will get a queen size. Does anyone have recommendations?

I think there are three kinds:
- on the floor inflatable mattress
- raised off the floor inflatable mattress
- raised off the floor by a cot or stand inflatable mattress

Any experience with these different kinds? Our guests are in their 40s and pretty spry. Future guests might be a little older, but not elderly.

We do have an attic where we can store the bed when not in use. Even if it's a little bulky, that would be OK.

TIA
Tiffany

[chel]

on the floor.

i find that they eventually deflate and better to be closer to the ground, otherwise you get a crazy deep canyon everyone falls into with the higher ones

for such reasons, i would use with extreme caution with anyone with special issues (infants, elderly parents, etc)

[Jackies Ladybug]

i have army style cots for guests after 3 very expensive inflatable mattresses have popped mid night (that sucks as we didnt have a backup plan the first time). i took a survey from all of my guests that stayed before and after the switch and they much prefer the standard cots to anything inflatable, and also having slept on both styles myself i have to agree!
just my 2cents.

[Gremco]

I had an Intex double high queen size. it was somewhat comfortable, if you were the only person on it. One of them deflated slowly, so I had to return it. If you are not already aware, a queen size air bed is not the same size as a queen size bed. It is quite a bit smaller. I agree with the pp that cots are much more comfortable, especially with a nice comfy sleeping bag on top.

[SuzyLee]

My parents have a a couple blow up beds, and they all eventually leack or pop- it is just a matter of luck whether that happens in a month or a year or 10 years.

We all prefer to sleep on my mom's camp cot- but it is probably pricier than an inflatabed. However it will last forever and never pop! So it just depends on what your budget is, and how long you need it for. Another option (which we did) is just buy an inexpensive twin mattress (we got ours at Costco) and slide it under a twin bed for storage.

[Abarat]

We've tried at least half a dozen air beds and they all have leaked/popped after what I'd consider little use (within a matter of days, up to 2 weeks).

My mother bought a very nice and expensive queen sized one that came up to about your knees so it was nice and tall and was supposed to be like the caddilac of these things and during their 5 week stay we had to repair it 4 times and the repairs never worked well (because of a fuzzy top where the leaks were) and it's STILL broken, we have yet to sucessfully fix it.

I prefer to just keep extra beds if at all possible, even if that means I have to tear them down after use and keep them in our small storage shed.

[talia rose]

Just don't buy one that is vinyl. Vinyl offgasses over 100 toxic chemicals into your home.....

[tifpaul]

OK, I get it. Cots seem like a really practical, longer-term solution. The only cots I see are singles. Is that right?

And then what kind of bedding do you use on top?

Thanks for all the advice. I knew an inflatable bed seemed too good to be true.

[sunnysandiegan]

We purchased a type of twin bed for DD called a duo high riser. I dislike daybeds and my family is very tall (most of the women, not me, though, are 6 feet tall) and daybeds are too short for them. The duo high riser holds a standard twin mattress on top, but the frame is wider and longer and allows a trundle frame and regular twin mattress to fit underneath. The trundle pops up to the same height as the other bed. Technically, you can push them together to form a king. However, DD's bedroom is too small to do that and still allow room for adults to move around, especially older adults. We move them apart as far as possible instead and her bedroom becomes the guest room. Sometimes, we move the top bed downstairs to a little room for even more space for the houseguest(s). Depends on who and how long they are staying. DD will sleep in our room on the floor or in a tent in the little room downstairs or in her room on the floor or in the second bed (depends on her age and who the guests are).

We also have a sofa that is slightly wider than most (front to back if you are sitting on it, side to side if you are sleeping on it) and six feet long. It has a padded back and pillows that come off. It is rather comfortable for all three of us to snuggle on and for one person to sleep on for a night or two.

We used to also have an air mattress as an option for houseguests. It was never a first choice for anyone. DD & I used it for a Girl Scout campout this past summer and it deflated slowly until we were flat on the ground. I should have just brought our sleeping pads like we usually use for camping, but I thought it would be fun to try something different since it was the first time just she and I were camping (without Daddy). Ugh. Not only did she kick me all night long but also it was much colder on the air mattress than the sleeping pads. We tried to fix it once we were home and found the leak, but it refused to stay fixed. It is history and not to be replaced.