JetKids by Stokke BedBox: Kids’ Luggage Long-Term Review

New parents will quickly realize that little ones travel with a lot of gear, and it will often make sense for kids to have their own carry-on bags. My family is a big fan of Away and Monos bags, but there is 1 bag in our lineup that never gets left behind, and that’s the JetKids by Stokke BedBox.

We bought the BedBox for our daughter 5 years ago. Now that she has outgrown it, it has become a favorite of our 3-year-old son.

Originally, we were drawn to the BedBox because it can (almost) create a bed out of an economy seat, which is great for our kids on long-haul flights. But even when we travel in business class, we bring it along for its ride-on capability and impressive storage capacity.

With 5+ years and thousands of miles of real-life testing, I have plenty to say about this trooper of a roller bag. If you’re considering buying a BedBox for your little one, read on for my full review.

JetKids Overview

JetKids was originally founded by 2 parents who were looking for a better way for their young child to sleep on a plane — a common pain point for many traveling families.

After doing plenty of research, and realizing that many children ended up sleeping on the floor (which is not only cold but dangerous), the company created the first prototype for the BedBox, which extended the surface area of an airplane seat so little ones could sleep more comfortably and safely.

Eventually, after successfully launching, JetKids was acquired by Stokke, a Norwegian children’s furniture and accessories manufacturer.

The product has been so successful and received so many great reviews that it has even been named a Best Invention by Time Magazine.

JetKids Build Quality

Luggage takes a beating. Anything that my kids touch takes a beating. So needless to say, our JetKids by Stokke BedBox has been used and abused over the 5+ years we have been traveling the world with it.

If I’m being honest, this little roller bag is holding up better than most bags we have purchased in recent years.

The BedBox has a solid plastic build with 4 wheels, 2 of which have a 360-degree swivel function. Our bag has been packed, pulled, jammed, and ridden extensively and still performs as well as it did on day 1… despite a few scratches.

The wheels roll (surprisingly) smoothly regardless of how much is packed inside or who is riding the bag through the airport and hotel lobbies.

JetKids Travel Gear for Kids

Since the original BedBox became a success, JetKids has expanded its travel-gear lineup. Here are some other kid-friendly options for travel gear.

BedBox

The original BedBox continues to be the star of the show for JetKids. The “world’s only ride-on, carry-on, and sleep-on suitcase” has become a favorite of parents who want to (attempt to) turn an economy seat into a first class seat for their child.

This carry-on bag is great for packing with toys and books, can be turned into a bed for small children, and can be easily stored under most airplane seats for easy access.

The easy-to-open top is sturdy enough to be hung from luggage carts or have a ride on through the airport.

The JetKids by Stokke BedBox is currently available in multiple fun colors, including Pink Lemonade, Blue Sky, Full Moon, Green Aurora, Lunar Eclipse, and Golden Olive.

Unfortunately, when we bought ours, there weren’t as many (or any) colors to choose from, just a change in straps and stickers. We have the classic Full Moon and blue strap combination.

The bed feature of the BedBox is recommended for kids ages 2 and up, but it can be used as a carry-on for travelers of any age! As a ride-on, JetKids advises an age range of 3 to 7 years and up to 77 pounds.

CloudSleeper

The latest addition to the JetKids lineup is the CloudSleeper, an inflatable travel bed for kids ages 3 and up.

While this bed is too big for a plane, it is perfect for sleepovers, camping, and hotel stays.

The integrated pump makes it easy to inflate and it folds down and fits inside its own packing cube, which makes transportation nice and easy.

Plus, it can fit inside of a BedBox, so no need to stress about pullout sofas at your next hotel.

Crew BackPack

If you are looking for a really cute (and functional) backpack for your child, the Crew Backpack is an adorable option.

Designed to grow with your little one, the bag has a hidden zipper that opens up an extra 2 liters of storage. So depending on how big your kid is, this bag will fit them comfortably and they won’t end up overpacking it.

Plus, with a little seat pad and the option to connect it to a BedBox, it is fun and functional.

The JetKids by Stokke Crew BackPack is currently available in some great colors, including Pink Lemonade, Blue Sky, Full Moon, and Green Aurora.

Bundles

If you are like me and now want everything that JetKids has to offer, be sure to check out a discounted bundle of both the BedBox and the Crew Backpack.

JetKids by Stokke BedBox Real-life Testing

For the past 5 years, my family and I have been conducting some real-life testing of the JetKids by Stokke BedBox. There have been some minor updates to the models from when we purchased ours compared to what is for sale today, but it is essentially the same bag.

The updates are internally labeled as V1, V2, or V3. We have a V1. The biggest changes consumers will notice are the color options and the mattress design.

The majority of times, we use the BedBox as a standard carry-on bag that can be pulled easily by the kids, or ridden on while we pull it through the airport. On trips where we are flying business class and have no use for the bed feature, we leave the mattress at home to create more storage space.

The great thing about this bag is that you can pack it to the gills and it will not lose its stability — which can sometimes be the case with normal carry-on roller bags.

When it’s time to use it as a bed, the bag can easily fit and slide out from underneath an economy seat, and then pop up to provide support for our kid’s legs.

In our years of usage, mostly flying major U.S. carriers, we have never had an issue with an airline saying that the BedBox was not allowed. In fact, most crew members we have talked to think it’s awesome (but you may run into issues, depending on the airline).

That being said, there are some airlines that officially approve the BedBox (Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific even sell it!), so be sure to check the updated BedBox-friendly airline list. And, as always, make sure the BedBox does not block any aisle exit in case of an emergency.

Hot Tip: Using the BedBox in a window seat will provide your child with some extra support and not block any exits. 

What’s Included

The JetKids by Stokke BedBox comes with the suitcase, adjustable straps, 2 sheets of travel-themed stickers, and a rolled-up mattress.

How To Set Up the BedBox

Setting up the BedBox in the bed/leg-rest function is pretty straightforward.

Once the plane is in the air and it is safe to move around, simply follow these steps:

• Place the suitcase in front of the child’s seat
• Secure the suitcase with the attached strap (this is optional; we have never done this)
• Remove the lid
• Flip the lid over
• Place the lid back on the suitcase at your desired height level (which will depend on your seat height)
• Slide-out the extension plate
• Place the mattress on top of the seat and suitcase
• Relax and enjoy!

Although the mattress does provide some extra padding, we have found that it doesn’t justify the amount of space it takes up in the bag. Plus, it tends to slide around over the course of an overnight flight.

Lately, we have been flying without the mattress. And since our son only rests his legs on the suitcase (his body mostly stays on the seat), he has been comfortable with a mix of blankets and pillows instead.

Size and Compartments

When we first bought the JetKids by Stokke BedBox, we bought it for its bed-like capability. However, after using it for so many years, one of our favorite features is the storage capacity.

There is no special design with secret compartments. When opened, it is just a big rolling storage bin, which is kind of perfect for a kid to throw all of their toys and snacks in.

The full specs of the BedBox are:

• Dimensions: 18 x 8 x 14 inches (46 x 20 x 36 centimeters)
• Weight: 7 pounds (3.3 kilograms)
• Volume: 6 gallons (23 liters)
• Max Load: 77 pounds (35 kilograms)

The hardshell exterior and 4 wheels make this roller bag feel like a tank, especially when loaded up with books and a toddler on top.

As I mentioned before, lately we have been traveling without the mattress to get more storage space.

Durability and Materials

The entire BedBox (including the wheels) is made out of ABS plastic (similar to LEGO), the straps are nylon, and the mattress is a thin foam pad.

At first, it doesn’t sound like a very durable product. Especially when you add kids and travel into the mix. But I have been shocked at how much of a beating this bag can take.

We fill it up and roll it around the world with 1 kid (sometimes 2!) on top and it has handled travel like a champ.

We have overpacked it so that the plastic sides are bulging out, only to unpack it later with no signs of stress. The only part that shows its age is the stickers that are peeling off.

Wheels

The 4 wheels, with very little clearance, may be the more impressive part of this bag.

When we first got the bag, I remember thinking that there was no way the wheels would hold up as much as a normal carry-on bag — especially with a kid riding on top. I am happy to say I was wrong.

The wheels roll as smoothly as the first trip and the bag itself is so easy to pull that our 7-year-old often pulls our 3-year-old around without issue.

Handles

When it comes to handles on the BedBox, there are 2 nylon straps.

The first strap is small for your little one to hold on to while riding on the bag, similar to a saddle strap. This strap is connected to the lid, and despite this, it is strong enough to hang from a luggage cart.

The second strap is larger and is what we use to pull the bag. Sometimes, we pull it by hand. Other times, we connect it to our stroller and then push the stroller, pulling the bag behind.

I have seen photos of parents using this larger strap to connect to each end of the bag and carry the entire BedBox as a shoulder bag. I have never done this and can’t imagine it is very comfortable.

Bottom Line: Besides the fact that it turns into a bed, the JetKids by Stokke BedBox is a solid carry-on bag. 

Competitors

Travel and kid gear is a big market, so as you can imagine, there are a few alternatives to the JetKids by Stokke BedBox.

While not all offer the same functionality, depending on your budget and needs, JetKids by Stokke may not be your only option.

Here are some of the top competitors:

Price

Price may be the biggest factor when shopping for a piece of luggage for a child. While certainly not cheap, we have easily gotten our money’s worth from our JetKids by Stokke BedBox. It helps that our firstborn outgrew it just in time for our second child to use it.

The BedBox alone ranges from $199 to $299 depending on what color you want.

If you want to upgrade your purchase by adding a CloudSleeper inflatable mattress, costs start around $299. If you would like to just add the Crew BackPack, bundles start at around $249.

Warranty

Every JetKids by Stokke BedBox comes with a 2-year global warranty.

As long as you use the BedBox as instructed, and it hasn’t been sent as a checked bag, you can make a warranty claim. Just send your info and some photos to JetKids and it will start the warranty process.

Although we have never checked our BedBox, we have used it hard and it still functions as well as it did on day 1 — just with a few extra scratches and souvenir stickers on it!

There is also a 14-day window to return your BedBox as long as you haven’t used it. This is a good opportunity to get a hands-on look with your little one before a trip to see if it will fit your needs.

Is the BedBox Allowed on Your Flight?

When used properly, many airlines approve (and some even sell) the JetKids by Stokke BedBox.

While some airlines have no official position on the use of the BedBox, more than 50 officially approve of its use, including:

If you are looking for a different airline, be sure to check the BedBox approved airline list. One notable exception for parents flying Emirates is that the BedBox is banned on Emirates flights.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Jetkids by Stokke BedBox has become an absolute staple in our travel gear lineup. If we are getting on a plane, there is no doubt that the BedBox is coming — even if we are flying in business class.

Just the fun and function factor of my kids being able to ride it through the airport is worth bringing it along. Plus, the storage capacity is pretty impressive, too. The fact that it can turn an economy seat into (almost) a bed for our little travelers is a huge bonus.

Since the included mattress is quite thin, yet takes up a lot of space when not in use, we often leave it behind. While the mattress is nice to have, we can compensate with a folded blanket since the airplane seats are padded and only our kid’s legs are left without extra support.

As long as you use the BedBox in a window seat or in the middle seat of a middle row, you should have no problems or safety concerns with the airline crews (but it is always good to double-check!).

After 5+ years on the road with our BedBox, my family is happy with our purchase — even my son, who got a preowned version!

If you have any questions about the bag, feel free to leave them in the comments.