Overnight/ sleep over beds

We spent one August Bank Holiday weekend at my sister's house when my two sons were junior school age. My sister has two sons slightly younger than mine.
There weren't enough beds for everyone so we took a tent and the four boys camped out in the garden.
My brother-in-law went out to check they were ok and came back laughing.
He'd overheard my elder son asking the others,
"Right lads, what's it to be? Go to sleep or a have a farting contest?"
?

I bought camping bunk beds for Christmas, which fold down and fit into a bag. I also got 2 camping mats and duvets. The boys, aged 5 and 7. loved them and used them as a den for part of the time.
This is my 6'1" OH trying it out. He said it was really comfortable with plenty room. I think the boys could have even topped and tailed in just one of the beds.

Trouble is - you’d need 12 pillows!

I heard of a brilliant solution. Get 4 pillows tips and sew them together along the long side. Slip a pillow into each pocket. Fold the top one down onto the second one to make a raised head pillow. Voila. Instant bed. Easily washed and stored.

If you are plugged into local social media or neighbourhood WhatsApp group ask to borrow some z-beds. Or even inflatables or a couple of yoga mats. They all fold up very small during the day. I am sure neighbours will have things tucked away and unused they would be glad to lend you.

Annaram1

We had an inflatable mattress for visitors. On the first occasion
the couple using it had an unfortunate experience. The large lady managed somehow to sink the mattress to the floor while her slimmer husband was peacefully sleeping on his nicely inflated side, up in the air!

That’s so funny and reminds me of a trip to Niagara Falls a few years ago and we were given the honeymoon suite which had an early water bed. My H got up in the night for the loo and on his return he sat down in his side which sank into the bed frame whilst my side inflated like a balloon with me balanced in the top. He then stood up and the whole bed turned into a stormy sea! I was tossed about as in a ship wreck. I think water beds are much improved these days.
Back to the original question, I think you can get roll up mattress pads which are apparently more comfortable than air beds but I have no experience.

Air mattresses work out well and are relatively easy to store. Beware of allowing dogs and cats to jump on them, however!

Ditto to asking on local FB, or Next Door, if you have that.

Cliftonkate

I haven’t tried this myself but think it’s a great idea for occasional sleepovers

What a great idea! I will retain that for future reference. At the mo the 2 elder Gdcs (6 and 7) share a very simple sofa bed, no arms, folds down instantly, which we bought decades before, as an occasional spare, long before any thoughts of Gdcs.

I do remember 4 of us (me and a sibling and 2 cousins) sharing a double bed at both ends, when we were all small. And not long ago dd1 sent me a pic of both elder Gdcs plus two of their cousins of similar ages, all curled up asleep together like puppies in a top bunk bed! ?

FaceBook in your area groups - ask if anyone will lend folding beds or camp beds?? Lots of us have these things little used in attics and spare rooms.

Jacky B those beds are amazing I bought one for my grandson he just loved it. He is now 5 and he still uses it when he has a sleep over

I haven’t tried this myself but think it’s a great idea for occasional sleepovers

I had readybeds for my grandchildren when they were small and never had a problem. They lasted so well I passed them on when I'd finished with them.
I now have a blow up mattress with an electric pump for my grandson, it also deflates electrically, it's wonderful!!

I've just bought a JBzbed 2ft 6 so good for the grand children. Also have a single 3ft fold out chair bed. Not very comfortable to sleep on but with memory foam topper grandchildren find it OK.
Think zbed is the way to go as they don't take up much room when folded up.

PS Have just checked - you can still get a wooden top to make it into a coffee table when not needed as a bed.

Callistemon21

Have you got sun loungers padded garden seats ? You could use the long cushions from those with sleeping bags.

I was about to suggest this! Some years ago when my son and his FF at the time unexpectedly wanted to stay a night when we already had a houseful (family from Australia, local family, too), I improvised using lounger cuahions for two children aged 12 and 8 which worked very well.

Can recommend the Futon Company Sleep Cubes. We have 2 of them and they fold up into a cube so they can be used as extra seating. We also bought a wooden top to go on them (I think they have discontinued this) so they can be used by grandchildren as jigsaw /Lego tables too. Brilliant. www.futoncompany.co.uk/shop-by-product/sleepover.html

Callistemon21

AKA Swags

Commonly available in Australia and I think available in the UK too. I just had a look on Amazon but they're out of stock and not widely available elsewhere. Proper swabs are very expensive.

Air beds with sleeping bags could be an alternative.

When I googled 'swags' I got a load of curtain embellishments!

I see nana5852 has now found her solution. Have a lovely time with the little ones!

Just to complete the options I mentioned, here, for future reference, is a picture of the inflatable beds I was talking about.

They'll enjoy it - it will be like camping
Enjoy their visit.

Thank you all for your responses. I have purchased two self inflating mattresses - we have sleeping bags. Mini moon’s feedback persuaded me against the ‘all in one’ option. We have a spare bed for the parents and a fold out bed chair for the 4 year old so the two year old twins will on the floor on the new purchases. Best wishes to all.

Readybeds or airbeds. Be sure to buy a good pump.

Google ‘Outwell Dreamcatcher Single Sleeping Mat 10cm’
At £80 each they are not cheap, but when my three came to stay weekends I used to put two of those down on the floor in the bedroom. They used to squabble over who would be sleeping in them, as nobody wanted the bed!

Now they are grown and my DH uses one when away racing, and I take mine on the train when I stop over at my dads.

Very comfortable and it says self inflating, but I always puff them up abit as well.

Have you got sun loungers padded garden seats ? You could use the long cushions from those with sleeping bags.

When all the family were at my in-laws when our children were small babies slept in collapsable play pens, toddlers on the floor and we even slept on the floor on one occasion. (I could in those days) Camping mats and sleeping bags helped and rolled up during the day so the dining room could be used. If it's just for a one off visit search charity shops and gumtree for stuff.