We have had the pleasure to have travelled with our children to some amazing destinations since they were very small. Each time we have invested in what ever we thought would work the best to guarantee us a stress-free flight. This has of course got easier as they have grown up. However, a flight to Austin at Christmas to visit our friends meant we were facing two very long flights with two very excited children – Matilda, 7, and Hugh, 11.

The website suggests that “the Seat to Sleep® Travel Nest is a multi award-winning lightweight inflatable cushion, which adapts adult plane seats into a comfy, safe space for children by supporting the head and neck, as well as padding hard arm rests. Soft and malleable to fit any size child from 3-10.” But what did we think?

When the Seat to Sleep arrived I was very pleased to see they packed up small. Even better was the clip on the bag so that they could be hooked on the children’s back packs. We got them out straight away and tested them!

I got a little confused with the inflation at first. I also over inflated them past the recommended 80% which meant they felt too hard to be comfy. I then read the instructions! The valve is more robust than a basic inflation nozzle. However, this makes it more robust and easier to inflate once you know how. Equally, when packing it away, the deflation was easy. I did practice this before we flew as I was concerned, I was going to be stuck with an inflated pillow to wrestle off the flight. The valve allows the air out easy and if you fold, they way you unfolded (guided by the folds in the cushion) you can get it back to a good size and it easily packs away into the bag.

On the flight Matilda soon got it out and started to find her perfect position. I think she tried them all! She sat on it as a booster, and she wrapped it round her back to make the seat cosier. One of her favourites was having it as a leg rest so she could lie down better. In the end she managed to find a position which allowed her to snuggle up into the seat and get some much-needed sleep. Hugh being older found it best as a head rest. He was too big to snuggle into it, but it still aided a more comfortable flight.

I must admit the Seat to Sleep has come in to its own since we have got home too. It has been used on sleepovers and has been taken to Beavers and Scout camps as pillows. I think what makes it so useful is that it is small when packed away, but when out and inflated it is a good size for using as a pillow. It doesn’t need to bee hooked round your neck, and the shape means you can lie on it nice and comfily.

The Seat to Sleep is now constantly attached to the children’s travel rucksacks. Where they travel, the Seat to Sleep travels too and I am sure they are going to play a key part of all future adventures… family camping next!