My partner and I used to have the same problem where every time one of us moved, it felt like the other was on a trampoline 😂. Switching to a foam pad (we went with a double Thermarest, but I've tested an Exped before and it was great) made such a huge difference for our sleep.
I grew up directly on the ground as a boy scout camping every month. Then I got a thermarest for christmas one year.
Nowadays I use various air mattresses. They make burly ones that would be wild to get a hole in, like my Dreamtime. It even has a fleece cover. It's more comfortable than some beds I've had at home.
Dreamtime: [https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/camping-mattress/therm-a-rest-dreamtime](https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/camping-mattress/therm-a-rest-dreamtime)
Look at cots if you are swearing off air.
I have used my ultralite pad long term as well as a crazy nice thermal rest dreamer pad. The ultralite got torn easily and was loud. The dreamer was better than some spring mattresses I've used.
I've had great success with Thermarest, REI, and Exped self inflating mattresses. All have good customer support too. I wouldn't ever bother with an all air mattress. Poor insulation, rotten in cold.
Get a FlexTail pump.
You want a good, insulative mattress that is easy to blow up since they placed a restriction on the situation. I recommend a Thermarest self inflating mattress as best suited for a child that may have difficulties blowing up a non-self inflating one. Or, get a footpump. It's pretty straight forward. If you have more specific questions about how to operate one, ask away (open the valve, wait a bit, close the valve or add a few breaths first).
So…I went from an inflatable mattress…no insulation, to a cot, with a thermarest self inflating mattress.
Better, but I found the cot to be so confining. Ditching the cot and using the thermarest on the ground was 100% better.
chalhobgob
