When it's time for your youngster to graduate from the crib, a toddler bed is a terrific option. They're also great for kids who refused to sleep in their own beds or take naps during the day. Also, if your infant or toddler is outgrowing their crib too quickly. Perhaps you've witnessed them trying to emulate Spider-Man by swinging across the rails.
No way is this secure. The question is, where exactly will they be sleeping tonight? Can you sleep comfortably in a twin bed? Would it be okay to just place the crib bed on the floor? Can you get a bed for a toddler? You finally give in and Google "toddler bed," where you are met with countless results selling for anything from $50 to several hundred dollars. It makes a lot of sense. Does a child really need a toddler bed?
Some forward-thinking parents anticipated this problem and bought a crib that can be converted into two separate beds.
Even if you have spent an entire day picking out the very worst baby products ever, you still have to decide whether or not to buy that cute little child bed you saw internet.
Or you may spend three hours haggling with salespeople for a bed that, with any luck, will endure till she's off to college. There can be several factors influencing your decision about the path to take. A crib that cannot be transformed into a daybed would necessitate the purchase of two separate pieces of furniture.
As a second kid is on the way, perhaps the moment has come to transition the first child out of the crib and into a proper bed. So you're deciding between a crib and a twin bed?
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Where to Start
Keep in mind, first and foremost, that every child is different, and so is their experience of moving to a new bed. Some kids are going as early as the age, while others show little interest until they are older. Sometimes this is to do with maturing emotionally. It's possible that a kid isn't emotionally prepared to leave the crib quite yet.
Take his feelings into account and wait to make the change until he is ready. Tell him he'll be sleeping in a big boy bed, where he can pick out his own bedding, stuffed animals, and other accessories. If the youngster is unusually tall for his or her age, for example, you may have little choice but to make the change. Despite the cushion at the lowest level, the child should be able to climb out of the crib or its chest should reach the top of both the rail while he stands up.
And you need to do that quickly, before the wee hours of the morning when he might sneak out and cause trouble. Now the dilemma is whether you should choose a toddler bed or skip it altogether in favour of a standard bed.
What Is a Toddler Bed?
What the name implies, a child bed is a bed made with the needs of toddlers in mind. Mattresses in these beds are the same size as those found in standard cribs. And they were made to be even smaller and slower. Your youngster will have no trouble getting in or out of them because they are made with safety in mind.
And because it sits lower to the ground, your child will be less likely to damage themselves if they happen to fall out. As babies grow, they eventually reach an age where they may try to climb out of their cribs, so parents eventually give in and buy one. In most cases, this develops between the ages of one and two. It's easy to see how a toddler could get hurt by trying to climb out of their crib. Your toddler only needs one slip to fall to the floor. The risk of injury from falling is reduced with a toddler bed.
What Age Is a Toddler Bed For?
You shouldn't feel obligated to upgrade your baby's cot to a full-size bed at a certain age. What you decide will rely greatly on your kid. As when they are able to stand, some babies attempt to leave their cribs. While some are satisfied to remain in their nursery for an extended period of time. Certain youngsters are content to rest their heads in a cradle rather than a bed. It appears that there are almost the same number of people who find it offensive. You'll have to use your own discretion to choose the optimal moment to switch your toddler's sleeping arrangements. However, most kids make the transition to a child's room between the ages of two and a half and three. Most toddlers aren't ready for its bed until they're three, so you may want to wait until then to transition them.
Infant Bed vs. Floor Mattress
It could be that I'm just being frugal. However, we do not see any reason to upgrade to a toddler bed when you can just use the infant mattress from you crib here on floor.
It's true that a mattress on the floor isn't exactly the picture-perfect setup. In any case, if you feel more comfortable with your toddler if you are on the floor, then that is the safest place for both of you. If you're more of a minimalist than a practicalist, you might choose to skip the toddler bed and put the baby's mattress on the floor instead. Your child will have a safer place to sleep, and you will save money in the process.
When Compared to a Regular Bed, What Does a Toddler Bed Offer?
Simply said, a mattress is a bed. Yes, but a toddler bed is not the same as an adult bed in a few key respects. The mattress size for a toddler bed is the same as that of a standard crib. Therefore, its footprint is comparable to that of a standard crib. They are typically placed at a lower height to make it less dangerous for your toddler too climb in and out. However, as is the case with the majority of things, there are always going to be outliers.
A standard adult can sleep comfortably on the mattress used in a single bed. And they pair perfectly with sturdy, grown-up bed frames. That makes them more vertical, and without any further safeguards like bed rails, they are less secure. We have a wide range of baby lighting for your nursery right here at My Baby Nursery.
Toddler Bed Vs Twin Sized Bed
Why not just spend the extra money on a king size bed instead of the $50-$300 you'd pay on a toddler bed? The price tag is likely to stay the same. At around five years of age, most children have outgrown their toddler beds. In theory, your child can sleep in a twin-sized bed until they reach adulthood. Nonetheless, the average lifespan of a mattress is only about ten years.
A decade of service for only a few hundred bucks is still a great deal. A twin-sized bed has a longer lifespan, but it has its own set of problems. The primary issue is that your child can easily slide off it. The use of aftermarket bed rails provides a simple solution to this problem.
Advantages of Purchasing a Toddler Bed
Smoother Changeover
Since a toddler bed is often smaller than a full-size bed, it could make the move from a crib to a big kid's bed less of a shock. Children may also feel more at ease in a toddler bed because they won't be lying in the middle of what can actually be quite a large bed. Keep in mind that a twin bed will look large to a young child.
Uses Up Much less Space
A toddler bed is a good option if you're short on floor space because it takes up far less room than a full-size bed. Some standard beds, however, have drawers underneath for extra storage of things like clothes, books, and games. However, a changing table will still need to be in the room, so a toddler bed may be more practical.
It saves floor space because the mattress size is the same as that of a standard crib. Consequently, you can place them anywhere, even if space is limited. Since bed is so tiny, this also frees up more room on the ground for other activities.
Your infant's mattress and bedding can still be used.
Moving the crib mattress nad bedding to a toddler bed is a great way to get more use out of the investment you made just very few years ago. The child will feel more at ease because they recognise the colours and patterns.
To them, it may not seem like as big of a deal. Single bed comforters for children can be found in a variety of interesting designs, including those with their favourite cartoon characters or theme like dinosaurs, aeroplanes, and safaris.
Make Seats Out of Them
To make the most efficient use of the available space, certain toddler beds can be converted into chairs. This allows the child t sit up and play, associating the bed with enjoyable awake time.
Protects You From Falls More Confidently
When transitioning your child to a full-sized bed, safety may be one of your top concerns. For instance, if he has a habit of rolling around while sleeping, you can rest assured that he will eventually escape. You can prevent him from falling onto the tile surface by placing a soft floor mat next to the standard bed and installing bed rails on both sides of the bed.
These problems can be avoided with a toddler bed because they are not very tall and often come with rails or elevated sides to prevent your child from rolling out.They've got a tonne of features that make them perfect for little ones.
Which signifies that their measurements are appropriate for your child.
Your kid won't have any trouble getting in and out of them because of how low to the floor they are. In addition, many of these beds already include useful safety accessories like railings along the sides.
That means there will be less of a chance of your kid getting hurt if they roll out of bed. If they do happen to fall out, though, they will land at a lower height. Therefore, the possibility of them falling is reduced.
They can be cleaned with less effort.
The sheets on such a toddler bed are just as simple to change as those on a crib, if you've ever done it before. Neither is any different from the other.
We can now contrast this with the process of remaking a full-sized bed. There is a significant dissimilarity. There's no denying that tidying up after a tiny bed is much simpler.
Your kid's creativity can really take off with these.
They're fantastic because you may choose from a wide variety of designs and topics. Anything from automobiles to aeroplanes to boats to castles is fair game. Is there any other approach you might think of to encourage your kid's creative thinking?
Cons for Getting a Toddler Bed
They will not have the same durability.
Your child may soon outgrow his or her toddler bed and want to transition to a full-sized bed in an effort to feel extra "grown up." Every kid is different, so it's hard to generalise. However, unless you want to pass it to a younger child, you won't have as much use out of a real bed as you might out of a conventional one.
Expansion of Expenditures
If you skip the toddler bed stage altogether, you can save yourself the extra, unplanned expense of buying one. Since the bed can be used by future children, it may be worthwhile if you are not strapped for cash and want to start a family in the near future.
Parents Are Not Allowed to Hug and Kiss!
Parents probably won't be able to actually sleep on a toddler bed. That means the kid can't come to bed with you, and you can't bring them to yours, for cuddles.
Another Period of Change
It's exciting to redesign the baby's room, but you should try to minimise the quantity of times you have to disassemble the bed and move the kid to a new room.
Twin/Full-Size Bed Pros:
- To the best of my knowledge, it will serve your child far into adulthood.
- You will avoid having to make two separate purchases to address your issue.
- Experts can bring it to you and assemble it for you.
- There will be only one transition for your kid to go through.
- The bed is big enough for both of you to stretch out on it, so you can cuddle up with your kiddo as they read or rest.
Twin/Full-Size Bed Cons:
- Salespeople are so eager to make a sale that they could pressure you into purchasing a whole bedroom set to go with your new bed. Considering you also need a mattress and box spring, it's safe to assume that this purchase will be somewhat more pricey.
- Nighttime toilet training or bedwetting can cause mattress damage.
- Involving a toddler in the decision-making process can result in a bed that they will quickly outgrow.
What About a Toddler Bed?
"It depends" is the correct response. Do you want to grow your family by having additional children? If so, that may influence your choice. Because of the possibility of using the crib for an impending child, you may need to purchase another mattress for the toddler bed. But if you have more than one child, you might not mind so much because you can easily switch the younger child into the separate bed when the elder one outgrows it.
Think about how much it would cost, how much time it will take, and how often you'd like to change beds. Ensure that your child to transition to a conventional bed immediately if you value efficiency above all else. Study your kid's thought process. Do they appear to be prepared for the change? If so, and they're also asking for one specifically, they may be ready for a standard bed.
A toddlers bed might be an excellent first step towards a bed without bars if you feel as though you need to give them some time to adjust. Another advantage of a conventional bed is that you may easily snuggle with kids for a while until kids fall back asleep if they wake up wailing many times during the night. If you don't let them sleep in their own bed, they'll eventually start sneaking into yours.
Finally, consider the room and financial constraints.
A regular-sized bed may be the wisest purchase if this is going to be the kid's room for the near term, or if you have no aspirations to upgrade to a larger home.
Are They a Waste of Time?
To say that a bed for a child at that age is unnecessary is perhaps too strong. All things considered, they do have certain advantages. We wouldn't sugarcoat it: a child who received a bright red racecar bed as a gift from their parents would have thought they had won the lottery. However, their price tags aren't always cheap. Moreover, your toddler will outgrow them in a couple of years at most. Yes, absolutely, when you can get your hands on one for next to nothing. Though, if you're planning to spend that much on a bed, you might as well go with a twin instead of a toddler bed.
This will ensure that your child has a comfortable sleeping surface for at least 10 years first before mattress needs to be changed. You should prepare your child for the move from the crib to the bed, whatever you end up deciding.
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Conclusion
When the time comes for your child to leave the crib, a toddlers bed is a great transitional step. Kids who have a hard time falling asleep within their own mattresses or taking naps during the day would benefit greatly from using them. You may find a variety of high-quality nursery lights at My Baby Nursery. Explain to him that he will soon be lying in a bed fit for a man, and that he will be able to select his own sheets and blankets. Beds designated for toddlers are designed for kids aged one to two.
Standard crib mattresses fit these beds, although they sit lower to a ground. The average age when a youngster moves to a "kid's room" is 2.7 years old. The differences between a regular bed and a bed for a toddler are significant. To make getting in and out of them safer for your toddler, they are often installed at a lower height. It's common for kids to outgrow thier toddler beds by the time they become five.
Typically, toddler beds are far more compact than regular adult beds. A twin-sized bed may last longer, but it won't keep you as safe and will have you sliding off more often. In to make the best use of the space available, you can transform certain toddler beds into chairs. In order to keep your infant from rolling out, they have rails or raised edges and are not very tall. Changing the sheets on a toddler bed is as easy as doing it with a crib mattress.
Toddler beds are great since they come in so many different styles and themes. If you aren't in a rush to establish a family and have some extra cash on hand, buying a bed that your kids can use is something to consider. It's unlikely that adults can get any rest on a child bed. If you feel like you need to offer them little time to adjust, a toddler bed could be a great interim step forward into a bed without bars. If your child frequently wakes up in the night, a traditional bed has the added benefit of allowing you to snuggle with them until they fall back to sleep.
If this is likely to be the children's room for the foreseeable future, a standard size bed could be the best option. You might as well buy a twin size instead of the toddler size if you're going to be spending this much on a bed.
Content Summary
- When the time comes for your child to leave the crib, a toddler bed is a great transitional step.
- Think about how he feels and hold off on making the change until he is prepared.
- There's now the conundrum of whether or not to acquire a toddler bed, or to bypass that stage completely in favour of a regular bed.
- There is less of a chance of harm from sliding off of a toddler bed.
- Mattresses for toddler beds are the same size as those for cribs.
- Your kid, in principle, can stay in a twin-sized bed until they're adults.
- The installation of aftermarket bed rails is a quick fix for this issue.
- You can get a lot more use out of the investment you invested in the crib mattress and sheets by transferring them to the toddler bed.
- You may need to buy a new mattress for the toddler bed if you plan to use the crib for an expected child.
- If you're concerned about saving time and money, you should get your kid used to sleeping in a regular bed right away.
- At last, think about the space and budget limitations.
- If this is going to be the kid's room for the foreseeable future, or if you have no plans to move to a larger house, a standard-sized bed may be the best option.
- Whatever you decide, you should get your child used to the idea of transitioning from a crib to a bed.
FAQs About Beds For Toddlers
The good news: Blankets, pillows and stuffed animals no longer pose the risk that they did when your child was a baby. Now, it's fine for your toddler to sleep with a thin blanket and maybe a small pillow — but make sure the pillow isn't big enough for him to use as a makeshift step stool to climb out of his crib.
Many toddler beds also have built-in guard rails to prevent your toddler from falling out of bed. These rails also help them feel safe. Toddler-size beds are lower to the floor than single beds, so if your child rolls out of bed, they are less likely to be hurt.
Some notes on longevity: We asked readers last year at what age their child outgrew their toddler bed. The majority said at three years old, although the next most popular answer was five. So, it depends on the size of the bed, the size of your kid and your kid's preferences.
Your child might cry and insist they want their crib back. Stay positive and expect it to take a month or two for them to fully adjust to their new digs.
Most toddlers are ready for bed between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm. This is a good time, because they sleep deepest between 8 pm and midnight. It's important to keep the routine consistent on weekends as well as during the week.