While babies will no longer need to use a bassinet and need to be moved to a crib at 6 months of age, it can be difficult to know when your growing baby is ready to swap their beloved crib for a toddler and which crib to tuck them into. For help with everything, check out our guide to buying the best toddler beds.
What Is a Toddler Bed?
The toddler bed is the perfect transitional sleeping space between a comfortable crib and a single bed. Toddler beds can accommodate mattresses of the same size as cribs, but are not restricted by the surrounding railings. In addition, toddler beds are lower than traditional single beds, making it easier to get in and out. Unlike cradles or even cribs, toddler beds are suitable for a few years. Depending on your space and your child’s growth, your child can sleep in a toddler’s bed until around 5 years old.
When Is the Transition from a Crib to a Toddler Bed?
General rule of thumb: If your child seems to be plotting to escape from the crib for the first time, or you’ve already noticed them rolling over from their side, it’s time to introduce the toddler’s bed. If your child is not a wannabe getaway artist, it is important to take action if:
- They are 35 inches tall. (About three feet.)
- The crib side rails are about the level of the nipple
- Your child begins potty training
- Your child is between the ages of 18 months and 3 years
- They’re old enough, and you also have a newborn coming up (if possible, start using it at least after a few crib transitions) a few months before your baby is born.
PS: If your child is younger than 15 months, the safest place to sleep is still a crib.
Why Use a Toddler Bed Instead of a Single Bed?
Toddler beds provide a cocoon-like sensation similar to the crib your child is already Xi to, which often makes the transition from crib to bed easier. Add…
- The toddler’s bed is low off the floor, making it easy and safe to enter and exit.
- Many toddler beds are equipped with guardrails to help keep active sleepers safe.
- You can continue to use your baby’s crib mattress and crib bedding.
- If you have purchased a convertible crib, you don’t need to buy more furniture right away.
- Toddler beds have a smaller footprint, which means more space to play.
- If you suddenly encounter a crib jumper, you can quickly turn the convertible crib into a toddler.
Toddler Beds Must: Familiar
Swapping your child’s fully enclosed crib for a semi-enclosed toddler cot is an effective way to meet their natural need for consistency. For the ultimate sense of familiarity, start with a convertible crib that you can eventually turn into a toddler bed. This way, the new toddler bed looks, feels, and experiences almost identical to the one your child cherishes.
Toddler Beds Must: Safe
For toddlers and their adults, waving goodbye to the crib’s safety fence can be scary! That’s why it’s important to invest in a toddler bed that meets your safety requirements. Look for the following toddler bed safety essentials:
- Guardrails: These are almost like half-walls fixed to the sides of the toddler’s bed to prevent your child from rolling onto the floor.
- Low to the floor: Make sure the toddler bed you choose is easy for your child to get in and out of to minimize the risk of falls.
- A suitable mattress: The toddler bed is used to accommodate the crib mattress, and the crib mattress should fit snugly against the bed frame, and there is no gap between the mattress and the bed frame. If you can put more than two fingers between the mattress and the bed frame, it doesn’t fit! To ensure the safest fit, it’s best to buy a mattress from the same manufacturer as your toddler’s cot or folding crib.
- Hidden hardware: This prevents your pajamas from accidentally tripping and scratching.
- Safety certifications: Make sure the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has not recalled the toddler bed you are considering.
Toddler Beds Must: Durable
Whether your child’s bed is timeless, stylish, whimsical, or themed, all toddler beds must be sturdy. After all, your child’s new toddler bed needs to be sturdy enough to support parent cuddles, toddler bouncing, and lots of imaginative play! (My bed is a boat!) It’s a rocket! No, it’s a magic carpet! Look for a toddler bed made from sturdy wood, such as sustainable New Zealand pine, with a metal spring base. Durable solid wood with a spring-loaded base will withstand the noisy years of toddlers better than chipboard or wood slatted grids. Finally, look for a bed frame that is non-toxic, water-based with a surface finish that is not easy to break.
Toddler Beds Must: Non-toxic
The safest, non-toxic toddler beds are made of 100% solid wood with a water-based finish and are free of BPA, formaldehyde, lead, phthalates and VOCs. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. Certain cribs and toddler beds release these toxic chemicals that can irritate your child’s eyes and airways.
Toddler Bed Essentials: Timeless Design
Children’s tastes change. One day they were all about racing, and the next day they started talking. As long as a week, dinosaurs will rule your child’s room. This means that buying a piece of furniture based on your child’s current tastes can be a costly mistake. Better idea: Choose a classic piece of furniture that blends seamlessly into any fashion or décor choice. And save your decor theme!