Buying a children's bed can be challenging, especially when it comes to choosing the right bed for the right age - but there are some guidelines that can help you as you endeavor to find which bed is the best for your little guy or gal.
The age of the child will definitely make a difference when it comes to selecting the right bed for the child.
Crib Bumper Sets
- Up to 24 months. Babies up to 24 months typically sleep in a crib. Cribs are great for this age because they basically put your baby in a comfortable cage where he or she cannot be harmed, and you can make the area as pleasant as possible by adding bumper pads, comforters and distractions like mobiles to help baby get to sleep faster. A word of warning, however; there is no set age that a child should be moved out of the crib into other sleeping arrangements. A good rule of thumb is that when the baby starts "climbing" that he or she needs to be in a different type of bed because of the danger of falls.
- The toddler. Once a baby can climb, cribs can become very dangerous as baby works to escape from the crib when you are not looking. A toddler bed is a great children's bed choice for children of this age. It is small and low to the ground so that it is perfectly sized for the child to get into, and if he rolls off, he's not far from the floor. Most come with a guard rail that prevents this from happening. There are tons of toddler beds on the market.
- Regular bed. A regular bed for your older child is the next step after a toddler bed. Most kids can sleep in a toddler bed until they are six years of age - but may need moved to a regular children's bed before or after that age - depending on the child's size. A toddler bed mattress is about the size of a crib mattress - so when your child becomes too large to fit in a toddler bed, a half bed or twin bed is usually the next bed that the child will need. A twin bed is usually the optimal choice, although many parents choose to buy the child a full size bed.
There are also cribs on the market that convert from crib to toddler bed to half bed as the child grows. This type of children's bed may be the best value for your dollar.