Rest easy with our guide to children’s beds

A good night’s sleep starts with a good bed. Use our tips to find the best one for your little one.

It’s an emotional moment when your child is ready for a ‘big bed’ or to personalise his or her own sleeping space. Our guide will help you choose a bed that will appeal to your child’s tastes and needs as well as your budget.

Ready for a big bed

When’s the right time to move your child from a cot to a bed? The answer to this is different for every family. Some children are ready to move out of their cot at 18 months old. For others, it could be two years.

“As a parent, you will know when the time is right,” says Louise Thomas, director of Little Lucy Willow. “Your child could simply have grown too big to sleep comfortably in their cot. Or they might be attempting to climb out, in which case it’s definitely time to think about moving them to bed.”

Try to make the transition a positive experience. Talk about it a week or so beforehand to make sure your child understands what’s happening. Help them feel secure, too: “Let them choose some new bedding perhaps, and, if they seem upset about the change, let them sleep with their old cot blanket for comfort,” suggests Louise.

To ease into this new phase, aim to put the new bed in the same place as the cot and keep bedtime routines exactly the same. “Don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t go according to plan, says Louise. “It’s a huge step for your child to take and some will adapt much better than others. Just remember to heap on the praise when they sleep in their new ‘big bed’.”

The next step

If you’re concerned that your child is struggling with leaving his or her cot, Melanie Allan, commercial product manager at Silver Cross, recommends a toddler bed. “It’s smaller and lower than a normal single bed, making the transition less daunting,” she says. If your child needs to get up in the night, the lower height will also keep them safe from any bumps.

Go full size

The downside to a toddler bed is that your child will outgrow it pretty quickly. If you’re not keen to splash out on a bed with a short shelf life, it’s fine to go straight to a full size bed. Add a bed guard (look at Mothercare or Argos) for peace of mind until your child gets used to sleeping without rails.

Bag a bunk

A bunk bed is a great way for siblings to share a bedroom, particularly when space is tight. Many bunks split into separate single beds so you don’t have to invest in new ones when your kids get older.

“EU guidelines state that bunk beds should only be used by children aged six years or over,” explains Louise. “However, as a parent you will know if your child is mature enough to sleep on the top bunk and whether they are able to use the ladder safely and sensibly.”

Shop for a bunk bed with a solid, continuous side rail to offer extra safety and security for young children.

Combine storage and sleeping

You’ll need to create space as your child gets older and acquires more possessions. Increase storage without sacrificing square inches with a cabin bed (also known as a mid sleeper), which will house drawers, a cupboard and sometimes even a pull-out desk in its base.

Cabin beds aren’t recommended for children from the age of four, and you’ll know best if your child will struggle with the ladder.

All hail the high sleeper

High sleepers are a cross between a bunk and a cabin bed. They’re a similar height to a bunk bed and are accessed by a ladder, but the taller space beneath the mattress can feature a desk, chill-out space or storage – so you’ll save on buying these items. High sleepers are not recommended for children under six.

Twice as nice

Find room for overnight guests with a trundle bed (also known as a truckle bed). A smaller bed on casters rolls out from under a standard-height one: simply add bedding and the sleepover can start!

The right mattress

When buying your child’s mattress, always choose quality over price. “We spend an average of a third of our lives in bed, so this is possibly the most important piece of furniture we can buy — particularly for a growing child who needs sufficient sleep and support for development purposes,” says Claire Hornby, creative manager at Barker and Stonehouse..

It’s best to choose a spring-based mattress for your child rather than a cheaper foam mattress, adds Melanie Allan of Silver Cross. “The springs will provide support and aid in air circulation,” she explains.

Cabin beds, high sleepers and bunks often come with a recommended mattress depth, so always check this before buying.

For further hints and tips, check out our mattress buying guide

Blow the budget

Cast practicality aside and indulge in a couple of show-stopping designs from Portuguese manufacturer Circu. You may not have the space (or the budget) for beds like these, but it’s always good to dream!