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Last updated: April 2025
It may feel like just yesterday you brought home your newborn baby. Now they’ve grown so quickly and are becoming more independent every day. If your baby is ready to make the move from a cot to a bigger bed, a toddler bed is a great choice. Our toddler bed guide will help you choose the right bed for your child as we discuss toddler bed age range, sizes, safety, and style options.
As a general guide, your little one will move into a toddler bed from age 12 months up to about 4 years old. A toddler bed is great to get them ready when they upgrade to a normal childen’s bed around 5 years old. These aren’t hard and fast rules though, as every child is different and ultimately you’ll know when the time’s right for your toddler.
One of the first telling signs that your little one is ready to move out of their cot is when they start to try climbing out of it! Not only is this a safety concern, but it shows their growing independence and mobility which means they are most likely ready to sleep in a toddler bed. Another easy sign to look out for is when they have grown too big for the cot. Sometimes, your child will simply ask to have their own bed and want to feel like a ‘big kid’ so a toddler bed is the next big step.
Although it may feel a little daunting to think of your baby growing up and leaving their cot, you should try to make it an exciting and positive process for them. We’ve listed the following tips to get you started.
Encourage your toddler to see the move as a big deal and remind them how clever they are for moving out of their cot into a big boy's or big girl’s bed.
Try using their old cot bedding in the new bed to help them feel safe and comforted in their new surroundings. You could even place the cot mattress on top of the new bed frame too.
Introduce the new bed slowly by putting your little one down in it for daytime naps.
Invest in some safety guards. Moving from a four-sided cot into an open bed can be a little scary for them and worrying for you. Guards on either side of the toddler bed will give you both that extra peace of mind while they’re still getting used to it. However, some toddler beds have sturdy raised sides that act as safety guards and protect your child from rolling or falling out.
Try to keep the rest of their normal bedtime routine the same. This will help to reassure your little one.
Toddler beds are smaller than a single kids beds, typically 77cm wide and 143cm in length. In imperial measurements, this is equal to 31 inches wide and 56 inches long. Safety rails are usually around 44cm from the floor with a small gap for your little to get in and out of their new bed.
For a more detailed approach to which size beds are suitable for your child, take a look at this handy table.
The recommended age ranges are to be used as a guide only. Please consider the size of your child and whether you feel that they’re mentally and physically ready to move into a bigger bed.
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We have a range of character toddler beds for both boys and girls. From princess themed, cars, dinosaurs, and floral designs. Perfect for themed bedrooms, these fun and colourful designs will make their bedroom and bedtime more exciting.
In addition, we also have toddler beds with storage which make tidying toys up more fun for your little one. These storage toddler beds provide handy underbed storage such as pull-out drawers. Plus, they’re made with soft zip-lock fabric so there are no sharp corners or mechanisms to catch fingers in. We also stock a range of toddler mattresses and kids’ toy boxes, bookcases and storage units to match some of our toddler beds.
Toddler beds are designed with your little one’s safety in mind. Toddler beds are low enough for your child, whatever their age or height, to comfortably get in and out on their own. The edges are rounded too, so you needn’t worry about your child getting scratched on any sharp corners. The wood is also polished for a smooth finish all over – no risky splinters, cracks or bumps.
However, you should still take safety into concern when assembling your new toddler bed. We recommend the following checklist:
Our toddler bed frames sit 21cm above the floor, but when you add a standard 10cm deep mattress, your child will then be 31cm from the floor. This is why the guard rails usually sit around 44cm above the ground, ensuring maximum safety.
As toddler beds are smaller, you may question the value of investing in something that your child will grow out of in a few years. However, toddler beds are specially designed for this stage in your little one's life, which means that they have lots of benefits and advantages over keeping your child in a cot or moving straight to a standard bed.
If your child is getting bigger and older, they may now be ready to move up from a toddler bed. There’s no set age for these milestones, so it comes down to your little one's comfort and what works for them. Here are a few signs that they’re ready for the transition to their first big bed:
The best way to choose a new kid's bed for your child is to involve them in the purchasing pro-cess, so they can see the options available and tell you what styles and features they like. Explore our kids' bedroom page for more information on a wide variety of bed frame options including kids' storage beds, cabin beds, and bunk beds. You can also find our kids' mattresses, bedding, and bedroom furniture to complete the redesign.
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