Collaborative Post¦ As children develop, it’s important for them to feel like they have their own space to retreat to within the home. Many kids want to start putting their own stamp on their environment, whether that’s having a say in the colour and design of the bedding that they use or putting up their pictures and handmade decorations on the walls. When it comes to customising a space for your growing child, picking out the right furniture is a key consideration. While kids might be more interested in getting the cool bed shaped like a racing car or the platform bed with space underneath it, as a parent, getting the right bed size is one of the main things to consider. Keeping your child safe and comfortable is a main concern, and you also need to think about affordability – your child will keep on growing, so most parents want to purchase beds and other furniture items that will grow with your child for a few years. There are several standard bed sizes to consider for children. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help you pick the right size bed for your little one.
Main Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bed for Your Child
Children’s beds come in a range of shapes and sizes. Check out Children’s Bed Shop to see the wide range of options available including mid sleepers, cabin beds, platform beds, storage beds, and novelty beds that might be great options for your child. Children’s Bed Shop also offer a range of package deals including bed and mattress sets that you can set up quickly and easily to give your child the space that they have always wanted in your home.
When choosing the right bed for your child, size is one of the most important factors. Think about how tall they are currently and how much they are likely to grow over the next couple of years. While you can get shorter beds for smaller kids, if your child has a growth spurt, the last thing that you want is for them to be going to sleep with their feet hanging off the end of the bed, so pick a bed that has some extra space at the bottom for them to grow into. Most of the time, a standard single bed is a great choice since this will often last your child right through to being a teenager.
Your child’s current dexterity and strength are also important to think about when picking the right bed. Are they able to climb? Will they be able to easily balance getting up onto a high or mid sleeper bed, for example? Think about what they do when playing outside – can they move around the playground easily and climb trees? If not, your child might not quite be ready for a mid-sleeper or a top bunk.
Choosing Your Child’s Bed Based on Their Age
How old your child is should give you a good idea of the kind of bed that is most likely to be suitable for them. There are different beds that are designed to be most suitable for kids at certain stages of their development.
Infant to Four Years Old
This is likely to be your child’s first bed after a crib or cot. Ideally, it should be close to the ground – a day bed is usually a good choice, or you can get specially designed toddler beds that are the ideal length and height. You may be interested in getting a bed that has a guard rail for some additional safety at night to stop your child from rolling out of the bed.
Aged Six to Nine
At this age, children are having growth spurts and getting a little bit more active with better balance and climbing skills. At this stage of their development, a low loft bed might be an ideal option. Ideally, you should opt for a bed that is no higher than around fifty inches from the floor to the top of the bed. A storage bed, or a bed with a rollout mattress underneath so that they can easily have a cousin or friend stay over can be a great option for this age.
Ten and Older
Children aged ten and above are often starting puberty, need their own space that little bit more and tend to go through more growth spurts. At this stage of their development, a higher bed is fine as they will usually be able to safely sleep on a top bunk bed or a high sleeper bed. A loft bed is an ideal choice for kids this age since it provides them with more of their own space in the bedroom; the area underneath can house a desk, dresser, or another piece of furniture for your child. Check the ceiling height of the room before choosing the right bed to make sure that your child has enough room to sit up and move around in bed safely.
Other Things to Consider When Choosing a Bed for Your Child
Along with considering the age of your child, safety features and the size of the bed in comparison to your child’s height, there are some other main things to consider when it comes to choosing bedroom furniture for your little one. These are:
The Available Space
The size of your child’s bedroom itself is likely to have an impact on the furniture that you can put in there. If your child is in the smallest bedroom, then you don’t want the bed to take up all of the room if you can help it. For older children in smaller bedrooms, high sleeper and mid sleeper beds tend to work well since they create more space underneath the bed that can be used for other purposes. For younger kids who need a bed that is lower down, consider a bed with storage underneath so that the bedroom space is not wasted.
Consider the Future
When choosing the right bed and other bedroom furniture for your kids, you will need to think about what the future might hold. For example, if you want to expand your family, your child might end up sharing the room with a sibling. Or, as your child gets older, their tastes and preferences might change, and a bed that they once loved might be a bit too childish for them. If you want to avoid spending too much money in the future to accommodate your child’s changing preferences, consider buying furniture that is fairly neutral and will work with different décor options over time. For instance, it would be more cost-effective to choose car themed bedding than go for a car shaped bed that you’ll have to replace in a few years! If you opt for a good quality bed you can go from silk baby sheets, to a princess bedding then a chic duvet cover, taking you from baby to teen.
Style Options
There are lots of different style options to consider when it comes to getting the right bed for your child. For children, some of the most popular include storage beds, trundle beds, and bunk beds. Trundle beds are a great choice if you often have your child’s friends or cousins over to stay as they have a comfortable place to sleep that can go back out of the way under the bed when not in use. Bunk beds are ideal for siblings to share, and storage beds can help you get the most out of a smaller child’s bedroom.
When it comes to choosing the right bed for your child, safety, size, design, and features are some of the main factors to consider.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.