Best Toddler Beds in 2019 – Buying Guide and Top Picks
Looking for the best toddler beds on the market? Our buying guide will help you find the right model for your little one.
Looking for the best toddler beds on the market? Our buying guide will help you find the right model for your little one.
As all parents know, moving from the crib into a bed, is a big step for both the toddler and the parents. But choosing the right bed is not easy. There are many, almost unlimited, options and choices for a toddler bed. But, since 1997, when the Federal Register Office approved the official specifications for toddler beds, there are specific rules that should be followed to ensure the child’s safety in bed. The most important rules are the ones that dictate the size of the bed and the use of guardrails, the size of the openings that prevent legs, hands, and fingers from being stuck in the bed and rules that indicate that the bed should be put lower to the ground than the regular beds are.
Safety is the most important thing to worry about, and beds should follow all the necessary rules. Most of the brands apply these rules to their products, so parents have a wide range of choices from which to choose. With this article, we aim to help you get informed about all of the crucial aspects of buying a toddler bed. You can take a look at the four best toddler beds, and read our guide with information that you should consider when purchasing a bed for your toddler.
Qualities:
The DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib is the best choice for most families. This is the most versatile bed that can function as a baby crib, toddler bed with guardrail, daybed and a big standard model with a headboard and footboard. The conversion feature is handy and money saving with the conversion kits you can buy separately. It has a lot of potential for years of use, and a one-year warranty to guarantee you can get a refund if the bed does not function. However, this bed is the most expensive one on our list, but it can be used for years to come and is a good investment.
The pinewood from New Zealand is what makes this bed versatile and functional. It is designed as a modern sleigh bed, with 56 pounds of weight, adjustable height, and a weight limit of 50 pounds for the toddler. According to buyers, the construction of the crib takes an hour. It is available in seven finishes – rich cherry, gray, espresso, white, oak, and chestnut ebony. It is also made under all CPSC and ASTM international standards of safety, and it has a GREENGUARD Gold Certification. With these, you can feel confident that there are no harmful materials and your child will be safe.
Qualities:
The Dream On Me Emma 3 in 1 Convertible Toddler Bed is the best toddler bed with rails and also one of the safest you can find. It has safety guardrails that protect your child. The model does not contain any lead, latex, phthalates or BPA. It has center legs put to provide sturdiness and stability. The model itself weighs twenty-seven pounds, but the maximum weight allowed is seventy pounds. It is made from pinewood that originates from New Zealand, and it has low to the floor frame.
The most interesting part is that it can be used as a table, two child-size sofas, a smaller bed, and an all-in-one bed for one toddler. However, for these conversions, you need to buy a separate kit that will allow you to modify the bed into another version of it. The general design is very sophisticated, with flowing lines and gentle curves. It is available in six finishes to choose from – royal blue, white, fuchsia pink, espresso, bright yellow, and emerald to fit any child’s room. But, the assembly has been reported to last for more than one hour because the model is very sturdy and has a lot of tools that you need to use to construct it.
Qualities:
The DaVinci Sleigh Toddler Bed is one of the best safe beds for toddlers, with a height of only six inches from the floor and a weight of 23 pounds. It is made from wood that came from sustainable forests. The bed uses the standard size of a crib mattress, which means you can fit your old crib mattress in it, save money and give your child a familiar environment. It also comes in five finishes – ebony, espresso, gray, white, and rich cherry, to customize the bed to fit any room decor.
The bed meets all the ASTM safety standards, which means that is made without any toxic or hazardous materials. The painting process is also non-toxic and free of phthalates and lead. The assembly is very easy and straightforward, so it will not take you more than an hour to construct the bed. The weight of the whole model is twenty-eight pounds, and the maximum allowed weight is fifty pounds. However, it is only available for domestic shipping.
Qualities:
The Orbelle 3-6T Toddler Bed is one of the best single beds for toddlers. This model is made from solid wood and hardware that is visible to give the bed a slightly industrial look. But it also has seven finishes that will match anything – gray, French white, dark cherry, white, light pink and espresso. Apart from it being designed to look great, it was also constructed with safety in mind, with two guardrails that will keep the child safe and prevent him from falling. The support has center support legs so that the bed won’t move and a lock that will put it into place and provide additional security and stability.
The Orbelle toddler bed is the best available product you can get at this price. The model itself is the most lightweight on our list. It weighs eighteen pounds, and the maximum weight allowed on it is sixty pounds. The assembly is straightforward with the provided instructions, and parents report that the model is very sturdy and comfortable for the toddler. However, it does not have a convertible design.
You have seen the top-rated toddler beds, so now we are going to help you understand which bed could be the right fit for your child and fulfill the needs of your family. We are going to go over all the essential considerations and aspects you need to look over when buying a new bed for your toddler.
The most crucial question you are asking yourself is when is time to start using a toddler bed instead of a crib. Children can be ready for this significant milestone at any period from one to four years old. The optimal way to see if your child is prepared for this is by assessing certain factors. If the child wakes up early, if he is potty training or if the little escape artist is continuously climbing out of the crib, they could possibly be ready to transition to the next step in their childhood. Toddlerhood actually starts from your child’s first birthday. However, during this period he or she is still too young to sleep securely in the standard bed, and yet too old to sleep in a crib.
Like we mentioned, if your child is regularly escaping the crib, it means it is no longer a suitable bed for him or her. Even though he or she might have proven themselves with their escape mastery, this can be dangerous for them. Falling out from the crib can cause many injuries, like cuts, fractures, bruises, and scrapes. To prevent this, your child needs a new and better bed. Toddler beds are actually the same mattress size so that the child will have a familiar surrounding, but with more safety and less dangerous falls.
After reviewing some of the general aspects of toddler beds, let’s take a look at all the characteristics and considerations to look at when purchasing a new bed for your toddler.
First, let’s take a look at the materials used for toddler beds. They can be made from wood, metal, plastic and particle, and the additional use of fabric like canopy or tent for some models. Wood and metal are the most durable materials that will make your toddler bed last longer. These are the most recommended materials to be used because they are sturdy, versatile and resilient. Metals beds are also very light and easy to assemble. However, wooden beds tend to have a slightly higher price because of their unique qualities.
Plastic offers a lot of benefits for maintenance. This material is widely used because it is easy to clean and it can be made into so many designs that your child might enjoy. Materials like particleboard or pressboard are the cheapest ones. They are the least sturdy materials that a bed uses. And sturdiness is a crucial factor to consider when choosing the material. The best mattresses and beds need to have a good feel and response because kids love jumping on the beds. You also need to check the weight limits, because all materials have different recommendations for the maximum weight that can be applied.
Apart from sturdiness, you will need to consider the longevity of the bed, and the quality of the mattress. A durable bed is important because your child will be a toddler for a couple of years. You can even use your crib mattress for the standard toddler bed because they are made to fit the crib models to make the transition easier. But, your child may outgrow its toddler bed, and in three to four years it will no longer be of any use for your child. It is essential to look for adjustable and versatile model as you can change it into adult-sized bed that has a new mattress, but the same frame.
The price of the bed depends on multiple factors. The most essential things to consider are the longevity and versatility of the bed. If you are planning on using it for more than one child, it might be best to choose a non-themed and sturdy bed. If you want to get an adjustable model, you should opt for higher-priced beds with this feature, and perhaps check if the cheaper beds have different configuration option. Ultimately, the period of time for using the bed will determine the price you need to pay to get a suitable and durable model. There are also some versatile cribs that can go from a crib to an adult-sized bed. This feature can save you from spending more money on at least two, if not more, bed frames.
The last, but also important consideration is the safety feature. Toddler beds need to follow safety standards made by ASTM international and U.S. CPSC. These standards pertain to the construction of all toddler beds, so your desirable bed should follow them. If the models have GREENGUARD Gold Certification, you can be sure that they do not contain any harmful materials or substances, which is essential if your children tend to put anything in their mouth. Adjustable guardrails are also a good safety feature beds have. Of course, you need to watch out for beds with small parts and find the model with the least number of them, to avoid choking hazards if the screws or frame get loose. Make sure you check and tighten screws regularly as they might loosen over time.
Iva is an art historian and an art lover who always had a passion for writing and sleep! When she is not researching and testing new mattresses on the market, you can find her binge-watching TV shows, eating tons of junk food or playing with her dog Bart.