Most babies will spend approximately one year in the new crib that you buy for them. Of course every new parent considers having a new crib since that seems to make your baby’s room cute and comfortable. Plus, a crib allows you to feel safe and secure while your child is sleeping. However, do you have the money to spend on a new crib? Really good cribs may cost you up to $1000 or more, especially if you want the really good, stable, and secure kind. Therefore, instead of investing that much money in a crib that your child will only sleep and for one year or less, consider buying a junior bed that converts from a crib to a regular little bed.

As your child gets older he will want to have a bed that is similar to what he sees in everybody else’s rooms. He will want to copy you in everything he does. When your child is really young people need things that will influence him are the people around him. Therefore, consider getting a bed that can be used for a longer period of time. Junior beds can be used until your child is six or seven years old and sometimes older. Therefore, buying a junior bed that that converts allows you to save a lot of money.

It may sound like a surprise that junior beds can save you money. At first glance they seem like they are very expensive. However, compare that cost to buying a crib, and then buying a little bed in between, and you may find that it will be more economical to buy one item instead of two. Having a baby cost a lot of money and there are lots of places where you want to try and save money so you can spend them later on your child as he grows up. Making sure your child has a comfortable and good place to sleep is very important. However, trying to make sure that you don’t spend bundles of money just to give your child a comfortable bed is also very important. Consider buying a junior bed such as the Stokke bed to save you money.

Cars junior ready bed from Amazon

After doing some research online, I figured out that one way to get around this was to buy him a junior ready bed and allow him to use it on the weekends to sleep in different rooms.  This way, he could get used to sleeping in different places if we ever went on vacation or took him to someone’s house for a sleepover.

A junior ready bed is basically a sleeping bag with an air mattress on the bottom.  Usually, they come with a pump for the air mattress.  It feels a little better than sleeping on a regular sleeping bag because the air mattress is a bit more comfortable.  Lately, many children have been using junior ready beds for sleepovers instead of the traditional sleeping bag.

The great thing about these ready beds is that they come in so many different styles and characters.  Disney has an entire line including the Disney Cars and Disney Princesses.  They also come with other characters such as Dora the Explorer, Spiderman, and even High School Musical.  So, whatever age your child is, you will find something that fits.  For my little one, I chose the Disney Cars Ready Bed since he loves cars.  He actually hasn’t seen the movie yet since his attention span is so low, but I know he’ll love the movie when I show him.

This past weekend, I let him sleep in his play room for 1 night and he was ecstatic.  We made it sort of a game where he helped me roll out his bed and lay it on the floor.  Then, I read to him, the same way we do every night and then told him it was time for bed.  He was actually fast asleep after a few minutes and slept perfectly well in his junior ready bed all night long.

The bed he chose is blue, my son loves blue.  The second he saw it, he climbed up into the bed and lay down, right in front of the salesman.  Then he proceeded to climb all over it and play in it.  The funny thing was, he sat on the car with his little legs sticking out and started making “vroom, vroom” noises.  I have no idea who taught him that since neither me nor his dad nor his grandparents have ever said that word!  When we were about to leave the store, he wouldn’t leave!  I had to convince him that we had bought that bed for him and that it was going to come to our house in a week.  I explained to him that it was going to be like when Santa Claus brings over gifts.  We had to wait a little bit, but then it would come.  In the end, he left with us, but was slightly teary-eyed.

Example of the Little Tikes Race Car Bed

We really liked the Little Tikes Race Car Bed because it was really sturdy.  My husband sat on it and knocked his hands against the entire bed.  At one point, he knocked and pushed so loud that the salesman looked over.  Apparently, lots of parents do it, so he didn’t mind.  It is really sturdy and the raised edges made us feel better about our son sleeping in it since it will help prevent him from rolling off the side.  My husband characterized it as “pretty good detailing” in terms of the tire and the body so clearly, he thought it was a good enough replica of a car to buy for our son.  Both of them loved the car and my husband joined my son while he was pretending to drive around in it and I saw them both steering a fake steering wheel while driving by cows and sheep and mailmen and all sorts of words that my son had remembered from the books we read to him.

If you’re looking to buy a racing car bed, I would highly recommend the Little Tikes Race car bed.

Stokke junior bed

Convertible crib to junior bed

The convertible crib to junior bed is made for babies to grow into. Starting with the crib, the bed can be converted by removing the front railings and making it more like a toddler or junior bed. The most famous of these is the Stokke Sleepi Crib with the Stokke Sleepi Junior Bed System. This bed starts as a crib with railings on all sides. The railings are adjustable as your child grows. Then, when the child is around 2 or 3, the crib’s railings can be removed in the front or back or both, making the bed into a toddler or junior bed. Finally, when the child is over, the Junior Bed kit allows you to convert that crib into a 67.5” junior bed made for 3-7 year olds.

Not all junior beds come with this complete system, so make sure you check what type of bed it is before you purchase. Also, check to see how long your child will be able to use it and how easily convertible it is. The benefits of the Stokke System and other beds like this is that the child keeps the same bed for many years. The familiarity of the bed allows them to more easily transition into each stage of sleeping. You also save a lot of money since you don’t have to keep buying a new bed.

Junior bed with railings on the side

Another type of junior bed comes with railings on the side. Sometimes, the railings extend half way across, while other times, the railings just extend out a little, just enough to help the child feel secure. These beds are also lower to the ground so they are easier for a child to climb into them. When deciding whether or not to buy these, think about how independent your child is. Is your child transitioning from a crib? Does your child tend to roll around while sleeping? Is your child usually afraid of the dark and have a hard time falling asleep in his or her own bed? Does your child sleep fine in a regular bed or have you even tried that before? Answering these questions will help you determine if you need a special junior bed with railings. Not all children need it, but some do to feel more secure. Others need it if they tend to roll around in bed. Finally, having the railings sometimes remind the children of their own crib. If they slept comfortably in that and are transitioning to a junior bed, you may want to consider one with railings.

Junior bed without railings

This junior bed is almost exactly like a regular twin bed. The one difference is that it is smaller and oftentimes lower to the ground. Again, like the one with railings, the lower height helps the child get in and out of bed more easily. This makes them feel more independent, especially when sleeping in their own bed. Consider this junior bed if your child is pretty independent, doesn’t roll around a lot while sleeping, and feels pretty comfortable in his own bed.

Junior loft bed

Junior loft bed

This bed is like a loft. The bed is raised up and underneath there are drawers or cupboards or an area that can be converted to a children’s play area. These beds usually have ladders or steps that children have to climb up on the side. There are also added elements such as slides that children can play on. This type of bed looks sort of like a child’s jungle gym except the bed is on top. They are great for rooms that don’t have enough space for a play area or if you want to add an additional play area for your child. These junior loft beds come in many types for girls and boys like the castle bed or the fort bed. Finally, these beds can be pricier, anywhere from $200 – $800 for ones made of solid wood.

Race car bed

Since sleeping is something that most toddlers like to avoid, having a toddler car bed will make going to bed infinitely more appealing. The car bed almost resembles a toy that your toddler can play in. Introduce the bed to your toddler and have him get comfortable with playing in the bed. Don’t play too much however or else your toddler will never go to sleep. Try to play a little and then ask him or her to relax in the bed. Have him pretend you are on a car ride to your dreams. All of these little things will help to introduce your toddler to sleeping on his own in his own bed.

The main design of a car bed is the race car bed. These beds are designed to look like race cars. The racing car bed is low to the ground which makes the bed a bit easier for your child to climb into. Usually, the place where your child would sleep is the back of the car which is made to be raised up a little bit for extra protection around your child’s head. Some of the beds are raised around all of the edges so if your child rolls in his sleep, these are great substitutes for bed rails. There are also specialty theme beds like the bat mobile bed, the fire engine bed, and the hummer bed. For little girls, there is the castle bed and the cloud bed and some other designs that appeal more to little girls.

Car bed

Car beds are made in a lot of different materials. The main materials are wood and plastic. The wood bed is a bit more sturdy and it is also a bit heavier than plastic. The plastic car beds are a bit softer on the edges since plastic will bend a little. These are also a bit lighter, but the construction is not as detailed as wood.

Pricing for these car beds range from $200 to $400 on average, although there are some that are a lot more expensive. When shopping for a car bed, be sure to shop around for the best price since pricing at different stores will vary greatly. A good comparison shopping engine online is Nextag which allows you to see which stores have the item in stock and how much the average cost of the bed is.

Car beds are very fun beds for your kids. If you are considering a junior bed, consider a car bed. This will definitely make it easier for you to coach your kid to bed.

Kids Junior Bed

What is a junior bed?

A junior bed is a smaller bed made for children or toddlers.  The ones for children are used to transition them into a regular adult bed.  The smaller size helps kids feel more comfortable than a regular adult bed.  The beds are often made with special rails to help the kids feel more safe and secure.

Sometimes, junior beds are even smaller and resemble cribs.  These beds are for toddlers and help transition them from a crib to a regular or older junior bed.  These junior beds usually have railings surrounding them on all sides except the front.  Sometimes, these beds are made from convertible cribs and therefore, help the toddler feel safer since the bed is familiar to them.

Purpose

A junior bed oftentimes helps kids in the transition from sleeping with their parents or in their crib to sleeping on their own.  Junior beds more closely resemble the child’s cribs and many come with extra railings.  Junior beds are also smaller so the child does not feel lost in the bed.  Finally, they are lower to the ground so the child can independently get into and out of bed on his or her own.  This independence will help the child tremendously, since the child will not fear the inability to get out of his bed should he experience any trouble at night sleeping on his own.

Types of junior beds

There are 3 main types of junior beds depending on the age of your child.  There is the convertible crib that becomes a junior bed, the junior bed with railings and the junior bed without railings.  All 3 come with different features.  Read the types of junior beds article for more information.

Junior bed for toddlers

Junior Bed Sizes

Junior beds have many different sizes.  When buying one of these for your child, make sure you know what size the bed is and how long you want to keep the bed.  If your child is young and you want them to sleep in the bed for a few years, consider a larger junior bed.  However, if your child is a baby, consider a smaller one that they can use for a few years before switching to a larger bed for kids.

Prices

Prices for these types of beds vary tremendously.  It really depends on the style, the quality, the design and the brand of bed.  You will see junior beds go from $200 to more than $600.  Do not forget that when purchasing the bed, you will also have to purchase the smaller sheet sets and sometimes the mattress.  Oftentimes, the junior bed frame and junior bed mattress are sold independently.  In general, an investment in a solid, high quality junior bed is worth the price.  Especially since your child will use it for a while.

Mirror that my son was practicing in

One day, when he was one, I put him down for a nap.  An hour later, I went to check up on him and guess what he was doing?  He had stood up in his crib to look in the mirror and he was making crying faces in the mirror!  He would scrunch up his face and then make it look like he was about to cry.  I couldn’t believe it!  He was practicing how to fake his crying so that he could get what he wanted.  He couldn’t even talk yet and he knew how to practice!

From that point on, my husband and I have always been keenly aware of what he’s been trying to do.  If he looks like he’s going to start crying, we wait to see if real tears flow down his face or if he just stops and nothing else happens.  About half the time, he completely stops after we ignore him, while the other half of the time, real tears flow down his face in waves.
With his grandparents, I’ve tried to tell them that he might be faking it, but they just won’t listen and I think he knows that they will give him whatever he wants.  So, I just let them be since I can’t really fight it.  I try to remind them, but they are so sad when they have to deny him anything – a toy, some more food, another game.  At 2 years old, my son already has his grandparents wrapped around his fingers.

I don’t forsee this changing anytime soon, but I know that I won’t be letting him get away with everything at home.  At home, there will be rules that he has to follow and things he has to learn.  I’ll teach him what he can and can’t do and show him that he can’t try to manipulate his dad and I or he will be in trouble.  But, wow, this is all new to me!  Now that he’s getting older, I have some things to learn too.

Below is a list of places to shop in your search for a bed for your kids:

Baby store

Baby Stores:  Many baby stores will carry junior bed for toddlers 2-4 or for people who want to buy cribs that become junior beds.  Other baby stores will sometimes carry items for toddlers and this is where you will find a greater variety of junior beds.  Check your favorite baby stores like Babies R’ Us, Albee Baby, and BabyAge.com.  Also check some kids stores that have baby items like Toys R’ Us or Pottery Barn Kids.  The thing to beware of is that baby stores will most likely mark up the beds.  Therefore, make sure you shop around.  If you find something you like, see if another store online carries the same item for a discount.

Furniture stores

Furniture Stores:   Furniture stores will oftentimes carry a large variety of kids items.  Check the larger furniture stores like Ikea , R.C. Wiley, and others in your area, but make sure to call ahead to see if they have kids furniture.   Some furniture stores won’t carry kids furniture since they focus more on furniture for the home.  However, larger furniture stores will usually have a kids area where you can see their junior beds.  Furniture stores are great since they specialize in furniture so the quality of their items will be pretty good.  Additionally, their salesmen can provide more details on the bed than a regular non-specialty store.  

Regular discount stores:  Discount stores like Walmart and Target will also carry a few junior beds.  Sometimes, if the store isn’t large enough, they will have them in their online stores.  Check both.  They won’t have a large variety, but the items they do have will carry a pretty good discount, especially compared to furniture stores or baby stores.  The only problem is that the clerks won’t know much about the kids furniture since these stores carry so many items.  Therefore, you will have to find out more information on your own.

Online Stores: You will find some pretty good deals online, but you will have to shop around.  There are many online kids furniture stores as well as other online baby stores that carry junior beds.  When buying through these stores, make sure you know their return policy and understand the full price of shipping.  Also, make sure you check that they are reputable.  Check that during their credit card verification process, they use security and the web page starts with https, check their privacy policy to make sure they do not sell their information, and check local parents forums to make sure other parents have purchased items from that store.   Otherwise, go through reputable online stores like Amazon.

Online classified ads

Craigslist and other classifieds: The other option to consider when junior bed shopping is to look for a previously owned bed.  Kids grow out of these beds so fast that some parents will want to resell them.  If you don’t want to spend too much money, check craigslist and other classified for parents who are selling their kids’ junior beds.  These are great places to find a deal.  Additionally, you can see the items in person before purchasing so you will know the quality beforehand.

1.  How old is your child? Depending on how old your child is, you may want to adjust the type of bed you purchase.  If your child is a baby, you may want to consider a toddler bed or a smaller junior bed that converts.  If your child is a toddler or a bit older, you may want to consider a children’s bed or even a regular twin bed.

Childrens bed for toddlers

2.  How long do you want the bed to last? This next question is key to determining what type of bed you will purchase.  If you don’t mind that your child will only use the bed for a few years, then consider a more specific type bed like a junior bed or toddler bed or kids bed.  If you want the bed to last for a long time, consider a regular twin bed that your child can grow into.  You may have to buy extra items for the twin bed like bed rails or other things when your child is younger, but a regular bed may be a good investment if you want the bed to last a long time.  If you can afford it however, consider a junior bed for your child since the smaller size and height will help the child more easily transition into an adult bed.

3.  What type of children’s beds do you need? Do you have two children and need a bunk bed or do you want individual beds for the children?  Of course, this depends on

Bunk bed

the size and space of the children’s room.  Will you buy a specialty bed that helps to decorate the kids room and adds another place to play?  Or would you rather that your child only sleep in his or her bed so the bed should be a little more plain.  Finally, do you need to save space and need storage room built into the bed?  Many children’s beds these days have storage spaces and much more.  Some are more elaborate and resemble more of a jungle gym for kids to run around in.  Whatever you decide, think through the purpose and your goals for your child’s bed before purchasing.

4.  Does your child need help transitioning to his own bed? Is your child currently sleeping with you and will you need to help ease him or her into their own bed?  If so, you may want to consider a more special bed that you purchase to help ease him in.  A special bed can either be a smaller junior bed or something even more special like a race car bed or a castle bed.  The beds that are more decorated will help you entice the child to go to the bed and remain there.  Also, the specialty beds usually have built in edges that will help the child feel safer if he tends to roll around when he sleeps.  Remember that you, the parent, can be very imaginative with the specialty bed helping the child feel important and excited to go to his bed.  Finally, one suggestion is to buy your child some fun sheets such as some Ben 10 Bedding to make the bed look even more fun for your child.

Knowing the answers to the questions above will definitely help you in your process of purchasing a childrens bed.

My son in his cousin's toddler bed

My son is turning 2 today and I am so sad. It marks another year older in his life. I loved watching him as a baby. I loved holding him in my arms. But, every week, he’s gotten a little bit bigger. Every week, I put him in his crib and I see how much longer he’s gotten. I knew I would have to move him out of the crib, but somehow, I wanted to keep him in the crib for as long as possible. I think I thought that having him in his crib would keep him as the cute little baby that I loved. Not that I don’t love how he’s growing, it just makes me sad. As a baby, he and I had so many special times. I would talk to him and sing to him and teach him new things. I know as he gets older, there are so many more new things to show him. It’s just hard as a mother to watch my son grow older since I know that this means he gets closer to becoming much older. He gets closer to going to school and having friends and then going to high school and becoming independent from me.

I think the first realization that I had that he was getting much bigger was when I put him in his crib and realized that I would need to buy him a new bed. He was just too big for his crib. It was time to buy him a junior bed and transition him to sleeping in a more adult bed. I told him that today and he was so excited. He’s been envious of his older cousin’s bed for a long time and loves to lie in it when we visit, pretending that it’s his own. So, this weekend, we are going to go look for a new toddler bed for him. I may cave in and buy him one of those fun car beds that he’s seen at his friend Tommy’s house, but we’ll see.

I just can’t believe that he is getting so much older and will soon have a new junior bed. Seeing that in his room will be the first thing that shows me how much bigger he’s gotten. Donating the crib will really show me how he is no longer the little baby that I held in my arms for so long. I know he’s only turning 2, but I never thought about him turning 2 or 3 or 5 or 10 or 17, so this is really hard for me.