Toddler beds
Toddler beds are for toddlers. They are the types of beds your kids can easily use straight after outgrowing their cots and/or cribs. Toddler beds are usually raised low to make it easy for the kids to climb out of. They also have scratch-proof coating and rounded curves to ensure your kids will not be hurt from accidental bumps to the bed. A lot of toddler beds also have side rails to make sure your child will not fall of the bed from sudden movements while sleeping.

Bunk beds
If you are tight on space but need separate beds for two kids, then bunk beds are your best option. This type of kids’ bed will let your kids have their “own space” in their bedroom while ensuring they still have room for other furniture such as a table, chairs, shelves, etc.

Bunk Beds

You do not need to worry about your kids’ safety either as bunk beds naturally come with guards on the side. These guards will guarantee that no matter how much your child moves around while sleeping, he will still be protected from falling.

Loft beds

Loft beds

Loft beds are similar to bunk beds in the sense that a part of the bed is elevated. However, instead of having another bed below, a loft bed provides space for other things such as a table, a shelf, a sofa, or whatever you might decide to put underneath. Loft beds are great for optimizing your use of space, especially if you have a small room for your kids.

Junior beds

Junior bed

Junior beds, like their name suggests, are smaller versions of your full-size bed.  Junior beds are small enough for kids to easily climb up and down on them and big enough to accommodate their growth. Junior beds can be as homey as their cots yet basically all of their designs encourage kids to outgrow their cribs and incite them to play and sleep in a regular bed. These are great transition beds. If you are interested in a junior bed, see our other articles on junior beds for more information describing them.

Platform beds
Platform beds are very child-friendly, as they are usually set low, allowing kids to get on and off the bed with utmost ease. They are usually simple in design, but their versatility makes them a great choice for your kids’ bed. Platform beds can be raised lower or higher, depending on your preferences, and the space beneath the bed can be used as a drawer, a storage space, or the like.

Children grow very fast these days. Once they have grown from a baby to a toddler, it is then time to provide them with a new bed—one that will give them comfort and security while allowing them to still be playful without worrying about their safety. Get one of the five types of kids’ bed discussed above, and watch as your kids grow from a toddler to a teen with enough sleep on their comfortable beds.

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.

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.

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.

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.