The amount of time a child spends sleeping and being awake changes as they grow and the nervous system matures. It decreases with age, so newborns spend an average of 16 to 19 hours sleeping, 2-year-olds around 13 hours, and preschoolers and school-age children about 9-10 hours. However, this is still many hours, which is why a good and comfortable bed for a small child is so important.
How to choose the right bed for a child?
First, you need to match the bed to the child’s age. If your child is between 2 to 3 years old, they should sleep in a small crib to ensure safety and a peaceful sleep. This crib should be equipped with special barriers and provide adequate softness in case of falls during getting up or tossing and turning at night. Beds for children up to 6 years old typically have a length of at least 130 cm and a width of at least 70 cm. For school-age children, beds measure 180 cm or more in length and at least 80 cm in width. Adjusting the bed to the child’s height is extremely important to ensure comfortable sleep and recharge their energy for the next day.
The second parameter is the materials from which the bed is made. Depending on the size of the bed, you will most often encounter wood, fabric, plastic, and laminate. Additionally, sometimes they come with extra features like drawers for bedding, safety barriers, or extensions.
Less important for us, but very important for children, is the appearance and decorations of the beds. Kids love to have images of their favorite characters from cartoons and animated films around them. These stimulate their imagination and make them feel good in their surroundings. If you have a larger budget, you can invest in beds of various interesting shapes, such as cars, houses, or castles, which are loved by children and often become their playground.
The next thing is the amount of space we have for the child’s bed. Do we have a spacious bedroom in a single-family house or rather a small room in an apartment? In the latter case, every square meter counts, so folding beds work very well, which can serve as a sitting sofa during the day and become a sleeping place at night. If there are more than one child in the house and they have to share the same small room, it is advisable to use a bunk bed for space-saving. It takes up the same space as one bed but provides two comfortable sleeping spots, offering children some privacy. It can also work well for just one child; in that case, the bottom can be used for a study desk or play space.
Another important element is the safety of the little one. Pay attention to whether the bed has sharp edges and protruding parts that could harm the child. A simple and great solution is for manufacturers to coat the edges with soft rubber. They do not change the appearance of the furniture, but any impact against the bed during play will be less painful and better absorbed.
The last important aspect is the material from which the bed is made. The more natural it is, that is, raw unprocessed wood, the healthier it is for the child. Whenever possible, try to choose furniture made with the least amount of chemicals used in its production. Moreover, if there is an allergy-prone child in the house, it is recommended to buy a bed made of pine wood, as it has anti-static properties, which means it does not attract dust.
Bed for a Small Child – The Most Interesting Options
#1 – Hauck Dream’n Play Folding Travel Crib
First on the list is the travel bed for small children Dream Play by manufacturer Hauck. It is the perfect crib for parents who do not want to give up traveling and want their little one to accompany them everywhere. This crib is designed for children up to 2 years old. It quickly opens and folds, taking literally a few seconds, which is a significant convenience given the time and attention devoted to the little one at this age.
The unfolded crib measures 120 cm in length and 60 cm in width, providing ample space for sleeping and playing. When folded, it does not take up much space, is lightweight, and easily fits in the trunk of a car, and a special cover is included to protect it from damage.
It features large mesh windows which ensure optimal air circulation, allowing for healthy sleep and comfortable play. A lovely print of a cheerful mouse adds charm to it and will definitely spark curiosity and positive emotions in your little one.
With this crib, you will provide your child with space for sleeping and playing anywhere. It will work perfectly while traveling, for a sleepover at grandparents’, or on a warm day in the garden, where you can calmly read a book while your child sleeps.
#2 – Children’s Beds Home Oscar Single Bed
Children’s Beds Home is now a bed for bigger children, which works wonderfully as the first bed for independent sleeping. This bed is made in the most modern style tailored to the delicacy of the child. Its edges are finished with soft rubber to prevent your little one from hurting themselves during intense play. It is equipped with a soft and comfortable foam mattress that perfectly conforms to the body and provides maximum comfort. This allows the child to get a good night’s sleep and recharge for the next day in preschool or school.
The Oscar crib without a lower drawer is easier to move and is ideal for homes where additional storage space is not needed. It has two barriers that can be removed during the day and reattached at night. This is a very convenient addition as children grow up, as they will provide additional protection against falling out of bed until they are no longer needed, at which point they can be easily removed. It measures 160 cm in length and 80 cm in width, making it great for years of your child’s growth.
It looks great and fits perfectly into modern interiors, and its light white color scheme will ensure that the bedroom is not overwhelming for the child.
#3 – HOMESTYLE4U Wooden Bed for Children with Super Puppy Motif
The next one is a wooden bed from HOMESTYLE4U, which, like the Oscar crib, is 203 cm long and 96 cm wide, so it is mainly intended for larger children. It will be an excellent first bed for independent sleeping for toddlers aged 5 and up. The furniture is made from wood in a classic shape and white color arrangement. It features rounded edges covered with soft rubber to ensure your child does not hurt themselves during intense play. It is equipped with a proper mattress frame to ensure optimal hardness for maximum comfort and a good night’s sleep. Thus, the child can sleep well and recharge their energy for another day in preschool or school.
The crib does not have drawers underneath, but you can place boxes with favorite toys underneath, keeping them always within reach. It features a colorful print of a puppy and various creatures with a predominant blue color. The crib has higher sides at the head to prevent favorite cuddly toys from falling out of bed while sleeping, but it does not have additional barriers, so it will work well for children who no longer move around so much at night and do not need additional protection.
The classic design and neutral white color scheme make this crib perfect for any child’s room and suitable for both boys and girls.
#4 – Tutti Bambini Lucas 3 in 1 Children’s Bed with Storage Drawer
The 3 in 1 Lucas crib from Tutti Bambini is the perfect option for children from birth up to around 6 years old. Compared to other beds, this one is designed for long-term use and you can adjust it to your child’s needs as they grow. When your little one gets a bit older, you can remove the barriers and convert it into a regular bed, or even a sofa. It features an adjustable base that allows you to choose one of three heights for the mattress, which is a great convenience and allows for easy access to the child while ensuring maximum safety as they grow.
The wooden structure ensures stability and adds a classic look to the furniture. A trendy neutral shade of gray that leans toward brown makes it beautifully present and perfectly fit into the modern arrangement of your bedroom.
The spacious drawer is an excellent place for storing children’s accessories, bedding, clothes, or toys. This bed is an ideal solution if you plan for a younger sibling about 4-5 years younger than your little one. You will be able to reuse it for the new family member, and buy a new and larger bed for the older sister/brother.
#5 – Children’s Single Bed Oskar
Again, Children’s Beds Home, but this time with a drawer underneath. As mentioned, this bed is for larger children and works wonderfully as the first bed for your child to sleep independently. This bed is made in the most modern style suited to the delicacy of the child. Its edges are finished with soft rubber to prevent your little one from hurting themselves during intense play. It is equipped with a soft and comfortable foam mattress that perfectly conforms to the body, ensuring maximum comfort. This allows your child to get a good night’s sleep and recharge for the next day in preschool or school.
The Oscar crib with a lower drawer is slightly heavier than the option without, but it provides additional storage space for toys or bedding underneath, and additionally, there will be no need to vacuum underneath it. It has two barriers that can be removed during the day and reattached at night. This is a very convenient addition as children grow up, as they will provide additional protection against falling out of bed until they are no longer needed, at which point they can be easily removed. It measures 160 cm in length and 80 cm in width, making it great for years of your child’s growth.
It looks great and will fit perfectly into modern interiors, and thanks to the bright white and colorful color scheme, it will ensure that the bedroom is not overwhelming for the child.
#6 – Kinderkraft Children’s Travel Bed SOFI
Compared to the Dream n Play bed from Kinderkraft, it offers practical space utilization, which is a better solution for saving space. If your child is still a baby, you can create two chambers: an upper one for sleeping and a lower one that unzips for storage. Underneath, you can hide the most useful accessories such as diapers, toys, or clothes. Once the child grows up, it can become a regular deep bed without the lower chamber, providing safety for your little one. The mattress position can be easily changed. This solution additionally makes access to a smaller child more convenient.
The bed folds and unfolds in just 5 seconds, which is very convenient for the parent. It is lightweight, and when folded, takes up little space, so you can even take it on a plane. Compared to the Dream n Play bed, it offers slightly less space, as its mattress size is 91 cm x 52 cm, but it additionally has a rocking function, so it can also serve as a cradle. A special carrying bag is included.
As you can see, nowadays there is a wide selection of beds for small children, and there are many options, allowing every parent to easily find the right crib for their little one. No matter if you have plenty of space or not, there will always be a solution and a way to save space with beds that will serve from birth for several years. Thanks to your good choice, your little one will be able to grow healthily and sleep well every day in preschool or school.