These cozy toddler beds promise to keep them counting sheep.
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably reached that pivotal stage of parenthood where your toddler is catapulting themselves over the crib railings and you’re legit worried they’re going to crack their head open. While transitioning to the best toddler bed may not help with the whole escape artist act (hello, sleep training…again!), it’s an absolute necessity when it comes to your kiddo’s safety. Plus, there are plenty of money and space-saving perks.
We spoke with a couple interior designers, who’ve created loads of cozy kid rooms, to get the lowdown on what to look for when selecting the best toddler bed for maximum safety and style. Don’t forget to pick up the best toddler mattress while you’re at it, and peep our best kids’ mattresses in prep for the next big transition.
The best toddler beds get little ones excited to sleep in their own rooms, are low to the ground and keep kids safely contained so they don’t fall out and hurt themselves.
“Kids are going to have larger beds for the rest of their lives so it's fun to keep them small while you can and give them a toddler bed for that short-but-sweet phase,” says Heather Fujikawa, principal designer and co-owner of House Sprucing, as well as a mom to four. “Toddler beds are a bit smaller than a standard twin bed, so if you're tight on space these can be a great option to put in the nursery to replace the crib and allow for more room to incorporate a reading nook or play area.”
To hold up to a rowdy toddler, Larisa Mashaal, founder of Soeur Interiors, recommends looking for a toddler bed made of solid wood with a metal spring base.
“There should be a water-based, non-toxic finish and no VOC (volatile organic compounds).”
The best toddler beds are easy for little ones to get in and out of on their own and have two guard rails. “With kids, you really want to make sure that there are no sharp or abrupt edges and that everything is pieced together securely so you don't have to worry about it falling apart,” adds Fujikawa.
Whether you’re drawn to more modern, gender-neutral styles or are contemplating a character-themed frame if it will actually get your toddler to sleep in their own room, we’ve curated the top toddler beds for every budget and design preference.
Mashaal is in love with this gorgeous, vintage-inspired toddler bed from Jenny Lind. With an impressive 4.8-average star rating on Amazon, "It manages to feel both traditional and contemporary at the same time, perfect for all nursery designs," she says. "It's also made with 100% sustainable New Zealand pinewood."
Super solid and low to the ground, little ones can easily climb in for bedtime and out for middle-of-the-night potty breaks. It has two sturdy side rails to contain wild sleepers who are at high risk of falling out. It makes the transition to a toddler bed extremely easy.
There are no toxic chemicals for your child to breathe in as they snooze, and the entire bed is finished in a non-toxic, multi-step painting process so you can sleep sounder too. It's lead and phthalate safe and fits a standard-sized toddler mattress—purchase a new one or flip your dual-sided crib mattress over to the softer toddler side and reuse.
If you dread the assembly of all things kid-rated, we're happy to report that plenty of parents note how easy-breezy this bed is to put together. And you can't beat the darling design for the price, honestly.
Mickey Mouse might not be your vibe, but we guarantee your Disney-obsessed kiddo will be pumped to wake up in this magical Mickey and friends bed every day. Hey, whatever it takes, right? In addition to the colorful character graphics, this popular (over 8,000 5-star reviews on Amazon) plastic toddler bed has two side guardrails to keep little ones safe and secure as they sleep.
It can hold up to 50 pounds, lasting you all the way through preschool, and is recommended for kids as young as 15 months and older if for some reason you need to transition your child early. It also comes in a hot pink Minnie Mouse design for your mini (mouse).
Because ain't nobody got time, there's the option to bundle your bed with the Delta Twinkle Galaxy Dual-Sided Toddler Mattress, which is an awesome, non-toxic option that's highly rated, super affordable, waterproof and features a recycled fiber core. Oh, and it's incredibly cozy too. We love it for babies 18 months and up.
Time to move your threenager into their own house (bed)? We think so! For a Pinterest-perfect room with staying power, you really can't go wrong with this whimsical, white house twin bed frame from Delta Children. It's simple but chic and even has a built-in bookrack at the end of the bed for easy access to all their favorite bedtime stories to keep them in their bed at night.
The bed itself is made of sustainable New Zealand pine wood, plus TSCA-compliant engineered wood, and is finished with a non-toxic, multi-step painting process that's free of lead and phthalate. Designed to be used without a box spring, it's low to the ground, allowing toddlers as young as two to get in and out with ease. While they're little, simply add our favorite bed bumpers (linked below) to keep 'em contained.
For parents who love to snuggle with their little ones at night (or whose kids won't fall asleep without you lying with them!), this bed can support up to 250 pounds so you can grab those books at the footboard and cozy up for story time together. Poppy is also available in a gorgeous grey, midnight grey and blush pink to suit a variety of color schemes and room themes as they grow.
My 4-year-old daughter is the lucky owner of this beautiful Oeuf bed, and I can't say enough good things about it. A favorite brand of interior designers for good reason, the River is not only aesthetically-pleasing, it's simple, sustainably made of high-quality, FSC baltic birch plywood and features a non-toxic, water-based finish that's free of any VOC health hazards so you know they're safely sleeping.
The River's low-profile design makes it easily accessible for toddlers, and a matching security rail can be added to give you extra peace of mind while they snooze. I personally love the built-in bench at the end of the bed for sitting to put on shoes (and displaying them), storing toys and reading toddler books.
This is one is one of the best toddler beds on the market, promising to last them from toddlerhood all the way into the teen years thanks to its full size and clean lines that are truly timeless.
Pair it with a Helix mattress (seriously, the best!), and get ready for a full night's sleep!
There are so many benefits of buying your toddler a floor bed, from fostering independence and self-reliance to avoiding the whole safety issues of rolling out. Plus, they double as a great play space or cozy reading spot for little ones. This adorable, high-rated cabin-like floor bed from Eden Home is the perfect "big" kid bed for toddlers just transitioning out of the crib.
It's made of solid wood for extra durability and comes with safety guardrails to protect them just in case—because hardwood floors can still hurt even if there's not far to fall. The bed comes with a slat kit included and can hold up to 178 pounds, making it a suitable seat for parents to max and relax as their toddler plays in their room.
Risk-free roll-outs mean potty training won't be interrupted, and fidgety sleepers are kept safe throughout the night. It offers a perfect, smooth transition from a crib to a toddler bed without the hassle of finding a conversion kit or taking up the space of bulky bunk beds.
Over 3,000 five-star reviews don't lie! Unlike traditional toddler guardrails, these bestselling, firm foam bed bumpers are surprisingly soft to the touch and won't leave any cracks for your kiddo to slip through. Instead, they slip right beneath the fitted sheet, providing a cozy sense of security.and saving you your sanity trying to install them.
The firmness makes it tough for even the most active sleepers to accidentally roll over them in the middle of the night, but climbing over on purpose? It's a piece of cake and, of course, fun for toddlers to do (again and again).
If you're big on traveling, these bumpers are super lightweight and work on any size bed from crib to king, so it's easy to toddler-proof practically any sleep space, from AirBNB and hotel beds to grandma's house. And no worries mama, they won't budge thanks to a non-slip bottom, plus they're completely waterproof with a machine-washable, buttery-soft bamboo cover to stand up to all the toddler abuse they're bound to take.
Best toddler bed ever. Seriously, this award-winning, blow-up bed will change the way you travel. Whether you're worried about them tumbling over the side of a shared hotel bed or simply don't want to share at all (no judgment here), the Shrunks is your sleep solution for vacays, extended stays at the grandparents or inflating right next to your own bed at home for when your scared toddler refuses to sleep in their own room (my life currently).
It inflates in 30 seconds for fuss-free setup and folds compact with a convenient carry bag for taking it, well, everywhere! We love that toddler guardrails are built right into the design for safe sleep. And they'll be snug as a bug all night with standard crib sheets, which tuck right into the inner air mattress, so they actually stay put.
Thanks to soft flocking on top, you won't have to hear every time your toddler makes the slightest move so you can get good sleep too.
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