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Toddler bed or no toddler bed? Question or Answer?
Toddler bed or no toddler bed means our lives change immensely. Mobility means dangers increase 100%. Toddlers can create the most dangerous situation just by moving. Besides child-proofing your home you now have to change sleeping areas. Cribs are not going to keep the toddler safe if he climbs to the top. Perhaps for some of us, we found the toddler bed answer. Toddler beds can help but also offer their own challenges. Toddler beds perhaps the choice for me? What is a toddler bed ? A toddler bed is a little bed that is somewhere between your baby's crib and a twin bed. A toddler bed is a special little bed for a little one that all of a sudden is too big for his or her crib. A toddler bed has the same dimensions as a crib and uses the same sized crib mattress.
Once your baby has grown out of the crib a toddler bed is perfect and affordable. They are low enough to the floor that those little ones can climb in by themselves, and if they roll out of the toddler bed they don�t have far to fall. A cozy new home for your little toddler that you will be surprised at how much they love. Parents ponder the toddler bed question and the answer is not simple but individual. We made out first toddler bed in 1972. The concept of a toddler bed was not as popular as toddler beds are now. We needed a small bed for our first boy because our new baby needed the crib. This is the case for many families today. Toddler beds are an easy way to give your child a safe transition to a twin or larger bed. Had we known then what we know now ....... Our toddler beds were simply a box low to the ground that fit the crib mattress. The toddler bed had a headboard and side rails for safety. Eventually we made another toddler bed when the new baby was ready to get out of the crib. Today parents can get a toddler bed at reasonable price in any toddler bed design imaginable. Toddler beds come in themes that you can coordinate for a designer room. Toddler beds range in price from under $100-$400 depending on your taste and budget. There are toddler bed themes for boys and girls. There are generic toddler beds also. Between the ages of 2 and 3 (or sooner), many children are ready to make the transition from the cocoon of a crib to the open landscape of a "big girl" or "big boy" toddler bed. That's the time to consider a toddler bed, which is a mini version of a twin bed. Most toddler beds are low to the ground and uses a standard crib mattress. Toddler beds have bed rails that are usually 2 inches above the top surface of the mattress. Those rails are there to remind kids that they're getting close to the edge of the mattress and to help them feel secure, not to actually prevent them from falling out of the toddler bed. Convertible cribs are a money saving crib that converts into a toddler bed. Sides can be removed and the mattress lowered to transform it into a toddler bed.
Whichever you choose a toddler bed or not remember that as soon as a child is able to climb out of a crib, he should be moved into a toddler bed or other bed (so that he doesn't hurt himself in a fall from the crib).
To decide which type of toddler bed to choose, think about whether you want to buy for the short or long term, and think about your other needs. The least expensive option, a toddler bed is a good transition.
We should look for a toddler bed with a smooth finish, sturdy construction, rounded edges, and hardware that doesn't protrude. A toddler bed should have no sharp points. A Toddler bed headboard and foot board should not have cutouts or protrusions of any kind.
According to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the industry standard for toddler beds is that the bed's corner posts or finials should not be more than 0.06 inch above the upper edge of the side or end panel of the toddler bed. A new industry standard for bunk beds specifies that corner posts and the tops of ladders should not be more than 3/16-inch above the upper rail of the bed. Stick with those guidelines to ensure your child's safety.
Buy the toddler bed and mattress together so that you can be sure the mattress is the right fit. A mattress that's too short can cause gaps between itself and the foot- or headboard, which can entrap a child. Place any toddler bed safely in the room away from windows, radiators, or other heating units; wall lamps; and drapery or window-blind cords. To avoid the risk of a toddler becoming trapped between the toddler bed and a wall, place the toddler bed with the headboard (and not the bed's side) along the wall.
Once your child is able to climb out of his crib, it is time to move him into a toddler bed. If your child is three feet tall, you may want to move him to a toddler bed even if he isn't climbing out of his crib. The usual age is about eighteen months to two years. Moving to a toddler bed can be stressful for many children and it is a significant milestone in their development.
Some tips to ease the transition to a toddler bed include:
- let her be involved in picking out the new toddler bed and if possible, let her pick out some new toddler bedding with her favorite characters on it and then put these on her new toddler bed.
- put the new toddler bed in her room for a few months to help her get used to it
- start her bedtime routine in her new toddler bed and then, if she wants, move her to her crib when she is finally ready to go to sleep.
- let her take her daytime naps in the toddler bed
- take as many things from her crib and continue to use them in her toddler bed and as part of her bedtime routine
- let her sleep on the crib mattress on the floor for a few nights
- move the new toddler bed into the position in the room that her crib was in, but you would likely have to take her crib down first
One of the most important things to avoid is trying to move your toddler into a toddler bed during a stressful time, such as after the arrival of a new sibling, moving, starting a new daycare, beginning potty training, etc. Try to plan the move to a toddler bed so that it won't be at the same time as other events that may add to the stress. Another helpful tip for giving up something like a crib or bottle, etc. is making a big deal about how the babyneeds the 'baby bed' now, and as a 'big girl', she is supposed to give them to the baby and move to her 'big girl' toddler bed. This can backfire though if it makes her resent having to give the things away. Moving to a toddler bed is a big milestone for most children and it can be stressful for them. Be sure to give her extra attention during this transition and try and stick to your bedtime routine so that you don't create any new sleep problems. If she is really resistant to sleeping in her new toddler bed and getting rid of her crib, then as long as she isn't climbing out of it, you can wait a few months and try again. Keep talking about it and eventually limit her naps to the toddler bed. If you have to get her moved to a toddler bed, either because you did need the crib for a new baby or she is climbing out of it, then taking the toddler bed apart and/or putting it away may make it less of a reminder.
Many parents rush out to buy based on the cuteness of the toddler bed or cartoon character painted on the toddler bed. I know that buying a toddler bed is to entice our kids to move from the crib but cuteness should not be the sole deciding factor either. This is because not all toddler beds which are cute are durable.
Besides cuteness, some parents also prefer to settle for a cheap toddler bed due to its temporary nature before the move to a full-sized bed. Remember the old saying "you get what you pay for"? Many parents have ended up complaining that these cheap toddler beds are not sturdy enough to support the weight of their toddler.
How do you choose a toddler bed? A toddler is bound to end up bouncing and jumping on the bed. Most toddlers do not reach 50 pounds, which is the maximum recommended weight for almost all toddler beds. But if you have an active toddler who would bounce on the bed, make sure the toddler bed that you are going to buy can withstand that kind of pressure.
Many families also have more than one child and you would have to factor in that combined weight of all of them on the toddler bed. The other factor that you should think about is whether you would end up sitting on the toddler bed. The combined weights might be over the limit for a toddler bed. With this situation might cause the toddler bed's frame or mattress base to bend or simply snap if it is flimsy and poorly made. It makes little sense to invest too much on a toddler bed. You have to consider how active your toddler is and how many will end up on the bed. It could only cost you more money to buy another toddler bed later on if you settle for a less sturdy toddler bed now and it breaks.
All toddler beds come with bed rails but the difference lies in the width and height of the toddler bed rails. Some kids have no problems with narrower bed rails while others will still roll off the bed through the gap between the end of the rail and the footboard. It all depends on how much your toddler moves about when sleeping. This is a consideration.
You also need to be aware that some toddler bed rails can be low in height and if you have a thick crib mattress, the top of the mattress may come up to about the same height or just slightly less than the top of the toddler bed rails. Your toddler still has the risk of falling off the bed due to the toddler bed rails being too low to keep him or her safely within its boundaries.
When you choose a toddler bed, consider the width and height of the bed rails and if you can, how they are attached to the bed. Again, flimsy ones can easily break or become detached from the toddler bed with one kick by your toddler.
Most toddler beds come in parts and you would have to do the assembly. If you are not good at putting things together, get a toddler bed that is less complicated and easier to assemble. You wouldn't know whether a piece of furniture is easy to put together until it is delivered. One way you can minimize this risk is to do a little homework and read reviews by other buyers.
Most popular toddler beds have many buyer reviews in a variety of websites. It is up to you to search toddler beds online before you make your purchase. If you see a toddler bed that you like and it has both good and poor ratings. Toddler beds may have poor ratings three or four years ago but later reviews may be more favorable, which may reduce the risk of a poor quality bed. Buying a toddler bed simply because it is cute is a bad idea. Consider other practical aspects as well so that you do not end up wasting your money in the long run. If you shop for a toddler bed with safety and sturdiness in mind apart from cuteness, you would be less likely to regret your toddler bed purchase later on.
You can get a wide range of toddler beds available in the market today. Some toddler beds are of simple designs with wooden, steel and/or plastic frames. This type of toddler bed usually has no fancy carvings, some may consist of pictures of popular cartoon characters to appeal to kids of that age group.
If you have a younger child and plan to pass the toddler bed down, then a simple unisex design is always a good option. You have to bear in mind that what your older child prefers may not necessarily be what your younger one may end up liking.
Theme-based toddler beds are always popular with young kids. Fire truck toddler beds to carriage shaped toddler beds, you are bound to be able to find one that your toddler likes.
Toddler theme beds could be more of a play area than sleeping. For instance, if you get your child a toddler bed shaped like Thomas The Tank Engine, you might have a hard time getting him to sleep.
There is always that risk with a theme toddler bed. It can encourage your young child to sleep on the toddler bed but it could cause too much trouble getting him or her to sleep rather than play on such a toddler bed.
Toddler beds too have convertible models that make them more economical in the long run. You have to fork out more now to get one but it saves you the money and hassle of shopping for another bed two or three years down the road. Convertible cribs change to toddler beds and some can convert to a twin bed when your child has outgrown the toddler-sized one.
Some designs for toddler beds can get very expensive. Princess, Fisherman/Sailor, Engineer and many other toddler bed themes can give many choices to parents.
Your chioce of toddler bed can be easy or difficult. Don�t buy a toddler bed simply because it is small and cute. Assess your child's readiness first before deciding on the toddler bed to buy.
Remember your toddler can easily get out of a toddler bed and roam, so be sure a toddler bed will be an asset rather than a worry to you. The toddler bed may not be the answer.
Good luck with your toddler bed search!
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