Best Beds for Kids Bedrooms: What to Look for in Kids Beds

An appropriate mattress is a good investment for working adults to get a good night of sleep, and the same is true for children. A good mattress can help support your kids’ posture, bone strength, and encourages deep sleep cycles, which is necessary for their growth. A good night’s sleep can affect many aspects of your child, such as focus and social skills. Other than that, you will also need to weigh in the aesthetic and price that comes along with a good bed. With several factors and choices to consider, buying the best bed for your kid can become overwhelming.

A great range of kids beds is always on sale somewhere, so before shopping, these are important things you should know about:

Types of Beds

A bigger bed is always better, but you also need to consider the size of the bedroom, especially if your space is limited. However, there are plenty of styles and shapes you can choose from that coincides with your child’s preference or their bedroom layout. Let’s take a look at the following bed types:

1. Single Beds

You can use your child’s bedroom measurement as a reference when selecting the bed size. These are the varying sizes of a single bed:

• Small Single: 75cm x 120cm / 30” x 75” / 2’6” x 6’ 3”
• Standard Single: 90cm x 190cm / 36” x 75” / 3’ x 6’ 3”
• European Single: 90cm x 200cm / 36” x 79” / 3’ x 6’ 6”
• Small Double: 120cm x 190cm / 48” x 75” / 4’ x 6’ 3”

2. Bunk Beds

Bunk beds have a single bed frame but with another bed stacked over it, using a ladder for access to the top bunk. Make sure there is enough room for this type of before buying one so knowing your ceiling height is necessary. These are the types of bunk beds available:

• Standard Bunk Bed: This is the basic layout, with one bed over the other. This can be a twin bed over another twin, bed or a full-sized bed with a twin bed over it.
• Futon Bunk Bed: This is where a futon sofa is integrated underneath the mattress, which can be utilized as an additional space for storage or sleeping area.
• L-Shaped Bunk Beds: This can be ideal if there is enough space for it in the room. An L-shaped bunk bed has an added sleeping space, just with a slightly different configuration where the bottom is set a right angle, making it look like the letter L, hence the name.
• Triple Bunk Bed: This is configured into an L-shape but can accommodate three kids, with the 3rd bed being lofted and attached to the top bed.

It’s important to note that when picking a bunk bed, choose the one that is labeled as compliant with safety standards. It should have guardrails and mattresses should be at least 5 inches below it.

3. Cabin Beds

This design is comprised of elevated frames with a varying height of around 2 feet to 6 feet. Its versatility makes it ideal for small to older children. Space underneath is usually attached to accessories like top tunnels.

4. Loft Beds

This is a twin or full-sized loft bed suspended over an empty space that can be utilized as a study, play, or storage area. The following are two types of loft beds:

• Junior Loft: This type of loft bed hangs a little lower to the floor, which is ideal for smaller kids.
• Study Loft: This is the kind of bed you can squeeze in a small area, freeing the rest of the room for other activities.

5. Novelty Beds

This type is more ideal for younger children with its low elevation from the ground, and its inclination towards a theme such as musical games, Star Wars, football, race cars, Barbies, or cartoon characters. In other words, the exterior of the bed is what you are paying for. The design can also come as bunk beds with a slide, which gives an enjoyable way of reaching the floor from the top bunk. There are also loft types where space underneath is presented as a den-type area or with curtains or tents. An attractive bed can be the answer to parents who find it hard to put their kids to sleep.

Bed Frames and Materials

Along with the several types of beds are the variety of materials they’re made of. These can vary from beautiful wood, metal, plastic, or a combination of all of them. Each material offers different benefits, such as the following:

1. Metal Beds

Metal bed frames can be made of aluminum, antique brass or brushed nickel. It is known to be the long-lasting, durable, and the first choice of material either for day beds or bunk beds. It is also sturdy and has a range of neutral colors.

2. Wooden Beds

There is a wide range of variations when it comes to the design of wooden beds. Solid wood, wood effect, and combined woods are a few examples. All are built to survive throughout childhood days and can take a serious beating of monkey plays. Wooden beds come in a different range of finishes because their shade and grain depend on the type of solid wood used. These are also often crafted by hand and can be painted and customized to your liking.

3. Plastic Beds

Novelty beds are commonly made of plastic because they can come in different colors to achieve that amazing effect on a themed bedroom. Plastic beds are easy to assemble, easy to clean, and are cheaper amongst other materials. Although plastic has a high level of versatility, they’re not as durable when compared to metal and wood.

Bed Price

Price, for many, is a top priority when it comes to buying a bed. There will be beds that are naturally more expensive than others, like those made of solid wood. If you are looking for a bed you can use for the long term, buying an expensive bed made of quality materials is considered a good investment. But if you only need a short-term toddler bed, buying a pricey bed might not be the smartest idea.

Right Mattress

The goal when a person lies down is to relax the body and having the right mattress can help you achieve this. In lying down, the body’s natural posture must be maintained and not disrupted. Thus, you should pick your mattress carefully. Consider the following factors when looking for a suitable mattress, especially for your kids:

1. Choose the Correct Size

You can never go wrong with a full mattress. It allows you space for cuddling and reading to your kids their favorite bedtime stories. You don’t have to worry about your kids growing up too fast because a full mattress can generally accommodate their size and height. But much like buying a bed, the factors you need to consider when picking a mattress are your budget and space. If a full mattress is out of the question, you can choose from a twin, short twin, or twin XL. The best mattresses can last for up to 12 years, which is good for a growing kid. Here are the different mattress sizes you can choose from:

• Twin (38″ x 75″): This size is the most affordable mattress. However, you have to keep in mind that, in a few years, your child will outgrow it and a new one will be needed unless another baby is on the way.
• Short Twin (34″ x 75″): This size is ideal if your kid has a small bedroom. However, they, too, will eventually grow taller and might not fit on the bed anymore.
• Twin XL (38″ x 80″): If your budget and space allow, it is better to go straight to a full mattress than opting for a twin XL if you don’t have any smaller children, or are not considering having more in the future. You can either save the money now and buy a new full mattress later, or spend the money now for the long-term use of your mattress.
• Full Mattress (54″ x 75″): There is only a little difference in the length between a full mattress and twin XL, but the width of the former is larger. As stated, a full mattress is a perfect size for your growing kids. Investing in a high-quality full-size mattress can last them a decade or so.

2. Assess the Materials

Mattresses are made of different materials that influence their durability, cost, and other factors that are responsible for their comfort and support. Thus, it’s worth checking what materials they’re made of. Consider the following:

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses made of a visco-elastic material are good at keeping a cool temperature. This design has a gel-infused feature that maintains its coolness. It responds very well to pressure and gives you that “hug” effect for a more comfortable sleep. That same feature, however, is not good for babies and toddlers for it may smoother them in their sleep. Look for a CertiPUR-US certification when you decide to opt for a memory foam mattress. This certification indicates that there are no harmful chemicals in this mattress, and off-gassing is reduced to a minimum.

Off-gassing is that strange odor you smell as you unpack the mattress. It is caused by the material used in making the mattress. It is not harmful but may cause discomfort, like a headache. So when you have a new mattress for your bed, make sure that the room has proper airflow and leave it for a couple of days before using it.

Foam Mattress

This is where memory foam originates. That said, this material is inexpensive but not as durable. However, it still provides enough support and pressure relief for a comfortable sleep. But if you are sharing a bed with your kid, this won’t be a good choice because it doesn’t have the ability to eliminate motion transfer.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses come in two kinds: open coil and pocketed coil. The former is cheaper compared to the latter. With open coil, its network of connected coils allows pressure to sink in without bending the spine. Pocketed coil springs, on the other hand, work independently. Its coils are individually wrapped and are perfect for eliminating motion transfer. If your budget is tight, the open coil is a good choice. These types of innerspring mattresses both offer durability since children’s weights normally aren’t enough to stress the coil.

Latex Mattress

Latex has a lot in common with memory foam, except that it has the highest quality that can last for up to 30 years. The level of support it provides is extraordinary, thus contributing to its high cost. Latex and memory foam mattresses are usually the two you need to compare before making a decision.

Eco-Friendly or Green Materials

Mattresses made of green materials are perfect for kids with allergies, especially those that offer hypoallergenic properties. These types of mattresses don’t have chemicals such as VOCs, flame retardants, polyurethane, phthalates, and any fumes or heavy metals. If you find a CertiPUR-US certification, it means the mattress is made of eco-friendly or green materials. These natural products are safe from bacterial growth and dust mites.

3. Choose The Level Of Comfort

A mattress’ level of firmness depends on your kids’ age. Most mattresses for kids available in stores are medium-firm, which is the standard for kids of all ages. If you find this level of firmness unsatisfactory, you can lay a mattress topper over it.

You may also encounter the term Indentation Load Deflection or ILD when choosing a mattress. ILD of 25 lbs. or more is appropriate for soft beds; 31 lbs. or more is appropriate for firm beds; and between 25 to 31 lbs. are appropriate for medium beds.

In picking your kids mattress, make sure that they shop with you so they can test the level of comfort on each bed you’re eyeing. There are beds that are firm, extra firm, plush, and extra plush.

4. Consider Durability and Design

One of the things kids love doing on their beds is jumping on it. When choosing their mattress, consider adding a protector. This guards the bed against stains and helps it withstand the abuse.

Final Thoughts

As your children grow, they will need a good quality mattress on top of their sturdy bed to support their growing body. Children can grow fast, so it is important to choose wisely and assess what type of bed and mattress they can benefit from for a long time. So, despite the long list of features, the areas pointed out in this article should be able to help you pick the best bed for your little dreamer. A good bed for your kids means better sleep for them. And when they’re sleeping well, you, too, can get proper rest.