Best Toddler Beds Australia: Four Practical Options
For a compact toddler bed in Australia, start by comparing the Boori Natty Toddler Bed. For a single-sized bed with a low starting position, look at the Boori Matilda. If your existing cot converts using the manufacturer’s parts, that may be the most sensible option of all. Your child’s readiness, mattress fit and room setup matter more than the bed’s theme.
Updated October 2026. We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This guide compares four options with current Australian listings. It is based on manufacturer information and Australian sleep-safety advice, not first-hand product testing. A low bed or side guard can reduce some risks, but no bed makes a room safe by itself.
When is it time to move out of the cot?
Raising Children Network says most children move between two and three years. There is no need to rush a child who is comfortable in a cot and remains within its limits. Climbing out, reaching the manufacturer’s limits or needing toilet access can change the decision. Talk to your GP or maternal and child health nurse if you are unsure what suits your child.
The next purchase need not be a separate toddler bed. First look up the manual for the cot you already own. Check whether it has an approved toddler configuration and whether you kept the necessary parts. Avoid copying a social-media conversion that involves cutting, drilling or fitting a rail intended for another bed.
Quick comparison: toddler beds and practical alternatives
| Option | Best reason to compare it | Mattress requirement | What to budget for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boori Natty Toddler Bed | Compact first bed | 132 x 70cm, specified compatible mattress | Mattress if yours is incompatible; bedding; delivery |
| Boori Matilda Single Floor Bed | Single size with low and raised configurations | Standard single; confirm thickness for the frame | Single mattress, protector, sheets and delivery |
| IKEA SNIGLAR Junior Bed | Intermediate size for an older child | 70 x 160cm junior mattress | Mattress and fitted bedding; collection/delivery |
| Boori Corindi converted cot | Use an existing convertible cot | 132 x 70cm; maximum 12cm thickness | Any missing approved parts; replacement mattress if needed |
A toddler bed, a junior bed and a single bed are different sizes. The words “standard cot mattress” are not enough to establish fit. Check the measurements for the exact model before reusing anything. Current local listings are linked below; stock and delivery vary by postcode. We have left prices out so you can compare the full current total.
How we selected these options
We prioritised an identifiable Australian listing, clear mattress information, usable assembly guidance and a practical reason to choose each option. The shortlist includes a compact toddler bed, a floor-style single, an intermediate junior bed and a convertible cot. This gives you different routes out of the cot rather than four versions of the same decorative design.
We did not rank products by customer star scores or claim one is “the safest”. Manufacturer specifications help narrow a shortlist, but they cannot confirm the condition of a delivered bed or the suitability of your room. Read the manual, inspect all parts and check the current model’s instructions before purchase. Warranty information here describes the published manufacturer warranty, not a substitute for your consumer rights.
1. Boori Natty Toddler Bed: compact and cot-mattress sized
See the Natty Toddler Bed at Boori Australia · Check price on Amazon AU. Boori specifies a 132 x 70cm compatible mattress and recommends this model for children transitioning out of a cot, approximately two to five years. It has guarded sides and an assembled footprint of 140 x 79.4cm. The mattress is not included.
Its main appeal is the smaller footprint. If a single bed would swallow most of the bedroom, a compact first bed leaves more room for changing clothes and moving around. Reusing a compatible, sound mattress and bedding could also reduce the shopping list. Measure rather than assuming your present cot mattress is the right size.
Trade-off: you are buying a bed for a shorter stage. Compare the cost of this now plus a larger bed later with a single-sized option. Boori publishes a three-year warranty extendable to five through product registration. Check the instructions for mattress thickness and load limits before an adult sits on it for a bedtime cuddle.
2. Boori Matilda Single Floor Bed: a low starting position
See the Matilda Single Floor Bed at Boori Australia · Check price on Amazon AU. This slatted-base model can be assembled as a floor bed or a conventional single bed on feet. Its listed footprint is 199.2 x 100cm, and it requires a standard single mattress, sold separately. Boori notes the low headboard and footboard when choosing a mattress.
This is the option to compare if you would rather buy a single-sized mattress once. Before ordering, mark its footprint on the floor with removable tape. Check that the door opens and you still have a clear path beside the bed. Its larger area is the main compromise compared with a cot-sized toddler bed.
Trade-off: “floor bed” does not mean suitable for every age, every mattress or every room. The AU page gives broad childhood-to-adulthood wording, not a numerical minimum age. Confirm suitability and the current assembly instructions with Boori. The published warranty is three years, extendable to five with registration. The optional roof is unnecessary for sleep.
3. IKEA SNIGLAR Junior Bed: between cot and single size
See the SNIGLAR junior bed at IKEA Australia · Check price on Amazon AU. This is the 70 x 160cm bed, not a SNIGLAR cot. It includes a guard rail and LURÖY slatted base, with the base packaged separately. The frame measures 165 x 77cm; the mattress and bedlinen are separate purchases. IKEA’s Australian junior-bed guide identifies junior beds as suitable from three years, so we would not select it for a two-year-old on the basis of its name.
It is worth comparing for an older child in a small room who needs more length than a cot-sized mattress. The plain design is easy to work around when colours and favourite characters change. However, an intermediate size adds another bedding size to your cupboards.
Trade-off: a 70 x 160cm mattress is neither a 132 x 70cm cot mattress nor a regular single. Check that you can readily buy fitted sheets and a protector as well as the mattress. Confirm the current rail and mattress instructions with IKEA rather than transferring specifications from an old SNIGLAR model.
4. Boori Corindi: use the approved cot conversion
See the Corindi cot and conversion information at Boori Australia · Check price on Amazon AU. If you already own this exact model, the published conversion uses parts from its end panels as toddler guard rails, without a separate conversion kit. The required compatible mattress is 132 x 70cm, with a maximum thickness of 12cm. Boori publishes a five-year warranty.
This is principally an option for a family with the cot already in the room, or one buying nursery furniture before the toddler stage. A planned conversion can save another frame purchase. Keep the manual and hardware together from the start, labelled with the model number, so the later job does not become a hunt for missing bolts.
Trade-off: buying an entire cot solely for a toddler is hard to justify when you can choose a dedicated bed. Do not assume every Boori cot converts the same way. Follow the manual for the exact version and conversion timing. The cot’s assembled dimensions are 138.8 x 78cm; verify the finished configuration when planning your room.
Mattress fit and side rails: check the details
Red Nose’s cot-to-bed guidance says a low bed’s safety depends on design and setup. Use the specified mattress size and thickness, check for entrapment gaps and securely fit any side panels. A compatible cot mattress can move to a toddler bed; one that merely looks close in size should not.
Ask the seller three concrete questions: Which mattress model or dimensions does the manual specify? What thickness is allowed? Which guard, if any, is approved for this configuration? Get answers before ordering both items, especially if they come from different shops. Photograph the labels and keep your receipt with the instructions.
Portable rails are not universal. Red Nose’s cot-to-bed brochure warns about entrapment when rails do not fit tightly. Check around the mattress and rail before sleep, keep soft items away from the rail, and position the bed away from walls that could create a trapping gap. Never fill a gap with pillows or an improvised barrier.
The bedroom becomes part of the sleep space
Once your child can leave the bed, review the room from their height. Red Nose advises securing access to windows, cords, stairs, medicines and small hazards. Check what your child could reach after getting up, including the route outside the bedroom. Low height does not remove those risks.
ACCC Product Safety recommends anchoring furniture and televisions to prevent toppling. Secure drawers, bookcases and other climbable furniture using suitable hardware and the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are unsure what fittings work for your wall, ask a qualified installer or hardware specialist. Moving a heavy dresser into the corner is not the same as anchoring it.
Check the bedtime setup as well as the furniture. Red Nose advises against weighted sleep products for babies and toddlers, and notes that sleepwear should allow a child in an open bed to stand and walk safely. Pillows are not essential; wait until a child is over two and out of a cot before introducing one.
If you are reviewing other equipment at the same time, our guides to baby cots and stair gates may help with the shopping questions. Gentle ways to encourage toddler sleep offers ideas for the bedtime routine.
Budget for the whole change, not just the frame
Write down the frame, mattress, waterproof protector, fitted sheets, delivery and any approved conversion parts. For an unusual mattress size, check the cost and availability of spare bedding before deciding. A spare fitted sheet is useful when a night-time accident happens, regardless of the bed style.
Read delivery and returns terms before you dismantle the cot. Confirm whether the bed is in stock or on pre-order, how many packages arrive and whether delivery is to the room or only the front door. Leave time for assembly and resolving a missing part. Build the bed fully before you rely on it for that night’s sleep.
A second-hand frame can be worth considering if its model is clear, its manual is available and all original parts are present. Check the ACCC recalls database and ask about damage or repairs. Do not buy a mattress on the assumption that every frame in the same brand takes the same size.
Help your child get used to the change
Keep the parts of bedtime that already work: the same bath, book or goodnight phrase. Let your child choose between two suitable sheet colours or help arrange their books. Small decisions give them a role without making the whole room overhaul depend on a toddler’s preference.
If you can, pick a week with enough room in your evening to respond calmly to extra trips out of bed. Have a simple plan that the adults agree on. The bed may be new, but you do not need to replace every sleep habit at once. For continuing sleep difficulties, your GP or child health nurse can help you work through what is happening.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best toddler bed in Australia?
There is no single winner for every home. Compare the Boori Natty for a small footprint, the Matilda for a single-sized low option, and an approved conversion if you already have a suitable cot. Choose by mattress fit, child readiness, room size and total cost.
What bed should a two-year-old have?
A child who still fits safely in their cot need not move just because they turn two. If a move is needed, compare a suitable low toddler bed or other age-appropriate sleep space. The Natty page recommends approximately two to five years; IKEA’s junior-bed guide starts from three.
Is a toddler bed better than a single bed?
A cot-sized toddler bed takes up less room and may let you reuse compatible bedding. A single can last longer but needs more space and a larger mattress. Consider bed height, approved guards and room safety rather than assuming the larger bed is automatically better value.
Can I use my cot mattress in a toddler bed?
Only if the bed manufacturer specifies that it is compatible, including thickness, and it is in good condition. The Natty uses 132 x 70cm; SNIGLAR junior uses 70 x 160cm. Those are not interchangeable. Check the label and manual rather than relying on the word “standard”.
Are floor beds safe for toddlers?
They can reduce fall distance, but they still need an appropriate firm mattress, clear surroundings and protection from entrapment and other room hazards. Red Nose’s setup advice explains the checks. A floor-style frame is not permission to move an infant out of a suitable cot early.
