What bed for a 3-year-old? Adults or with rungs?
Your child will soon be 3 years old and you are wondering what kind of bed it should sleep in - adults or with rungs? Read on and find out - until when your baby usually sleeps in a crib with rungs. We will also suggest what size of bed to choose for a child and which bed will be the best for a 3-year-old with a mattress.
What bed for a 3-year-old?
What should a bed be like for a 3-year-old? First of all, it is tailored to the individual needs of the child. Each toddler develops at his own pace. There is no rule to when exactly a baby sleeps in a crib with rungs. Usually, between the ages of two and three, toddlers are changed to a more adult crib, but this is not always the case.
It is important that the child feels comfortable and safe - if he or she reacts by shouting and crying to a change of sleeping place, let him or her give him some time and do not force it. By carefully observing the child's behavior, we will come to the conclusion for ourselves when the child can sleep in a crib with rungs, and when it is time for an adult, single bed. If he takes an active part in planning this purchase, he may feel that it is also his choice and willingness to change.
Expert advises
If we do not want to change the sleeping furniture because the child is extremely mobile and we are afraid that he may fall out of bed at night, a good solution to start with may be removing the rungs from the baby's bed. So that the toddler can decide for himself whether he wants to stay in the bed or leave it. It is worth introducing your child to a new piece of furniture in the form of an adult bed slowly and getting used to it, e.g. by reading bedtime books on it or using it for naps during the day. This is important - especially when your child is stressed out by changes.
How to choose a bed for a 3-year-old?
A bed for a 3-year-old it should be safe and comfortable in the first place. Especially that at this age the child is more prone to the risk of falling or being injured while playing. If your toddler is still fidgeting and you are worried that he will fall off the adult bed while sleeping, you can have a side protection, mounted on the bed frame, or just in case you can put an additional mattress next to the bed.
Bed for a 3-year-old: what for a boy and what for a girl?
When choosing a bed for a 3-year-old girl or a 3-year-old boy, put decorative elements in second place. Though a four-poster bed or a big car-shaped bed looks attractive, it is not the appearance of the piece of furniture that should determine the purchase. Of course, our 3-year-old may have his own preferences and it is worth listening to the child's instructions so that he or she feels like a participant in such important purchases. However, when choosing a bed for a 3-year-old with a mattress, before considering our toddler's opinion and the visual aspects, there are a few basic points to pay attention to.
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Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child
The most important thing is that the furniture we choose should have:
- stable structure;
- comfortable, medium-hard mattress, suitable for the spine during intensive growth and made of safe materials;
- necessary approvals.
A bed for a 3-year-old should also meet the requirements of the European Standard: PN-EN 716-1 + AC: 2019-07.
The selected cot does not fully match our child's taste?
Nothing is lost. Personalizing the bed for a 3-year-old can also be great fun and does not have to be related to the appearance of the furniture itself. Sometimes it is enough to choose properly selected bedding, a blanket with your favorite hero, or pillows with an interesting shape. We can put a rug next to the bed, which will complement the interior design and give the room a cozy character. In addition, adequate lighting and… a bed for a 3-year-old girl or boy - can become his new beloved piece of furniture in the room.
What size bed for a 3-year-old?
A child develops rapidly in the early stages of life. It needs a lot of space and comfortable sleeping conditions. As parents, you know very well that what suited a one-year-old child will not work for a toddler who is three years old. Also when it comes to the size of the baby cot. Fortunately, there are single beds in various sizes on the market. Also those that will certainly work for a 3-year-old, e.g. with a mattress with dimensions of 70 × 140 cm, 80 × 160 cm or 90 × 180 cm.
Expert advises
What size of bed to choose for a 3-year-old depends on how big our toddler is and how long the new bed will be enough for. It happens that beds with a 70 × 140 cm mattress may be insufficient for a 3-year-old. We advise you to think about buying beds with a mattress of 80 × 160 or 90 × 180 cm. It will also not be a mistake to buy a piece of furniture with dimensions of 80 or 90 × 200 cm, as it will last longer, even up to the teenage age, as long as it does not have a children's design.
The child should feel comfortable in the crib, and the parent should be calm about its safety and proper development. Familiarize yourself with the offer of stores and after considering the above-mentioned aspects - decide which solution will be best for your 3-year-old.
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