Toddler beds buying guide for UK parents
Short answer: A toddler bed is a low bed sized for a cot-bed mattress (often 140 x 70cm), usually with side guards, for children moving out of a cot. Choose one that fits your space and your baby's stage, and use it as the instructions say.
What is a toddler bed?
A low bed sized for a cot-bed mattress (often 140 x 70cm), usually with side guards, for children moving out of a cot. It is used once your child has outgrown the cot or is climbing out of it. Many UK families switch between about 18 months and 3 years.
How to choose
- Check the mattress size it takes and buy a mattress that fits snugly.
- Side guards help stop your child rolling out in the early weeks.
- A low height makes it easier to climb in and out on their own.
Space and layout
Toddler beds have about the same footprint as a converted cot bed.
Safety standards
- Mattresses: look for BS 7177:2008+A1:2011, and BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021 for cot, travel cot and crib mattresses.
Common questions
- When can a baby have a pillow?
- When can a baby sleep with a duvet?
- When should my toddler move from a cot to a bed?
- Can a toddler use a cot bed mattress in a toddler bed?
- What size mattress does a toddler bed take?
- Can a toddler bed hold an adult?
- How do I choose a toddler bed?
- Do I need a toddler bed?
What the guidance says
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition, with no raised or cushioned edges, that fits the cot or Moses basket with no gaps.
- Mattresses: look for BS 7177:2008+A1:2011, and BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021 for cot, travel cot and crib mattresses.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Flair Dreamland Montessori House Floor Bed
- Flair Imogen Montessori Toddler Floor Bed with Safety Fence Lilac
- Tutti Bambini Grande Casa Montessori Toddler Floor Bed 90 x 200cm - Harvest Oak
- Hoppekids Shorty Bunkbed + Safety Rail
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Can a newborn have a pillow?Where should I put a toddler bed in the nursery?What bedding goes in a toddler bed?Can a 1 year old sleep with a duvet?Can a toddler bed hold an adult?Can a 7 month old sleep with a duvet?All toddler beds and big-bed moves advice →
Sources
- The Lullaby Trust: Baby mattresses and bedding (accessed 2026-10-21)
General information only, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, health visitor or 111. In an emergency, call 999.