When should I buy a toddler bed?
Short answer: Buy in time for when you will first use it: once your child has outgrown the cot or is climbing out of it. Many UK families switch between about 18 months and 3 years. For newborn essentials, many parents order in the second trimester to allow for delivery and assembly.
- 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.
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.
Related questions
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.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Kidsaw Horse and Carriage Princess Toddler Bed with Toy Box
- Hoppekids Shorty Midsleeper
- Flair Nadia Single Montessori Floor Bed
- Kidsaw Peppa Pig Toddler Bed with Tent Canopy
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Can a 15 month old sleep in a toddler bed?Can a 6 week old sleep with a duvet?Can a 10 month old have a pillow?Your 2 year's sleep space: a safe-sleep guideIs a toddler bed right for you? Quick quizFrom cot to toddler bed: a step-by-step moveAll 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.