What toddler bed would you recommend?

[OnlineMummum]

Hello, we want to move our 3 year old DD to a big girl bed. She's been in a cot until now, has never tried to climb out of it so we did not feel in a rush to move her out of her cot either... but feel it's now the time. Would love to get recommendations for beds and mattresses that worked well for you. Thank you!

I'd go for a full sized single rather than a toddler bed.

totally agree with vodka - buying a toddler bed now would be a waste of money. We have just (literaly this week) moved DD, 2.4 into a normal big bed and she has been fine... I was a bit at the height of the bed but she has been getting in and out of it no problem.

I can recommend these as a bed guard too: www.amazon.co.uk/The-British-Bed-Bumper-Original/dp/B002NYC5LI/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1344457382&sr=1-3

I can recommend John Lewis Anna bed if you definitely want a toddler bed. I think the previous posters are probably right with respect going straight to a standard single, although I decided my DD was on the small side (she moved at 2.4 and was still under 90cm tall) and therefore we would likely get enough years use out of a toddler bed to justify it. The other consideration which I didn't realise until I had bought it, was that there is a much wider range of bedding if you go straight for single.

Oh and with regards mattress, we just reused the one she already had in her cotbed and bought a new mattress for the cotbed for her baby brother to use. Both mattresses were from Mamas and Papas although only because that is where the cotbed was from so I figured they would fit more snuggly.

Another vote for a full size bed.
We went to a bed showroom with DS and let him help choose the bed by seeing if he could climb in and out by himself.
The heights of beds vary somewhat, and becomes especially important if it's too high to get in!
We went to Conway furniture, and got a forever bed- ie until he leaves home! - and a firm mattress . We and he are delighted with it. He loves being grown up and loved choosing it.

We got a standard single for dd from Ikea (the range is called Hemnes). We moved her from a cot bed at age 2. What was great with the bed we chose was that you could choose the height to set the mattress when building the bed, so it's nice & low for her (she's only around 80cm tall at age 2.4). Remember if you go for a toddler bed that you also need to get a special size mattress, duvet & bedding, which in my opinion is a bit daft for a relatively short period of time.

I got this IKEA one- it's extendable so solves the toddler/single bed issue, and it's brilliant. I got the mattress from here as it's cheaper and better quality.

I just use single sized bedding and duvet, it tucks in fine.

What about getting ehr a full sized single bed with a wooden frame. Put the mattress on the floor for a bit til she is used to the 'freedom' and when you think she is ready, build the frame to put the mattress on?

Just get a normal sized single bed.

Thank you all for your precious advice! Seems like we definitely should go for a full size single bed. Next weekend will be shopping weekend and I'll definitely look into your recommendations. Super helpful - thanks again!