The first place in arranging a room for a child is choosing a bed. For the sleeping area, specialized furniture is purchased, which undergoes strict certification.
The surface of the model must be smooth, without protrusions, crevices, cracks or burrs.
Children's models differ in design features and material used in production. The rating of companies producing products for preschoolers and older children is published on the Internet.
For the sleeping area, specialized furniture is purchased, which undergoes strict certification.
Primary requirements
Choosing a children's bed from 3 years old is not as simple as it seems. It is easy for a person who is not familiar with the features to make a mistaken purchase. Many factors must be taken into account: design, material, size, functionality. Naturally, design also plays a role. Manufacturers are ready to offer a variety of models aimed specifically at boys and girls.
There are many options for crib designs. The choice must be based on factors such as the number of children in the family, their hobbies, and the area of the apartment. If your budget allows, you can purchase a whole gaming complex along with a sleeping place.
Despite the fact that the child has grown up and needs a larger bed, it is unlikely that there will be enough space in his room for an oversized model. A transformable children's bed would be an ideal option. It can be disassembled only at night, and in the daytime leave room for games.
One of the main criteria for choosing a bed for children over 3 years old is safety. The kit must include side partitions or the possibility of installing them. At this age, the child is not yet able to control himself in his sleep: turning to his side, he may fall. This is especially dangerous when using a bunk bed. Before purchasing, you should also check the product for cracks, burrs, chips, or anything that could injure children. It is better to purchase a model with rounded corners. If the bed has a second floor, the ladder must be strong and the steps wide and stable.
Children's beds from three years old are usually made of natural wood. Oak, beech, pine, and maple are used. These materials are not only environmentally friendly, but also durable. The only negative is the high cost. More budget models are assembled from compressed wood panels. They are also hypoallergenic, but tend to dry out over time. It is not recommended to purchase a metal bed, as it is much easier to get injured on it. Some manufacturers make models with plastic parts. Such components wear out quickly and can also be toxic.
An important factor when choosing a children's bed from 3 years old with sides is the possibility of ventilation. The side walls must be made of high-quality materials that are free of synthetic odors and impurities. It is advisable to purchase models with sides made of slats. There should be a distance of 4–6 cm between each of them, otherwise air will flow poorly to the sleeper. However, if the gap is larger than 6 cm, the baby's foot or hand may accidentally fall into the hole and get stuck. Based on this criterion, you can choose a bed with fabric or mesh sides on a solid base.
What children don't do with their beds. They jump, have pillow fights on them, build barricades. Therefore, a strong frame and side backs of the product are important. In addition, the build quality and adherence to the technical process play a big role in the service life. When choosing a bed in a store, you should check the absence of gaps, the quality of surface treatment, and the presence of all reinforcing and fixing elements.
To save the family budget, you can also purchase a pull-out bed for a child over 3 years old. This model can be used further as it grows older, since it has sliding elements. When a second baby appears in the family, it will be easy to put it back together.
You should be careful when choosing a mattress. For teenagers and children's beds from 3 years old, purchase products of medium hardness, since a mattress that is too soft can cause deterioration in posture.
A room with the smallest area is usually allocated for a children's room. For this reason, parents try to ensure that all furniture has maximum functionality. If we consider children's beds with drawers, they are convenient to use, since you can put clothes, toys, and bedding in them. Other models are a symbiosis of a sleeping place, a desk, a play area and more.
Children from 3 to 10 years old attach great importance to the color scheme and design of their sleeping place. Modern manufacturers are able to implement any idea and depict their favorite character on the back. Children's beds for boys from 3 years old are most often presented in the form of cars, special equipment or with portraits of superheroes. Girls are bought a bed for a princess.
Basic parameters for choosing a children's bed
Not only his comfort, but also his health directly depends on how correctly a bed is chosen for a child. When purchasing, experts suggest parents focus on the following parameters:
- Age appropriate
Depending on the age of the children, different requirements may be imposed on the sleeping place, and first of all, on its dimensions. The height of the bed for a child should allow him to easily get down and get into it on his own without the risk of falling, and the length and width should correspond to his height and build.
- Safety
Safe children's furniture is a high-quality assembly, durable and strong design, as well as the complete absence of components and elements that the child risks getting hurt or hit hard - such as noticeably protruding bases, sharp corners and lattice sides in which the baby's hand or leg can get stuck. . Also, such beds should not have complex mechanisms that children are unlikely to be able to handle on their own, and when purchasing, you must carefully check the selected model for damage, cracks and chips.
- Environmental friendliness
The quality of materials is another strict criterion in choosing a bed for a child. Responsible manufacturers use only raw materials that meet strict environmental safety requirements - their furniture is usually made from natural solid wood or high-quality MDF or plastic without dangerous additives, and only non-toxic hypoallergenic varnishes and paints are selected for painting. To be sure of the right choice, you can ask the seller for documents and certificates for the bed - the E0 or E1 marking indicated in them indicates that the model meets all the above requirements.
In some cases, adults select a bed based on the size of the children's room, color and design. These criteria are also relevant, but the comfort and health of the child must be taken into account first.
Varieties
Before choosing a children's bed with such a wide variety of models, the first thing you need to do is decide on the place where it will stand. It is not always possible to place a child in a separate room, then the ideal option would be a sleeping place combined with a desk. This will not only save space, but also give you the feeling of your own corner.
Modular
Beds for children over three years old vary in assembly. Previously, cabinet furniture was mainly in demand. It was a solid structure, not attached to the wall. If there were various compartments and cabinets, they were all fixed together.
Currently, modular furniture is increasingly used for interior design. It can consist of several different items, each of which represents a complete separate unit. Such a product, made of high-quality materials, is expensive.
Models of modular children's beds usually consist of 1-2 beds, lockers, bedside tables, and a play or study area. If desired, some components can be removed or something added.
Transformers
Transformable beds are very convenient to use in small apartments. Some models can be transformed into a table or other piece of furniture. There are children's beds with sides that can be used from birth until school age. When the baby grows up, parents remove the high sides and buy a larger mattress. High-quality furniture of this type can be used for up to 10 years.
Roll-out
For older children, choose beds with a pull-out bed. During the daytime it hides in a niche. Most often, such products have two beds, sometimes even three. Each of them extends further than the top one, forming a staircase. Such original children's beds are not very high, it is almost impossible to fall out of them, but they rarely come with sides. Convenient for large families.
It will be easy for a child to lay out such a bed without the help of an adult. The main thing is that the withdrawable mechanism works perfectly. To do this, you should definitely try to unfold the structure several times in the store.
Bunk
This model was popular back in the USSR. During this time, production technology and design have changed greatly, and the safety of this piece of furniture has increased. This bed has two sleeping beds and a ladder. It is ideal for families with two children and limited living space. This way you can save space for the play area. A bunk bed can have a corner design. In such models, the sleeping places are located perpendicular to each other, and the product is additionally equipped with drawers and shelves.
If children are under 7 years of age, protective barriers must be present. They will also make the climb up easier. The youngest child is always placed in the lowest seat.
Standard singles
Lovers of the classics will love the standard single bed. It has one berth, there are no additional functional elements on it, except for the sides. Such a model will cost less than its competitors, since its production requires much less material. The optimal choice for one child living in his own room.
It will not be difficult for a parent with carpentry skills to do it by hand. Such a homemade crib for a child over 3 years old will look no worse than a store-bought one.
Thematic
If you want to please your baby with something fabulous, then you should pay attention to thematic models. Such a piece of furniture will develop a child’s imagination and give him many magical hours of play. Usually these products represent a specific item. Recently, a bed-house for children over 3 years old has become very popular. Its roof has a sloping shape, often there is an attic space. It is recommended to purchase a canopy and soft sides as a set. The child will feel comfortable there, and the sunlight can be shaded during daytime sleep.
A bed with sides for a boy from 3 years old is a car or special equipment. All products have bright, eye-catching colors. Children's beds for girls from 3 years old can be designed in the form of a carriage, water lily, or fairy-tale house. Manufacturers are able to fulfill any child’s desire.
Loft bed
A loft bed is convenient for use in a small room, as it saves space. There is a sleeping place on the top bunk; you can get there by stairs. The lower tier is often reserved for a desk or computer desk. Sometimes there is a sofa bed for children over 3 years old. This option is suitable for two children.
Loft beds are often purchased for schoolchildren, since the structure itself is quite high. At the same time, the sleeping place differs in functionality. There may be small drawers in the steps where you can put toys or stationery.
Design Features
In addition to the sleeping place itself, the bed can be equipped with various additional practical elements.
- Drawers and shelves. Located mainly at the bottom of the crib, they will allow you to place all the accessories children need: bedding, diapers, linen.
- Silicone pads. They are mainly located on the top rails and are needed if the child begins to teethe. Such products are safe and environmentally friendly, protecting both teeth and furniture.
- Baby changing table. Sometimes it is built into the crib/chest of drawers and makes changing the baby much easier.
- Built-in chest of drawers. A significant advantage: in such a chest of drawers you can store bottles, pacifiers, powders, etc.
- Backlight. Convenient when you need to rock/change your baby at night.
How to choose the right design size
Children's beds from 3 years old with sides can be purchased in a standard size or ordered according to individual measurements. The second option is more convenient when space is strictly limited. But such a product will also cost more.
When choosing a bed, you need to be based on the fact that the child should have about 40 cm left in reserve from his height. The standard dimensions of a children's bed from 3 years old are 140 x 70 cm. This bed will last up to 5-7 years. After which it is recommended to purchase a model with a width of 80 cm and a length of at least 160 cm. On average, the sleeping bed must be changed after 4-5 years, each time purchasing a product 10 cm longer.
You should not buy a bed for growth; your baby will feel restless and uncomfortable in it. In addition, older models do not have adequate safety features.
Bed and sleeping area size
The sleeping area is the area of the bed where the child will sleep. The size of the sleeping place is equal to the size of the mattress. Moreover, the bed itself can be much larger. This is especially true for designer products - beds in the shape of cars, ships, carriages, etc. Such products will require more space and should be combined with the interior of the room.
Advice (not entirely on topic). It is worth realizing that small and childishly decorated beds, especially cartoon-themed ones, give joy for only a few years, and then the child himself gets bored. Don’t forget about growing up: if at the age of 5-6 your son literally “dries” for Lightning McQueen, then at the age of 8 his interests will already be completely different and a schoolchild who considers himself almost an adult is unlikely to want to sleep in a “Car” crib. Such bed options are usually chosen consciously, knowing that in a few years the child’s room will be refurbished to meet new needs and requirements. As a long-term option, this is not the best choice.
Manufacturing materials
There are not many material options for assembling furniture. Children's beds from 3 years old made of wood are the most popular. Only solid hardwood is used. Such designs are characterized by increased strength, hypoallergenicity, and a pleasant smell. Natural wood has an attractive appearance. The only drawback is the high cost.
A more budget-friendly option is children's beds for girls and boys from 3 years old made of chipboard and MDF. Externally, such materials look similar to natural wood and are also odorless. But particle boards have low strength, wear out quickly, and dry out. When water gets in, they bend and lose their shape.
The metal model has higher strength than a children's bed made of solid wood from 3 years old. The iron structure is also odorless and does not cause allergies. The price range is average. The main reason why parents avoid metal beds is the increased risk of injury.
Array
Metal
MDF
Tips for choosing a mattress
In addition to choosing the bed itself, purchasing the right mattress is important. Its dimensions must correspond to the sleeping area. If the dimensions of a children's bed from 3 years old are 140 x 70 cm, then the mattress is the same. Narrower products will move around while your baby sleeps.
There are several types of mattresses:
- Spring - it is better to choose one with an independent block, since each spring in it is packed in its own case and does not have adhesion to others. Supports back and posture well.
- Springless - is a product with various fillers. Such mattresses are usually made from natural materials, have increased elasticity and varying degrees of hardness, they are very strong and durable.
- The orthopedic mattress has a rigid structure; it is aimed primarily at eliminating minor defects of the musculoskeletal system. For children, it is useful because it supports a weak back.
Even an imported Italian crib from 3 years old will not protect the baby’s health without correctly selected components. The mattress plays a major role. For children over 3 years old, orthopedists advise using products of medium hardness. They will protect your posture and allow you to sleep in comfort.
Types of beds for children
Furniture for children today is very diverse. Among the popular models, several types of beds stand out:
- typical (traditional);
- modular;
- roll-out;
- thematic.
Children's models can be cheap or expensive, but they must meet safety criteria in any case.
At the same time, children's models within each type can have one or two, and sometimes even three tiers.
