The Best Toddler Beds to Safely Transition Little Ones from Their Cribs

If you’re looking for a classic toddler bed to suit just about any nursery aesthetic, you’ll find it with the Delta Children Canton Toddler Bed. It’s a sturdy, well-made bed that’s low to the ground and has two fixed rails to keep your little one right where they should be. Yet despite that, it’s under $100! Although the rails may be a bit small in width for some preferences, you’ll notice that it makes it easier for your toddler to hop in and out of bed on their own (which is important for potty training). The sleigh-style bed is both JPMA- and Greenguard Gold-certified, meaning it meets or exceeds strict chemical emissions standards, and comes in neutral and bright color options.

For a bed with a smaller footprint, try this compact GapKids toddler bed. Rounded corners help protect little ones from falls and cuts, while built-in guardrails on the side keep them from rolling off the bed. Even if they did roll off, however, the bed is so low to the ground the impact would be minimal. We also love that it’s Greenguard Gold-certified ensuring the materials aren’t emitting harmful chemicals. The bed comes in navy, blush, and gray making it easy to blend into any bedroom decor.

If aesthetic is just as important as quality, you may want to splurge on this gorgeous contemporary toddler bed from Pottery Barn Kids. Like everything the brand makes, this toddler bed is highly attractive with clean white lines and natural birch legs; it’s bound to look right in any room. The platform can be adjusted to two heights, so you can raise it as your child gets bigger and more comfortable getting in and out of bed on their own. What’s more, with details like a hand-applied finish, it’s built to last — particularly great for families who intend to use the bed for multiple children throughout the years. It’s also Greenguard Gold-certified and has been tested to meet or exceed all industry safety standards. Another big bonus: You can hire Pottery Barn to do the assembling for you.

As a family who travels a lot, the Shrunks Inflatable Toddler Bed has been invaluable to our trips: We’ve taken it to hotels, grandparents' houses, and even used it for the occasional sleepover. The inflatable bed and pump comes in a travel bag, and it blows up in just a few minutes. My toddler loves the velvety soft “mattress” part (although I usually toss a crib sheet over it), and the raised guardrails give me peace of mind that she won’t roll out onto the ground in the middle of the night. Deflating it is pretty simple, too, and it takes up very little room in the trunk (or even packed in carry-on luggage if needed.) We’ve owned it for three years and it’s still as good as new and ready to pass on to the next kid.

This is the toddler bed of many little kids’ dreams. The whimsical house-style frame not only has a built-in faux window, it even has a small attached couch with shelving above to house favorite books, stuffed animals and other knick knacks. For additional storage, there are also two drawers tucked underneath the bed and the couch, which are perfect for stashing extra bedding or out-of-season clothing. Parents should note that this is a twin bed and will require a twin mattress, which just means extra space (and weight capacity) for bedtime snuggles. Despite being a twin bed, it still comes with built-in guardrails to protect little ones from any overnight falls. 

A departure from other toddler beds, this cute house-shaped Montessori-style floor bedis so much fun for toddlers. Though it sits firmly on the ground, the wood frame creates the shape of a house overhead to make your little one feel like her bed is a truly special place to be. The slatted base of the bed keeps the mattress from sitting directly on the floor to allow air to flow and prevent mold from growing. And the built-in guardrail will help your little one feel comfortable and cozy at night, with an easy spot to get in and out of bed. The simple yet adorable design will look great in just about any space and is all but guaranteed to delight both kids and parents alike. Keep in mind that it only comes in twin or full sizes, so you’ll have to buy a new mattress rather than use your crib mattress for this bed.

Talk about growing with your child: This wood toddler bed transforms into two kid chairs and a play table once your little one has outgrown it thanks to an optional conversion kit (sold separately), really increasing its lifespan. Several reviewers also noted that they appreciated the double guardrails and how low it was to the ground for their toddlers who constantly roll around at night. To make things even easier for parents, the JPMA-certified bed also has the option of ordering it with a Greenguard Gold-certified mattress so your shopping process is one-and-done.

For families with two children who are closer in age, a toddler-appropriate bunk bed can be a major space saver. The Ikea Kura Bunk Bed has a much smaller footprint than a traditional bunk bed and isn’t as tall, and the bottom bunk is actually just a mattress on the floor within the frame so there’s no height drop to worry about. Additionally, the top bunk has a solid high guardrail around all the sides, not just a partial rail, to keep them extra safe. I actually owned this and used it for my kids who are a few years apart, and they stayed in it for nearly three years before we passed it along to someone else.

As an added bonus, the bed is reversible, meaning that once they’re older, it can be flipped to become a traditional single twin bed or used without the floor mattress to become a lofted bed. Assembly, as with many Ikea products, can be frustrating, so we’d recommend using the retailer’s Taskrabbit assembly option if possible. Parents should note that both the AAP and CPSC advise children under the age of six not sleep on the top bunk. So, your older child should sleep on the top bed and toddler on the bottom. They also recommend bunk beds be placed in the corner of the room, so there are walls on two sides for extra protection.