The Kids Beds Guide – Buy the Right Bed for Your Kids

With thousands of kids beds to choose from, picking the perfect bed is not as easy as it seems. At TheBedding.Net we want to ensure that your shopping experience ends with a bed that your kid will love for many years to come. So to help make your buying decision a little easier we’ve created this kids bed buyers guide to answer all of the many questions you have. Either skip through to the guide titles below to get answers to specific questions you have or read it cover to cover and we’ll teach you everything you need to know to make the perfect decision.

Introduction:

Construction and Material Used

There are many factors to consider when making a bed purchase for your little one but to us the most important consideration is the construction. The type of construction and materials used can greatly affect the quality of your kids’ bed. The bed you buy should be pretested and inspected for durability. Kids’ beds can range dramatically in price due to the type of material used (such as solid hardwood, hardwood with veneers, engineered wood etc…) as well as the quality of the construction. Whether you’re seeking a top quality bed or you’re looking for fun style at a convenient price, you deserve to know exactly how your kids’ bed is made.

Type Of Bed

Another important decision is to select the right type of bed for your kid. Our kids’ bed buyers’ guide can help you learn about and decide between bunk beds, theme beds, captain’s beds and more. We’ll educate you on the differences, advantages and disadvantages so you can make the best decision.

So without delay dig in to our kid’s bed buyer’s guide to get answers to specific questions or read it cover to cover and we’ll teach you everything you need to know to make the perfect decision for your kids’ bedroom.

A Practical Guide to Kids’ Bed Construction

At TheBedding.Net our motto is “Designed for Kids’, Built for Parents”. What this means is that each and every bed we review has to offer fun, practical styling that kids love and durability and quality that parents demand.

Quality and Durability of Kids Beds

These days, the internet is flooded with cheap kids’ beds and dangerous knock-offs. Cheap, poor-quality kids’ beds are often built with particle board or compressed cardboard, and are subsequently layered with a thin veneer. Obviously, these kids’ bed frames are not built to last very long. They will not last nearly as long as quality metal or solid wood bed frames, that is for certain. You may be thinking, but my child is just going to grow out of it anyway, so why bother with a bed that will last a long time?  Well if the bed begins to fall apart you’re definitely going to need to replace the bed sooner than you had planned. Plus cheaply made beds can be dangerous because of poor structural stability and also dangerous to your child’s health if they have toxic glues or chemicals in the wood or paint. So do yourself and your child a favor and invest in a bed that been made with care.

Material Used

As a general rule of thumb we recommend that you avoid purchasing a kids bed made of MDF or particle board. Over time, exacerbated and warped by moisture buildup and temperature fluctuations, particle board and compressed cardboard expand causing the cheap veneer adhesive to separate or split open. Not only does this create an eyesore in your kids’ bedroom (and believe us, this is not pretty), it also poses a possible safety hazard to your child as the integrity of the bed is compromised. Composite materials like particle board provide very little support for anchoring screws and nails, too; incidentally, screws and nails are the most common fasteners for cheap kids’ beds. With regular use, these anchors loosen and will strip out completely in relatively little time and cannot be tightened because the screw holes will already be stripped. Of course with every rule there are exceptions. Among  collection of solid hardwood beds you we do feature a quality made in Canada kids bedroom furniture line that is indeed made of MDF. However the beds are manufactured with high quality, non toxic glues that are safe and durable. Though not as good as solid hardwood, this line is an excellent blend of quality and value.

Construction Techniques

Along with quality construction materials beds should be made with quality construction techniques. Most of the kids beds are fastened with durable hook and pin hardware systems and in some cases even mortise and tenon (learn more about “Mortise and Tenon” below). Cheap veneer, single step finished wood beds and painted metal kids beds can scratch fairly easily and will look used in no time at all. Beds quality and durability should be guaranteed to look great for years which can be ensured with the use of powder coated metals and multiple step finishing techniques.

Solid wood kids’ bed frames tend to be the most appealing choices, because they are both sturdy and naturally attractive. Of course, kids’ beds made in these materials also tend to be the most expensive. Quality wood kids’ bed frames will often utilize the natural beauty of the wood itself to create a stunning design in any kids’ bedroom. Some manufacturers choose to paint rather than stain to create more vibrant colors and kids’ bedroom themes. The bottom line with natural wood is this: well-crafted wood kids’ bedroom furniture will last a lifetime, and quality is never out of style.

If you are looking for the sturdiest way to construct kids’ furniture, look no further than mortise and tenon. But what does mortise and tenon mean? If it helps, imagine it as a set of Lego’s, with each end of a board linking into a corresponding space on an adjacent board. Really, each slat and side runner and headboard just fits into another piece of the bed. These joints are incredibly sturdy and they essentially eliminate the need for flimsy fasteners such as screws and nails. Related to the mortise and tenon construction method, tongue and groove is basically the same idea but it utilizes shallower links.

The better the construction, the less likely you will need to throw an old kids’ bed away and buy a new one. It is always environmentally wise to buy a quality product once, rather than cheap products you will have to replace over and over. And if you’re concerned about your child outgrowing his bed: many modern kids’ beds offer modular features so it can grow along with your child.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for My Child?

When purchasing a mattress for your child’s bed the first question you should consider is what is it made out of and where is it made? Your child will have his or her head lying on whichever mattress you choose every night for many years to come. Whether you choose a memory foam mattress, an inner spring mattress or latex mattress make sure you trust that the manufacturer has your child’s best interests in mind when making the mattress. American made mattresses like Sleep Innovations are a safe bet because the guidelines for what ingredients are allowed to be used to make mattresses are stricter in the USA than most countries and of course enforced as well. That’s not to say that other countries don’t make good mattresses as well but as a general rule, make sure you trust the company selling it.

Some mattress companies have very specific restrictions as to what type of foundation they require you place your child’s mattress on. If you do not follow these rules, your mattress warranty can automatically be rendered void. Memory foam mattresses in particular require that the mattress be placed on a solid, flat surface. If a memory foam mattress is best for your child, you will need to insure that the kids’ bed you purchase offers a solid flat mattress foundation, or you may have to make arrangements to create such a surface elsewhere. You can purchase a “Bunkie” board (essentially: a very thin box spring) to lay over the kids’ bed slats if your child prefers a memory foam sleeping surface, or you can purchase a standard box spring. You can also use a sheet of plywood or similar material to create a flat surface. If your child prefers a standard mattress, then setting up the bed is a cinch. In this case, you can simply place your child’s mattress directly on the slats. For futons, a flat surface is not necessary, but it is recommended. Most any mattress can be placed directly on top of slats, but you should nevertheless check your mattress warranty first. As always, feel free to ask us in the comments below for help if you are stuck.

Mattress Size Chart

Twin – 37”W x 74”L

Twin XL – 37”W x 80”L

Double/Full – 54”W x 74”L

Queen – 60”W x 80”L

CA King – 72”W x 84”L

Standard (Eastern King) – 76”W x 84”L