When Is Your Child Too Big for a Toddler Bed?

This is a popular question asked by every parent around the world at some point, but what exactly is the answer?

Retiring that old bed is certainly not the easiest option since the whole upheaval of dismantling the old one and installing a new one comes with its own problems. Depending on how well you like your furniture to match, you’ll probably want to change them as well. Nightmare!!

I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you’ve probably been holding out as long as possible. Not just because of the hassle of moving it, but, also the realisation that your child has passed the threshold of no longer being a toddler anymore. They’re growing fast and a new era has arrived in your household :)

Some of you may even find that your child has a serious bond with their bed and won’t be too happy to give it up in a hurry. But, there comes a time when they simply outgrow it and it’s just not practical for them to sleep in it anymore.

To better help you decide how you’re going to play this, let’s look at some tell-tales signs to work out if they are just too big for that bed.

Your Little One Needs More Room

If this sounds simple, that’s probably because it is. Toddler mattresses are normally 52 inches long and they’re really not that wide. 

That means if you have a growing child in a toddler bed, it’s likely going to become apparent that they are just too big for it. For example, if they keep falling out of bed when they roll out at night, or they struggle to stretch, then maybe it’s time to invest in something a tad bit larger.

Pay Attention to Weight Limits

Wow! This header comes across really bad, sorry. But, the amount of weight your growing kids gain daily is astonishing. In fat, I’m sure you’ve even taken a few double takes when you realise just how quickly they are growing out of their clothes. 

Now, most of these beds are designed to hold no more than 50 pounds which is nearly 23 kgs for our metric friends. If your child (like most children) is going through a growth spurt, then their weight will likely be increasing too!

With that in mind, this indicator alone will determine whether or not it’s time for a change.

Your Child is Starting School

Ok, so we’re cheating a little bit here, because by default we know your child is getting taller and gaining more weight since they are starting school and with that brings the obvious changes. 

This also makes it much easier to change the bed or frame if they are attached to it. 

You don’t need to tell them that they are getting older and need to transition because the fact they are starting a new school is evidence enough.

The new bed won’t be the only change in their lives and there will likely be countless others as they transition to a new school.

Your Child Wants Something New

Now this is an easy one because your child is now telling you that they fancy a change.

There’s no better indication than this one to be honest. You don’t even need to think about this or try to persuade them. 

They’re telling you that they want to make the change. All you need to do is comply :)

Of course, you’ll know whether you need to  make the change or not based on the previous points in this article, but the fact that they are asking for the change is a brilliant sign.

Oftentimes, a friend getting a new bed motivates them to also want to make the change.

Tips for Making the Change

Making the switch to a larger bed is not always the easiest. Timing is so important and also getting your child on board is crucial. Otherwise the overall experience will be pretty stressful. 

The best way to go about it is by making the whole changeover an actual event. In fact, if you’re either changing the bed or frame, go ahead and ask them if they would like to pick one out. They can also choose the pillows, bedspread and duvet etc. 

If you really play your cards right, they may even be intio Disney which makes your life so much easier when encouraging them to make the change. The fact that they get to choose the bed furnishings from their favourite Disney is the icing on the cake.

Depending on how far you want to take this, you can also hold (not at the moment during the lockdown) a “new bed” party with some healthy snacks and games. But, that is really taking it to the extreme and you probably won’t even need to go that far.