I am on a listserv of moms in the Old Town area.  Recently there was a post asking about whether or not a family should move their child from crib to a toddler bed or a big-kid bed.  This is something I feel passionate about (this and health care reform, of course) so I replied to the group.  Since I spent so much time crafting the email, I thought I would share it with you.  Enjoy…!

Q:  Are there any downsides to getting either a daybed or a platform bed for a toddler transitioning out of a crib? It seems to me both are good choices since they are either enclosed on 3 sides (requiring just one bed rail) or very low to the ground. I don’t want to buy an actual toddler bed, just a twin size regular bed.

A:  I took both my kids from cribs to full size beds when they were just over two years old.  We didn’t use the side rails and I think my son fell out of bed once – my daughter hasn’t yet.  Knock on wood.  (They are six and four now)

 

When it comes to moving from crib to big-kid room, I’m of the mind set that you should invest in good quality furniture – including a mattress – that will last from toddler to pre-teen if not teen.  The bed is something that is going to grow with your child so why not get something that is going to last the long haul? 

 

Here are my suggestions…

 

1.  Instead of spending money you don’t need to spend (i.e. the toddler beds that are generally of suspicious quality anyway and that will inevitably go into a landfill), invest in something long term. 

 

2.  Consider investing in all wood where the paint can be changed as you or your child’s tastes change or in iron that is timeless, neutral and doesn’t need to be changed.  That pink bed now may not be so cool when they go goth in the 9th grade.  But if it’s wood you simply sand it, paint it black and you’re done.

 

3.  When picking your bed, don’t go for trendy or themed if you want it to truly last into pre-teen or teen days.  You will once again be spending money that you didn’t need to had you started simply.  If you want to do themes (which I enjoy), then do it with fun cowboy or princess sheets or a big baseball floor pillow or floral tent. These are all things that can be changed easily and for less money than a new bed.

 

4.  Finally, if safety is your main concern, then do invest in the side rails.  They are an inexpensive solution and you can still invest in a quality piece of furniture.

 

I did mention that we sell furniture at the store so I hope that didn’t come off as too self serving.  But just so you know… at Red Barn Merantile we carry Relics furniture.  They are wonderful all-wood beds, dressers and bookshelves.  They have several styles and paint finishes.  In fact, if you wanted to, you could paint your bed or crib in any Benjamin Moore paint.  Everything but the cribs are made in Minnesota with locally harvested wood.  They use water based paints and meet all federal safety regulations.  Here are just a few of their beds…

We have this one sans trundle in Cloud finish in the store.

In addition to the Relics line, we carry antique beds from the 1800’s.  These are old beds that we have refinished with one of several finishes.  I’m partial to the plain old black.  This process requires some imagination.  What we do is share with you several photos of beds, you choose which one you like and what finish and we get it to you.  One is on it’s way to us right now!

 

To sum up this long post, if you are transitioning your child from crib to bed, please, for pete’s sake, skip the toddler bed and go straight for the real deal.  Your child and your pocketbook will appreciate it.

 

Good luck with the transition! 

Amy