7 Best Toddler Beds for More Restful Sleep

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably reached that pivotal stage of parenthood where your toddler is catapulting themselves over the crib railings and you’re legit worried they’re going to crack their head open. While transitioning to the best toddler bed may not help with the whole escape artist act (hello, sleep training…again!), it’s an absolute necessity when it comes to your kiddo’s safety. Plus, there are plenty of money and space-saving perks.

We spoke with a couple interior designers, who’ve created loads of cozy kid rooms, to get the lowdown on what to look for when selecting the best toddler bed for maximum safety and style. Don’t forget to pick up the best toddler mattress while you’re at it, and peep our best kids’ mattresses in prep for the next big transition.

What to look for in the best toddler bed

The best toddler beds get little ones excited to sleep in their own rooms, are low to the ground and keep kids safely contained so they don’t fall out and hurt themselves.

“Kids are going to have larger beds for the rest of their lives so it's fun to keep them small while you can and give them a toddler bed for that short-but-sweet phase,” says Heather Fujikawa, principal designer and co-owner of House Sprucing, as well as a mom to four. “Toddler beds are a bit smaller than a standard twin bed, so if you're tight on space these can be a great option to put in the nursery to replace the crib and allow for more room to incorporate a reading nook or play area.”

To hold up to a rowdy toddler, Larisa Mashaal, founder of Soeur Interiors, recommends looking for a toddler bed made of solid wood with a metal spring base.

“There should be a water-based, non-toxic finish and no VOC (volatile organic compounds).”

The best toddler beds are easy for little ones to get in and out of on their own and have two guard rails. “With kids, you really want to make sure that there are no sharp or abrupt edges and that everything is pieced together securely so you don't have to worry about it falling apart,” adds Fujikawa.

Whether you’re drawn to more modern, gender-neutral styles or are contemplating a character-themed frame if it will actually get your toddler to sleep in their own room, we’ve curated the top toddler beds for every budget and design preference.

Best toddler bed picks 2023

• Best overall: DaVinci Jenny Lind Toddler Bed
• Best budget: Delta Children Mickey Mouse Toddler Bed
• Best twin bed for toddler: Delta Children Poppy House Wood Twin Bed
• Best full bed for toddler: Oeuf River Full Bed
• Best toddler floor bed: Eden Home Modern Toddler Floor Bed
• Best toddler bed rails: Milliard Bed Bumper Foam Safety Rail Guard
• Best for travel: The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed

Best overall

DaVinci Jenny Lind Toddler Bed

Mashaal is in love with this gorgeous, vintage-inspired toddler bed from Jenny Lind. With an impressive 4.8-average star rating on Amazon, "It manages to feel both traditional and contemporary at the same time, perfect for all nursery designs," she says. "It's also made with 100% sustainable New Zealand pinewood."

Super solid and low to the ground, little ones can easily climb in for bedtime and out for middle-of-the-night potty breaks. It has two sturdy side rails to contain wild sleepers who are at high risk of falling out. It makes the transition to a toddler bed extremely easy.

There are no toxic chemicals for your child to breathe in as they snooze, and the entire bed is finished in a non-toxic, multi-step painting process so you can sleep sounder too. It's lead and phthalate safe and fits a standard-sized toddler mattress—purchase a new one or flip your dual-sided crib mattress over to the softer toddler side and reuse.

If you dread the assembly of all things kid-rated, we're happy to report that plenty of parents note how easy-breezy this bed is to put together. And you can't beat the darling design for the price, honestly.

Pros

• Beautiful, vintage-inspired design that works in modern kids' rooms too
• Superb value
• Made with solid, 100% sustainable New Zealand pinewood
• Two side rails to prevent falls
• No toxic chemicals, lead or phthalates
• Easy assembly

Cons

• The maximum weight recommendation is 50 pounds

Best budget

Delta Children Mickey Mouse Toddler Bed

Mickey Mouse might not be your vibe, but we guarantee your Disney-obsessed kiddo will be pumped to wake up in this magical Mickey and friends bed every day. Hey, whatever it takes, right? In addition to the colorful character graphics, this popular (over 8,000 5-star reviews on Amazon) plastic toddler bed has two side guardrails to keep little ones safe and secure as they sleep.

It can hold up to 50 pounds, lasting you all the way through preschool, and is recommended for kids as young as 15 months and older if for some reason you need to transition your child early. It also comes in a hot pink Minnie Mouse design for your mini (mouse).

Because ain't nobody got time, there's the option to bundle your bed with the Delta Twinkle Galaxy Dual-Sided Toddler Mattress, which is an awesome, non-toxic option that's highly rated, super affordable, waterproof and features a recycled fiber core. Oh, and it's incredibly cozy too. We love it for babies 18 months and up.

Pros

• Very affordable price point, making it the perfect starter bed
• Available in fun Mickey or Minnie Mouse-themed designs
• Lots of colorful, kid-friendly graphics
• Two guardrails to keep little ones from rolling out
• Can be used from as young as 15 months (or whenever they're ready for a toddler bed)
• Option to bundle with a top-rated, non-toxic mattress to save you time

Cons h3

• Only holds up to 50 pounds, but many parent reviewers report sitting on it with no problem

Best twin bed for toddler

Delta Children Poppy House Wood Twin Bed

Time to move your threenager into their own house (bed)? We think so! For a Pinterest-perfect room with staying power,  you really can't go wrong with this whimsical, white house twin bed frame from Delta Children. It's simple but chic and even has a built-in bookrack at the end of the bed for easy access to all their favorite bedtime stories to keep them in their bed at night.

The bed itself is made of sustainable New Zealand pine wood, plus TSCA-compliant engineered wood, and is finished with a non-toxic, multi-step painting process that's free of lead and phthalate. Designed to be used without a box spring, it's low to the ground, allowing toddlers as young as two to get in and out with ease. While they're little, simply add our favorite bed bumpers (linked below) to keep 'em contained.

For parents who love to snuggle with their little ones at night (or whose kids won't fall asleep without you lying with them!), this bed can support up to 250 pounds so you can grab those books at the footboard and cozy up for story time together. Poppy is also available in a gorgeous grey, midnight grey and blush pink to suit a variety of color schemes and room themes as they grow.

Pros

• Simple, modern design that's both kid and adult-friendly
• 250 pound weight limit so you can lie in there with them (or use it as a guest bed when grandma comes to town)
• Sturdy bed frame that's free of toxic chemicals
• Low to the ground for easy access
• Built-in bookrack at the footboard provides ample book storage
• Available in several chic colors and versatile neutrals

Cons h3

• Need to purchase bed bumpers or guard rails separately
• Some reviews report difficulty putting it together

Best full bed for toddler

Oeuf River Full Bed

My 4-year-old daughter is the lucky owner of this beautiful Oeuf bed, and I can't say enough good things about it. A favorite brand of interior designers for good reason, the River is not only aesthetically-pleasing, it's simple, sustainably made of high-quality, FSC baltic birch plywood and features a non-toxic, water-based finish that's free of any VOC health hazards so you know they're safely sleeping.

The River's low-profile design makes it easily accessible for toddlers, and a matching security rail can be added to give you extra peace of mind while they snooze. I personally love the built-in bench at the end of the bed for sitting to put on shoes (and displaying them), storing toys and reading toddler books.

This is one is one of the best toddler beds on the market, promising to last them from toddlerhood all the way into the teen years thanks to its full size and clean lines that are truly timeless.

Pair it with a Helix mattress (seriously, the best!), and get ready for a full night's sleep!

Pros

• Superior quality and beautiful, modern design
• Convenient, built-in bench at the end for storage and sitting
• GREENGUARD-Gold certified
• Sustainably made of solid, FSC Baltic birch plywood and eco-MDF
• Non-toxic, water-based finishes that are free of any VOC health hazards
• Low profile design so toddlers can easily get in and out
• Plenty of space to move and cuddle up with parents

Cons

• Pricy, but worth it for the superior quality and timeless design that can be used forever, really
• Security rail sold separately

Best toddler floor bed

Eden Home Modern Toddler Floor Bed

There are so many benefits of buying your toddler a floor bed, from fostering independence and self-reliance to avoiding the whole safety issues of rolling out. Plus, they double as a great play space or cozy reading spot for little ones. This adorable, high-rated cabin-like floor bed from Eden Home is the perfect "big" kid bed for toddlers just transitioning out of the crib.

It's made of solid wood for extra durability and comes with safety guardrails to protect them just in case—because hardwood floors can still hurt even if there's not far to fall. The bed comes with a slat kit included and can hold up to 178 pounds, making it a suitable seat for parents to max and relax as their toddler plays in their room.

Risk-free roll-outs mean potty training won't be interrupted, and fidgety sleepers are kept safe throughout the night. It offers a perfect, smooth transition from a crib to a toddler bed without the hassle of finding a conversion kit or taking up the space of bulky bunk beds.

Pros

• Adorable cabin/house design that's super toddler-friendly
• Made of solid wood
• Slat kit included
• Can hold up to 178 pounds, which is much more than most toddler beds
• Safety guardrails to prevent falls
• Toddlers can easily get in and out

Cons

• Many reviewers report difficulty assembling, though it looks great once built

Best toddler bed rails

Milliard Bed Bumper Foam Safety Rail Guard

Over 3,000 five-star reviews don't lie! Unlike traditional toddler guardrails, these bestselling, firm foam bed bumpers are surprisingly soft to the touch and won't leave any cracks for your kiddo to slip through. Instead, they slip right beneath the fitted sheet, providing a cozy sense of security.and saving you your sanity trying to install them.

The firmness makes it tough for even the most active sleepers to accidentally roll over them in the middle of the night, but climbing over on purpose? It's a piece of cake and, of course, fun for toddlers to do (again and again).

If you're big on traveling, these bumpers are super lightweight and work on any size bed from crib to king, so it's easy to toddler-proof practically any sleep space, from AirBNB and hotel beds to grandma's house. And no worries mama, they won't budge thanks to a non-slip bottom, plus they're completely waterproof with a machine-washable, buttery-soft bamboo cover to stand up to all the toddler abuse they're bound to take.

Pros

• Thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon, with an average 4.8-star rating
• Incredibly easy to install, as they just slip right under the fitted sheet
• Soft but sturdy to prevent kids from rolling out
• Works on any size bed, making it great for travel and transitions
• Waterproof and comes with a machine-washable bamboo cover
• Non-slip bottom ensures they stay in place all night

Cons

• They are big on a toddler bed, which means less mattress space for kids but if the bed is against a wall you can get away with just using one

Best for travel

The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed

Best toddler bed ever. Seriously, this award-winning, blow-up bed will change the way you travel. Whether you're worried about them tumbling over the side of a shared hotel bed or simply don't want to share at all (no judgment here), the Shrunks is your sleep solution for vacays, extended stays at the grandparents or inflating right next to your own bed at home for when your scared toddler refuses to sleep in their own room (my life currently).

It inflates in 30 seconds for fuss-free setup and folds compact with a convenient carry bag for taking it, well, everywhere! We love that toddler guardrails are built right into the design for safe sleep. And they'll be snug as a bug all night with standard crib sheets, which tuck right into the inner air mattress, so they actually stay put.

Thanks to soft flocking on top, you won't have to hear every time your toddler makes the slightest move so you can get good sleep too.

Pros

• Inflates in 30 seconds with the included pump
• Lightweight and compact for travel
• Blow-up guardrails built into the bed for safe sleep
• Fits standard-size crib sheets so that's one less thing you have to purchase
• Soft flocking on top eliminates any squeaking common with traditional air beds
• Deflates in seconds and is super easy to clean

Cons

• Guardrails may be too low to contain older toddlers, but the bed itself is only 5 inches off the floor so I don't see this as a big issue