If it is time to move your child from a cot into their very first bed then you should look online for inspiration and an idea on what choices are available to you. Children’s beds are lower and shorter than adult beds and come in all shapes and sizes, there are some great novel ways to get your child excited about going to sleep and their own special bed is just part of it.

Kids have a lot of imagination with a love of fairy stories and action figures and their bedroom decor can reflect this, even down to the style and design of the bed. A child’s bedroom is their domain where they can play with their friends and invent their own little fantasyland, so it only makes sense that you should make it a pleasurable and stimulating place to be.

Not to be forgotten of course is that the bed you pick for your child also has to provide a good night’s sleep. This should take priority over the theme or style of the bed as sleep is very important for everyone, particularly a young child. Sleep gives their young body’s a rest, it also gives their brain a chance to sort things out and prepares them for the next day’s activities.

If you don’t have much room to spare then consider buying bunk beds, a loft or cabin bed, as they take up less space and are ideal places for kids to play, study, store their bits and pieces, and sleep. High sleeper, captains beds or mid sleeper cabin beds are particularly good for older kids, providing an elevated but safe sleeping bunk with chairs or sofas and workstations below. Kids’ beds, especially for toddlers, are great fun and come in a range of themes and colours that can brighten up the room without the hassle of re-decorating. Let your child join in with the choosing process as it is their room and at this age their personalities are really starting to appear.

Age is an important factor when considering which bed to buy as a very young child should have a bed they can grow into, but is also a safe sleeping area. Generally any child younger than 6 shouldn’t sleep in an upper bunk bed even if there is a safety rail. There are certain safety aspects you should look for when selecting a bed for a child, in particular ensure the product is solid and sturdy with no sharp corners to injure themselves on. Check the mattress is included in the price and shop around as prices can vary greatly from place to place.

For older children who haven’t yet stopped growing, a combination bed is a great idea; they include a twin bed or twin bunk beds with a desk for doing homework. Once your child has left home the beds are easily separated and the room can then be converted into a guest room. Or a bed with storage space underneath always comes in handy. Before you hit the stores check out the size and shape of the room first. Is there any particular place you want the bed to go? If the room is only small then you don’t want to take up all the space with a bed that is far too big for a small child.

Little girls’ beds are so cute. Check out the Dora the Explorer canopy bed that will make her feel safe at night surrounded by her heroes, Dora and Boots, or the adorable Disney princess bed where any little girl will feel like a princess. Little boys have just as much choice, look online for the bright red fire truck bed with lots of added features that will please all potential firefighters, or get the kids to race into bedtime with the Disney Cars bed, each piece is printed with scenes from the hit movie Lightning McQueen and his friends.

There are lots of beds that come with matching furniture if your finances stretch to it. Decorating your child’s bedroom can be a great Christmas or birthday gift and will show them you are aware they are allowed their own space and are growing up. Shop wisely before deciding on your child’s new bed as they are not cheap and you don’t want them to outgrow it too fast! Try Hereford beds for price and quality.