Toddler Beds and Mattresses

[Irish_Eyes]

I'm working on giving my son a much-needed room make over, the bulk of which should be done in the next month or two, after my tax return comes in. I've already picked out the bed I'm getting for him, along with most of the accessories. Now I'm just working on shortening the big shopping list down to just the most expensive pieces, buying the little things one piece at a time as spare money is available.

The problem that I've run in to, however, is that despite my looking, I'm having a hard time figuring out what size mattress to get. The bed is a "toddler bed"(he's 2), so I thought it would stand to reason that the mattress would be called a "toddler mattress". Imagine my frustration in going online looking for "toddler mattresses" and not being able to turn up any good results. The closest I've been able to come up with is to compare the width/length of the bed with the width/length of a mattress, but it's almost like there's no guarantee you're going to know if you're getting a mattress that fits until AFTER you have the bed assembled.

From what I've seen, it seems like the appropriate mattress size is the same one found in most common cribs, as those are usually less than an inch or two off the sized given in the description of the bed(unfortunately, the bed is one I have to order off a website, no stores around here carry the one I picked out).

This is my first child, so I've never run in to complications like this, and I'm getting really frustrated. I like to plan ahead and get as much done in advance as possible, so holding myself back from making a decision or picking up what I can afford is starting to really irk me. If anyone has any answers, I'd appreciate it.

Here is the url where the bed's specifications can be found: Pirate Ship Toddler Bed

 

[RoseRed]

Mine went straight from the crib to a twin bed.

Just buy a removable railing so he doesn't fall out.

 

[cattitude]

Mine went straight from the crib to a twin bed.

Just buy a removable railing so he doesn't fall out.

So did my grandkids..last one went to a double bed. Toddler beds (IMO) are a waste of money.

 

[mega_K]

A toddler bed takes the same size mattress as a crib. But, I agree, go straight to the twin bed.

 

[Irish_Eyes]

So did my grandkids..last one went to a double bed. Toddler beds (IMO) are a waste of money.

Unfortunately, I can't get my son excited about the whole "big boy bed" transition without it being a themed bed of some sort, which is the primary reason I'm looking at going to a toddler bed, not a twin sized. I haven't been able to find too many themed twin sized beds that aren't race cars or something stereotypical.

 

[saggy]

A standard sized crib mattress fits this pirate toddler bed.

I've been looking for cribs for my 1st grandkid and saw your question. I went to the pirate site and it says you use your crib mattress

 

[RoseRed]

Unfortunately, I can't get my son excited about the whole "big boy bed" transition without it being a themed bed of some sort, which is the primary reason I'm looking at going to a toddler bed, not a twin sized. I haven't been able to find too many themed twin sized beds that aren't race cars or something stereotypical.

Buy themed twin sheets.

 

[Irish_Eyes]

Buy themed twin sheets.

Doesn't work... we tried that at my parent's place when he was staying with them. He's getting way too big for his crib... I'm terrified he's going to try to climb out or something and hurt himself, or that he'll loose his balance and topple over the railing(I've already lowered it to the lowest setting). Atleast with the toddler beds, they're not as far off the ground as cribs.

 

[Irish_Eyes]

A standard sized crib mattress fits this pirate toddler bed.

I've been looking for cribs for my 1st grandkid and saw your question. I went to the pirate site and it says you use your crib mattress

Wow... I feel silly, I just re-read the description. This is the third or fourth website I've found this bed on, and I didn't bother to read the description there, just looked at the price, which was a bit cheaper than the others. =/ Thanks for pointing that out, even though I feel like a total ditz now lol.

 

[RoseRed]

Doesn't work... we tried that at my parent's place when he was staying with them. He's getting way too big for his crib... I'm terrified he's going to try to climb out or something and hurt himself, or that he'll loose his balance and topple over the railing(I've already lowered it to the lowest setting). Atleast with the toddler beds, they're not as far off the ground as cribs.

Good luck.

 

[smdavis65]

That pirate bed rocks. As a former little boy, I think it's a great idea!
However, he will outgrow it quickly.

 

[Irish_Eyes]

That pirate bed rocks. As a former little boy, I think it's a great idea!
However, he will outgrow it quickly.

I figure if it lasts him a year and gets him out of the crib phase and on his way to a "real bed", then it's worth the money paid. It's really not THAT expensive, anyway, in the grand scheme of things. Kids are so pricey, I'm learning that spending a few hundred on a bed(when my bed frame only costs 100 brand new), is something I should get used to, because the things he'll want later in life are going to be far more expensive. I really don't know how my parents handled four of us, I'm fighting just to budget one lol.

 

[cattitude]

I really don't know how my parents handled four of us

Did they put you in toddler beds? I'm old school..you are letting him run you..just my opinion.

 

[Irish_Eyes]

Did they put you in toddler beds? I'm old school..you are letting him run you..just my opinion.

I honestly don't remember if they did with me, but I know atleast two of my three siblings got toddler beds, for much the same reason why I'm getting my son one, it's an easier transition step. Also, it's not like he's bratting out of getting a bigger bed, he just doesn't seem interested. I'm just trying to do what I feel is best and make the transition easier, more about making it fun than a constant fight. I've seen too many parents stressed out and on their last nerve over little things like this, so when the big issues come up when they're older, they snap and can't handle it. Plus, I've already learned with him that he learns faster and is more comfortable with new things if you make it fun or like a game than he does through just "going through the motions". He's been learning to form complete sentences and speak more clearly not because we constantly badger him about what something is or what sound something makes, but because we make it like an activity. The more interested he is, the easier/faster he takes to things.

I don't spend a lot of money on myself because quite frankly, I have absolutely no issue having "cheaper" things, because then if I get restless and want something new, I don't feel like I wasted as much money. The observation about how expensive kids are is just a generalized thing. They ARE expensive. Even the things you NEED for them are more expensive than you expect until the first time you're checking out at the store and realize that that can of mid-grade formula you bought was more than anything else in the cart, and possibly more than all the stuff you bought for yourself.

 

[sunflower]

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[sunflower]

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A toddler bed takes the same size mattress as a crib. But, I agree, go straight to the twin bed.

We did that with girl and she turns 2 next month. Very easy to do! Buy themed sheets!

 

[aps45819]

Did they put you in toddler beds? I'm old school..you are letting him run you..just my opinion.

bed doesn't need to be a theamed experience till you're 18

 

[Irish_Eyes]

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We did that with girl and she turns 2 next month. Very easy to do! Buy themed sheets!

Someone already suggested this and while I appreciate the sentiment, I pointed out we've already tried that once and he just ended up crawling into bed with others. The themed sheets did absolutely nothing to spark his interest. A full fledged bed that provides him with an experience, an adventure, seems to work better with him.

And for those who view me wanting to get him something that will make bed time more fun and more involved instead of just making it about going to sleep as me letting him "run" me, I almost feel bad for the kids who have to live with that kind of attitude. Giving my son an awesome room that he can enjoy going in to, even when it's bed time, is something I WANT to do for him, not something he's demanding. I wanted to make his bedroom fun and themed from the start. I just didn't think about getting him a themed bed until he showed more interest in those at the store than he did in the normal beds. And I figure... if he's more excited to sleep in his own bed, he wont end up in mine quite as often and I'll get more sleep. So he's happy, and I get to sleep, which makes me happy.

 

[aps45819]

Someone already suggested this and while I appreciate the sentiment, I pointed out we've already tried that once and he just ended up crawling into bed with others

And for those who view me wanting to get him something that will make bed time more fun and more involved instead of just making it about going to sleep as me letting him "run" me, I almost feel bad for the kids who have to live with that kind of attitude. Giving my son an awesome room that he can enjoy going in to, even when it's bed time, is something I WANT to do for him, not something he's demanding. .

right

 

[hvp05]

The themed sheets did absolutely nothing to spark his interest. A full fledged bed that provides him with an experience, an adventure, seems to work better with him.

So expand the theme. :shrug: Give him more than just sheets... paint/applique the walls, get themed accessories (lamp, pillows, etc.). If you still want a "pirate bed", I would buy a regular bed then buy some plywood and paint and pay a capable friend $50 to make a ship façade; as he gets older you can change the theme without changing the bed, or, if he wants, take it away altogether.

That said, part of learning to be a 'big boy' is learning that you don't always get your way. Supposedly, one of the best times to teach/learn that is when making a transition such as this; it's not about being mean to him, but him growing up.

But what do I know - I don't have kids.