Kids' Beds, Bunk Beds & Gaming Beds

Which type of kids bed?

• Cot beds and toddler beds: the Cameo cot bed and fun shapes like the Atlantis car bed, Campervan and Tourer caravan beds.
• Low and mid sleepers: raised a little or a lot, with space below for storage or play. Low sleepers such as the Atom and Stella are a gentle first step up.
• High sleepers: high enough for a desk, sofa or wardrobe underneath. The Pegasus, Titan, Hercules and Vision suit older children.
• Bunk beds and triple sleepers: two or three sleeping spaces in one footprint, such as the Orion, Domino and Merlin triple sleepers and the Camelot with stairs.
• Gaming beds: the Blaze, Eagle, Impact and Nebula, designed with a gaming setup in mind.
• Cabin beds and day beds: cabin beds such as the Kimbo and Cookie, and day beds that double as a sofa.

Mid sleeper or high sleeper?

A mid sleeper sits at roughly the height of an adult's chest, so you can still reach to change the bedding and the drop is lower. There is room for storage or a den underneath. A high sleeper is tall enough to fit a desk underneath, which frees up a whole wall in a small bedroom, but it needs a good gap to the ceiling. Measure the room height and leave enough space for your child to sit up in bed without hitting their head. Our parents' guide to mid and high sleepers goes into more detail.

Bunk bed basics

Standard UK safety advice is that the top bunk is not suitable for children under 6. Use the guard rails at all times on the top bunk and teach children to use the ladder or stairs, not to climb the frame.

Mattress depth matters on any raised bed. The guard rail only works if enough of it stays above the mattress, so a mattress that is too deep makes the bed less safe. Every product page gives the maximum mattress depth for that bed. Stick to it, even if a thicker mattress feels nicer. Check the depth of any mattress against that limit before you buy.

Growing up

Children outgrow novelty beds quickly, so a plain mid or high sleeper often lasts longer. For sleepovers, a bed with a trundle or underbed is worth a look: see trundle beds. Our guide on how to choose a children's bed covers ages and room sizes.