In my previous blog: “Picking the Perfect Bed—Adults,” I admitted to the mistakes I made in shopping for a new mattress. This blog deals with the issues that arise when shopping for a bed for your child. When searching for the “perfect” bed, most parents take into account the size of the child, the size of the room and, of course, price. Meanwhile, most children are looking at other factors, mainly, comfort, style and (if you are lucky) practicality.
Naturally, you are going to want to take your child’s opinion into consideration and ideally you will find a way to satisfy both parties. For example, while price is a major factor in nearly every family, you can’t completely dismiss your child’s comfort level. For that reason, it is crucial that you take your child to the bed store when shopping for a mattress. Experts suggest the child test out the mattress for several minutes before committing to a selection. They also recommend you stifle the urge to purchase the cheapest mattress and box spring you can find. It is simply not worth harming your child’s back in order to save a few dollars.
As far as options go, the choices are virtually endless. With the mass of children’s beds on the market these days it is easy to get confused trying to decipher the differences between a trundle bed, daybed, futon, sofa bed, and a captain’s bed. This is where research comes in handy. If your child is old enough, make the research a joint project, that way when shopping day rolls around you both enter the store on the same page.
A recent survey done by Denver Mattress reveals a new trend in children’s bedding—no frames. Stores report seeing a surge in sales of twin mattresses and box springs without the frames for younger children. Since the average frame raises a bed seven inches off the ground, the frameless bed has become a “safer” option for young children who are transitioning from a crib or toddler bed.
For teens the survey says the trend is specialized headboards. Solid, chrome-plated and bookcase headboards are the most popular. Many parents tend to purchase just a headboard, rather than a head and footboard because of room size. In addition, some children complain that a footboard gets in the way and cuts down on room space.
As you may have already discovered on your own, there are many factors that must be taken into account when choosing the “perfect” bed, but with a little research, and perhaps, even more compromise, you and your child should be able to leave the store with a bed that suits both your needs.