Once your baby is old enough to transition out of a crib and into a big kid bed, you’ll have the exciting task of trying to choose between our extensive collection of beds and mattresses. Pottery Barn Kids is proud to provide almost every type of bed imaginable beginning with our canopy beds. Children love canopy beds because it makes them feel like they are sleeping in a tent. You can opt for the bed with the canopy frame and decorate it with your own canopy sheers, or go with the unit that comes with a full fabric canopy that is designed to keep the light out for a peaceful night’s sleep.Should your child’s bedroom be a bit on the small side, you’ll want to take advantage of the beds that come with additional storage. There are beds that features two large drawers that have beautiful brushed nickel drawer pulls, beds with three medium drawers that are adorned with pulls made of zinc with a brass finish, as well as beds with four smaller drawers that have classic iron pulls for a more industrial look.
The drawers are perfect for holding everything from socks to board games.Kids who enjoy having cousins or friends sleepover on a regular basis will get the most out of our daybeds that have a trundle bed underneath. The beds are multi-functional since they serve as a bed during the night and transform into a seating area during the day. Then there’s the bed that is neatly hidden underneath that pulls out to accommodate a guest. There are daybeds with a more simple design, as well as daybeds with a little more sophistication, which is a better choice for older kids.When shopping for younger children, the specialty beds are sure to catch your eye. What little boy wouldn’t fall in love with a Batmobile bed, or the Star Wars™ bed that is created in the shape of the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit. There’s a vintage cruiser and a speedboat for children who enjoy spending time out at a sea. Does your family go camping frequently? If so, your little one may want the platform bed with tent canopy.
As an added bonus, this unit also comes with a trundle bed. Finally, little girls will squeal with delight at the playhouse loft bed. During they day, your daughter can host a tea party with her stuffed animals inside the playhouse. At night she can climb up to the top and sleep on the second floor loft.Another option is to select one of our beds that comes with a headboard. The advantage to these kids beds is that they are able to be personalized. Choose one letter you’d like to place on the headboard, such as a first initial or the beginning letter of a nickname, and it will be added to the center of the bed. Each letter stands 7" tall. The headboards come in a variety of shapes as well, so you can go with a rectangular board, scalloped board or a tufted headboard.Parents who have two children who need to share a bedroom will love the bunk bed options. Smaller rooms would do well with the twin-over-twin bunk beds, while bedrooms that are more spacious are capable of accommodating twin-over-full beds.
Some of the bunk beds are also equipped with drawers and a desk area so that kids have more storage space, as well as a spot to sit down and do homework. Other bunk beds are made with bookshelves, which is a great idea if your son or daughter enjoys spending his or her free time getting lost in a good story. Some of the units have ladders, while others have built-in stairs so you’re sure to find the exact configuration you’re looking for.This month, Sleep Sisters is focused on bedtime. We thought it best to start off with a review of age-appropriate bedtimes. As certified infant and child sleep consultants, we are often asked what time kids should be going to sleep and whether it really makes a difference. The answer is YES, the time your child goes to sleep does make a difference. We all have a biological clock and our circadian rhythms can help us sleep if we honor them by getting to bed at the right time. In addition, maintaining a consistent bedtime (and wake time) helps keep our internal clock “set” and is a critical part of healthy “sleep hygiene,” according to Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine.
Granted, all kids are different and you know what your child is like if he doesn’t get enough sleep. Many of us have been duped into thinking, “If my child stays up late, he’ll just sleep late and make up for it in the morning.” How’s that worked for you? A too-late bedtime may lead to: Difficulty getting to sleep. Once your child passes her natural “sleep window” her body will produce cortisol and even adrenaline (hormones that stimulate the body). Parents sometimes notice their child’s “second wind.”Often when children go to bed too late, their sleep will not be as sound and they often wake during the night. Cortisol causes poor sleep quality.It seems counter-intuitive, but often when kids are waking very early in the morning, a late bedtime is the culprit.Research has shown that kids with a late bedtime get cumulatively less sleep than kids who have earlier bedtimes, showing they don’t make up for the missed sleep by sleeping later or napping longer.
So when should your little one go down for the night? It depends a bit on your child’s sleep during the day. But here are some general guidelines by age: New babies don’t yet have any circadian rhythms, and they typically sleep in short spurts of two to four hours throughout the day and night. These babies are still developing and feeding often throughout the night. Bedtime starts moving earlier by four months. Circadian rhythms are emerging. Regular naps (ideally around 9, 12, 3) and an earlier bedtime help these babies get the sleep they need for significant physical and mental development. Bedtime may be on the early side of this range if naps are missed or short. Babies this age may only take two naps (9am, 1pm). Bedtime should be no later than 3.5 hrs after second nap ends. Bedtime may move earlier to compensate for lack of third nap. Babies may be transitioning to only one nap in the afternoon, so bedtime may need to move earlier for a while. Bedtime should be no later than 4 hours after waking from nap.