At the turn of the century, choosing a bed for your child was a simpler matter. The newborn had a bassinette and went from there to a crib where he or she remained until it came time for a twin bed. There was nothing in between, so if your child began to climb out of the crib, it was time for a “big kid” bed to prevent him from getting hurt, especially since few homes then had carpeting in the bedroom.

Sometimes it might be simpler to return to those days of old instead of being faced with the dilemma of what kind of bed to buy for your baby. There are cribs that turn into youth beds, and youth beds that become twin beds when the time is right. It is now a test for parents to decide what kind of bed to get and to choose between Spiderman, Superman, Barbie, and of course, the Cars. What happened to just going to the store and buying a functional child’s bed? Unlike the adult bed, a child’s bed changes with the cartoon or movie of the day. Though more difficult to choose, children’s beds are much more adaptable to the size of the child than was previously the case.

For many parents, choosing the child’s first “big kid” bed is a sad experience because it is a sign that one’s child is no longer a baby but is growing up. That is especially true for the first time parent or for the youngest child. To ease the trauma, make it a special day for your child as you pick out a bed and the bedding to go along with it. If you choose a youth bed with one of the popular characters, you may want to help your child pick out his bedding in the same character style. By making the shopping trip a fun time for child and parents, the transition is less traumatic for both.