Most Australian children make the cot to bed transition between 18 months and 3.5 years. The safest first bed is a low-profile single at 20–30cm floor height or a floor bed at 5–15cm, and bunk beds need careful age planning, because AS/NZS 4220:2010 specifies that children under 6 must not use the top bunk.
When Should a Child Move from a Cot to a Bed in Australia?
A child should move from a cot to a bed in Australia when the cot is no longer safe or no longer fits, which for most children happens between 18 months and 3.5 years.
The clearest trigger is climbing. If your child is climbing out of the cot, act straight away, because a fall from cot height carries more risk than a roll from a low bed. Other common triggers are reaching the cot's height or weight limit, or a new sibling who needs the cot.
There are three good first bed after cot options in Australia. The first is converting the cot itself, which keeps the familiar sleep space. The second is a floor bed, which removes the fall risk almost entirely. The third is a low single bed with a guard rail on the open side, which gives your child a bed they will not outgrow for years.
Whichever you choose, the safe sleep basics still apply. Red Nose Australia recommends keeping the bedroom at 18–22°C and keeping loose bedding, pillows and soft toys out of the sleep space for children under 2.
Readiness is about more than age. A child who can follow a simple bedtime instruction, such as staying in bed until the light changes, will usually settle faster in an open bed. A child who is sleeping well in a safe cot does not need to move early, so there is no reason to rush the change.
If your child is in a Boori convertible cot, the gentlest first step is converting it with the kit for your model, so the bed looks and feels the same but the front rail comes away. Kits for each cot are listed in the conversion kits range.
Fit a guard rail on the open side of any first bed and keep it in place until your child consistently stays in bed through the night, which for many children is around age 5 to 6. Push the bed against a solid wall on the other side, and keep the floor beside it clear of toys, so a night-time trip to the bathroom is safe in the dark.
If you are moving to a new bed, keep the routine the same, let your child help choose the bedding and plan for a few unsettled nights. You can compare low single frames and floor beds in the kids beds collection.
What Size Kids Bed Should I Buy in Australia?
For most Australian children aged 3 to 10, a single bed at 92x188cm is the right size, with a king single at 107x203cm the better choice from around age 10 and a double at 138x188cm for teens or guest rooms.
| Bed Size | AU Dimensions | Typical Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 92 x 188cm | 3–10 years | First bed after a cot; fits most children's bedrooms with room for storage |
| King Single | 107 x 203cm | 10+ and teens | Taller children and teens; lasts through the teen years |
| Double | 138 x 188cm | Teens, guest rooms | Larger bedrooms; sleepovers and guests |
A single is the practical starting point. It fits a standard Australian children's bedroom of 10–15m² with space left for a chest of drawers and a desk. Compare frames, heights and storage options in the single beds range.
A king single is 15cm wider and 15cm longer than a single, which makes a real difference once a child hits a growth spurt. If you would rather buy once for the long term, it is the better choice from around age 10, and it can suit younger children in larger rooms too.
Room space decides the final answer. Leave at least 60cm of clear floor on each side of the bed that is not against a wall, so your child can get in and out easily and you can make the bed without squeezing past furniture. See the wider frames in the king single beds collection.
Think about who else will use the room. If a parent often sits with the child at bedtime, or the room hosts sleepovers, the extra width of a king single quickly pays for itself.
Australian bed sizes differ from UK sizes (90x190cm for a single) and US sizes (97x188cm), so always buy an Australian-specification mattress. A mattress made for another market can leave gaps at the sides or ends of the frame.
For older teens, or a bedroom that doubles as a guest room, a double bed gives more width without needing a full adult bedroom. Compare the current frames in the double beds range.
Bed height matters as well as length and width. A low frame is easier for younger children to climb into and makes falls less of a worry, while a taller frame leaves more space underneath for storage drawers. Check the height of the mattress surface, not just the frame, because a thick mattress raises the sleeping surface and changes how high a guard rail sits.
Whichever size you choose, order the mattress at the same time as the frame and check it is made for that exact Australian size. Single, king single and double options are in the kids mattresses range.
What Is a Floor Bed and Is It a Good Choice in Australia?
A floor bed is a bed frame that sits just 5–15cm off the floor, and it is a good choice in Australia for toddlers moving out of a cot, Montessori-style bedrooms and rooms with low ceilings.
The floor bed Montessori approach in Australia is built on independence. From around 18 months, a child can climb in and out of a floor bed without help, which supports self-settling and morning routines. Because the mattress is so close to the floor, there is effectively no fall risk, which is why many families use one as the first bed after a cot.
Safety rules still apply close to the floor. Red Nose Australia recommends a firm, flat sleep surface, so choose a proper mattress rather than a folded futon or cushions, and keep the area around the bed free of cords, heaters and small objects a toddler could reach at night.
A floor bed is a good fit if your child is climbing out of the cot but not yet steady getting in and out of a raised bed, if they wake early and like to get up on their own, or if you are following a Montessori setup at home. It is less suited to children who need a guard rail to stay in bed at night.
The Boori Matilda Single Floor Bed is designed for this stage. It takes a standard single mattress, so it can stay in use long after the toddler years.
In southern Australian states such as Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT, floor level can be noticeably cooler in winter. Keep the room at the recommended 18–22°C and dress the bed with bedding suited to the season rather than adding extra loose layers.
Floor beds also suit rooms where a raised frame would feel crowded, such as attic rooms or rooms with sloping ceilings. Breathable sheets and a lightweight quilt in the right single size are in the kids bedding collection.
What Age Are Bunk Beds Safe for Children in Australia?
Bunk beds are safe for children in Australia from age 6 on the top bunk under AS/NZS 4220:2010, though many paediatric sources recommend waiting until age 9, and the bottom bunk suits children from about 4 to 6 who can climb independently.
AS/NZS 4220:2010 is the correct Australian standard for bunk beds and other elevated beds, not AS/NZS 4956, which covers mattresses. Check that any compliance claim you see references the right code.
The standard sets the key safety points for kids bunk bed safety in Australia:
- Guard rails must extend at least 160mm above the mattress surface on all open sides of the top bunk.
- The top bunk mattress must be no deeper than 20cm, so the guard rail stays effective.
- Ladders and staircases must be secure, with no movement in any rung or step.
- Children under 6 must not use the top bunk.
The bunk bed age in Australia is a minimum, not a target. Many families wait until 9 for the top bunk because younger children are more likely to climb over a guard rail or fall when getting down at night. The ACCC product safety guidance also warns against young children sleeping on the top bunk.
House rules matter as much as the frame. No jumping on either bunk, no play on the top bunk, and only one child on the top bunk at a time. Keep the bunk away from windows and ceiling fans, and use a nightlight so the ladder is visible at night.
Check the fixings after the first two weeks, because timber settles once the bed is in use, and then once per school term. Tighten anything that has loosened before the bed is used again.
Staircase bunks are easier for younger children to climb than vertical ladders and often add drawers in the steps. Compare ladder and staircase designs in the kids bunk beds range.
When Should I Choose a Loft Bed Instead of a Bunk Bed in Australia?
Choose a loft bed instead of a bunk bed when one child needs the floor space underneath for a desk, storage or play, and choose a bunk bed when two children share the room.
The loft bed vs bunk bed choice in Australia comes down to the number of sleepers. A loft bed raises one sleeping surface and leaves the full footprint underneath free. A bunk stacks two sleeping surfaces, which suits siblings sharing a room or families who host sleepovers.
Both are governed by AS/NZS 4220:2010, so the same guard rail and ladder rules apply. Loft beds are best from age 7 and up, once a child is steady on a ladder and old enough to use the space underneath for homework or hobbies.
Check the ceiling before you buy. You need at least 900mm of clearance between the top mattress and the ceiling, so your child can sit up without hitting their head, and the bed should sit well away from ceiling fans and light fittings.
A loft bed with a desk underneath can turn a small room into a bedroom and study in one footprint. See the current designs in the loft beds collection.
How Does a Kids Bed with Storage Work in Australia?
A kids bed with storage works by building drawers, a trundle or a staircase with drawers into the bed frame, so clothes, toys and spare bedding fit under the sleeping surface instead of taking up floor space.
Under-bed drawers usually hold 30–40L each and need 30–45cm of clearance below the slats. A trundle bed stores a second mattress on wheels under the main bed, ready for sleepovers. Storage stairs on a bunk bed put drawers inside each step, so the climb doubles as a chest of drawers.
Storage beds work best in rooms under 12m², where a separate chest would crowd the floor. Leave enough space in front of the bed for the drawers to open fully. Matching storage pieces, from toy boxes to bookcases, are in the kids storage range.
Any freestanding storage over 900mm in a child's room should be wall-anchored, following ACCC guidance, so a bookcase or wardrobe cannot tip if a child climbs it.
How Do I Plan a Kids Bedroom Layout in Australia?
Plan a kids bedroom layout in Australia by measuring the room, leaving 60cm of clear space on both non-wall sides of the bed, keeping bunks away from windows and ceiling fans, and checking door widths before you order.
A standard Australian children's bedroom is about 10–15m², or roughly 3m x 3.5m. In that space, the bed usually goes on the longest solid wall, with storage on the adjacent wall and a clear walkway from the door.
For a loft bed, check that the ladder angle clears the door swing and the wardrobe. For a bunk, remember that a standard Australian interior door is about 820mm wide: assemble the bunk in its final room, because a fully assembled bunk will not fit through the door. Measure every doorway and stair turn on the way to the room before ordering.
Planning the bed, storage and desk together keeps the finishes matched and the layout working as one. Bed and storage bundles for a full kids room are in the package deals collection.
How Do I Choose the Right First Kids Bed in Australia?
To choose the right first kids bed in Australia, start with your child's age and the room size, choose the lowest safe option for the transition, and plan the next stage before you buy.
For a toddler, that usually means a converted cot, a floor bed or a low single with a guard rail. For school-age children, a single or king single with storage. For shared rooms, a bunk once the age rules are met. Compare every option side by side in the Boori kids beds range.
FAQs
When should a child move from a cot to a bed in Australia?
Most Australian children transition from a cot to a first bed between 18 months and 3.5 years. The most common triggers are climbing out of the cot, a safety risk requiring immediate action, reaching the cot's maximum weight or height limit, or a new sibling needing the cot. A low-profile single bed at 20–30cm floor height, or a floor bed at 5–15cm, with a guard rail fitted on the open side, is the safest first step. Red Nose Australia recommends maintaining a room temperature of 18–22°C.
What is the right age for a bunk bed in Australia?
AS/NZS 4220:2010, the Australian safety standard for bunk beds and high beds, specifies that children under 6 must not use the top bunk. The standard requires guardrails to extend at least 160mm above the mattress surface and limits top-bunk mattress depth to a maximum of 20cm so the guardrail remains effective. Most Australian paediatric sources recommend the top bunk from age 9. The bottom bunk can be used from age 4–5, once a child can climb the ladder independently.
Is a floor bed safe for children in Australia?
Yes, a floor bed is safe for children from 18 months onwards. The Boori Matilda Single Floor Bed sits at 5–15cm from the floor, allowing toddlers to climb in and out independently without a fall risk. Red Nose Australia recommends a firm, flat sleep surface, a floor bed mattress must provide this. In southern Australian states (Victoria, Tasmania, ACT), floor-level sleeping can be cooler in winter, use bedding appropriate to maintain the recommended room temperature of 18–22°C.
What is the Australian safety standard for bunk beds?
Australian bunk beds must comply with AS/NZS 4220:2010, the standard for bunk beds, high beds, and loft beds. This requires guardrails to extend at least 160mm above the sleeping surface on all open sides of the top bunk, a maximum mattress depth of 20cm on the top bunk, and secure ladder or staircase access. Children under 6 must not use the top bunk. Note: AS/NZS 4956 covers mattresses, not bunk beds, ensure any manufacturer's compliance claim references the correct code.
What size bed should I buy for a child in Australia?
For Australian children aged 3–10, a standard single bed at 92x188cm is the practical starting point and fits in most 10–15m² Australian children's bedrooms with space for storage and a desk. A king single at 107x203cm, 15cm wider and longer than a standard single, is the better long-term choice from around age 10, lasting comfortably through the teen years. Australian bed sizes differ from UK sizes (90x190cm single), always buy an Australian-specification mattress to ensure correct fit.
