Floor Bed to Low Bed: When to Add Legs (One Bed That Grows With Your Child)
One of the most common questions parents ask before buying a floor bed is a practical one: what happens when my child gets bigger? A low bed is perfect for a young child learning to climb in and out on their own, but will you need to replace it in a few years when they want something more grown-up?
With a Snuglee bed, the answer is no. Every Snuglee floor bed can be turned into a low-rise bed simply by swapping its legs. This guide explains how it works, the signs it's time to raise the bed, when it's better to keep it low, and why one well-made bed can last right through childhood.
The Short Answer: Swap the Legs, Keep the Bed
Snuglee floor beds come with a set of 4 short legs that keep the frame just 1cm off the floor. When your child is ready for a slightly higher bed, you replace them with our set of 4 long legs, which raise the bed to 20cm. That's it: the same frame, the same slats, the same low side rails and the same mattress. Your floor bed becomes a low-rise bed.
It's a simple swap that parents can do at home, and both setups support the same maximum weight of 135kg, so the bed is just as strong at either height.
Floor Bed vs Low-Rise Bed at a Glance
| Floor bed (short legs) | Low-rise bed (long legs) | |
|---|---|---|
| Height off the floor | About 1cm | 20cm |
| Getting in and out | Easiest, almost at floor level | Still easy for children to manage on their own |
| Space underneath | None | 20cm for baskets, toys or spare bedding |
| Airflow under the mattress | Good, through the slatted base | The most airflow |
| Maximum weight | 135kg | 135kg |
| Best for | The first move to a big bed, Montessori-style rooms | Older children, smaller rooms that need storage, cooler or damper rooms |
Signs It's Time to Add the Legs
There's no fixed age for raising a floor bed. It's about how your child is getting on and what your family needs from the room. It may be time to switch if:
- Your child climbs in and out confidently and no longer needs the bed right at floor level.
- They're asking for a "grown-up" bed, often around the time they start school or see friends' bedrooms.
- The room needs more storage. 20cm of space under the bed is ideal for shallow baskets of toys, books or spare bedding, which makes a big difference in smaller UK bedrooms.
- The room is cold or prone to damp. Extra height means more air moving under the mattress. Our guide to preventing floor bed mould and condensation explains when this matters most.
- Bedtime is getting harder on your back. A slightly higher bed is easier for parents to make, change and sit on at story time.
- You want easier cleaning. At 20cm, you can vacuum under the bed without moving it.
When It's Better to Keep It Low
Raising the bed isn't always the right move straight away. It's worth keeping the short legs for a while longer if:
- your child is still settling into sleeping in a bed rather than a cot
- they often roll or move a lot during the night
- they love using the bed as part of their floor-level play space
- you're following a Montessori approach and want the room fully at your child's height
Because the change is so simple, you don't have to get the timing perfect. You can always wait a few months and swap the legs when it feels right.
How to Swap the Legs
- Clear the bed. Take off the bedding and lift out the mattress.
- Swap the legs. Remove the four short legs and fit the four long legs in their place. If the bed is against a wall, it helps to have a second adult to lift each side.
- Check it's level and secure. Before putting the mattress back, make sure all four legs are firmly attached and the bed sits flat without rocking.
- Put the mattress back. The mattress size doesn't change, so the same mattress fits exactly as before.
Keep the short legs somewhere safe. If you ever move house, change rooms or want a floor-level bed again for a younger sibling, you can switch back. For the full frame assembly guide, see our assembly instructions.
Why One Bed Is Better Than Two
Many families buy a toddler bed, then a single bed a few years later, then sometimes a bigger bed again. A convertible floor bed avoids most of that:
- It costs less. Snuglee floor beds and low-rise beds are the same price, so adding height later costs just the price of the long legs, not a whole new bed.
- It's less waste. Keeping a solid pine bed in use for longer is one of the simplest ways to make children's furniture more sustainable. Read more in our guide to why eco-friendly furniture matters.
- It's familiar. Your child keeps the bed they already feel safe and settled in, which makes the change feel like a small upgrade rather than a big transition.
Which Size Lasts the Longest?
Because Snuglee beds take standard UK mattress sizes, the frame grows with your child in a way a small toddler bed can't:
- Single (90 × 190 cm): a standard UK single, so it suits most children well into their teens.
- Small double (120 × 190 cm): more room to stretch out, read in bed or share story time with a parent.
- Double (135 × 190 cm): the most space, and a size your child is unlikely to outgrow.
Not sure which size suits your room? Our guide on what size bed is right for your child walks through each option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn any Snuglee floor bed into a low-rise bed?
Yes. The set of 4 long legs fits all Snuglee floor beds, in single, small double and double sizes.
Is it difficult to change the legs?
No. You simply remove the four short legs and fit the four long legs in their place. It's a quick, easy job to do at home, and a second person is useful for lifting the frame.
Does the weight limit change when the bed is raised?
No. Both the floor bed and the low-rise bed support a maximum of 135kg.
Can I switch back to a floor bed later?
Yes. Keep the short legs and you can swap back at any time, for example when passing the bed on to a younger sibling.
Do I need a new mattress when I add the legs?
No. The frame and the mattress size stay the same, so your existing mattress fits exactly as before. For Snuglee beds, we recommend a mattress 10–20cm deep. The frame and side rails are 30cm high, so a thinner mattress keeps the rails comfortably above the sleeping surface. Many mattresses sold for floor sleeping are deeper than 20cm, which is too thick for a railed floor bed.
Final Thoughts
A floor bed doesn't have to be a short-term choice. With a simple leg swap, the same Snuglee bed can go from a floor-level first bed to a low-rise bed with storage underneath, ready for the next stage of childhood. Start low for confidence and independence, raise it when the time is right, and keep the bed your child already loves.
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