Longer legs, bigger bedrooms (sometimes!) and a little more room to stretch out. Our single and youth beds for children are designed for the next stage of growing up, with a choice of sizes, materials and styles to suit different ages and bedrooms.
Explore MONIO soft foam floor beds in 90 × 180 cm and 90 × 200 cm sizes, alongside our growing range of Benlemi wooden children's beds, including selected house bed designs. From cosy, low-level upholstered beds to timeless wooden frames, find a bed that works for your child today and gives them room to grow.
Single & Youth Beds – More Space for Growing Children
There comes a point when a toddler or junior bed simply isn't quite long enough anymore. Perhaps your child has grown several centimetres seemingly overnight, or their collection of bedtime teddies is now competing for mattress space.
A larger bed can give them more room to sleep comfortably, while also becoming a familiar part of their bedroom for years to come.
Our collection includes shorter youth beds, full-length single beds and low-level designs in both upholstered foam and wood. The right choice depends on your child's height, the room available and how long you'd like the bed to last.
What Size Single or Youth Bed Should You Choose?
Not all children's single beds are the same length. This is especially important when shopping for European bed designs, where mattress sizes can differ from standard UK measurements.
Our MONIO collection includes two larger sleeping sizes:
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90 × 180 cm Youth Bed: A shorter single-size option, offering more room than a junior bed while saving 10 cm in length compared with a standard UK single mattress.
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90 × 200 cm European Single Bed: A full-length option that's 10 cm longer than a standard UK single, giving growing children and teenagers more room to stretch out.
Here's how the sizes compare:
| Bed Size |
Sleeping Area |
What to Know |
| Junior Bed |
80 × 160 cm |
A compact option for younger children. |
| Youth / Short Single |
90 × 180 cm |
More sleeping space without the full length of a standard single. |
| Standard UK Single |
90 × 190 cm |
The usual UK single mattress size. |
| European Single |
90 × 200 cm |
An extra 10 cm of length compared with a UK single. |
Important: These are mattress or sleeping-area dimensions, not the overall bed measurements. Headboards, upholstered sides and wooden frames can make the complete bed considerably larger.
How Much Space Do MONIO Single & Youth Beds Need?
Because MONIO beds have upholstered foam headboards and sides, their overall dimensions are larger than the mattress area:
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MONIO 90 × 180 cm: Approximately 119 × 207 cm overall.
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MONIO 90 × 200 cm: Approximately 119 × 227 cm overall.
Measure the available floor space carefully, particularly if the bed will sit between furniture or near a doorway. Benlemi wooden beds have their own external measurements, which you'll find on the individual product pages.
Youth Bed or Full-Length Single – Which Is Better?
If your child has outgrown a junior bed, you might be wondering whether a shorter youth bed is enough or whether it's worth going straight to a full-length single.
Why Choose a 90 × 180 cm Youth Bed?
A youth bed can be a good middle ground for children who need more space but don't yet need a full-length mattress.
- It provides 20 cm more length than an 80 × 160 cm junior bed.
- Its shorter footprint may work better in a compact bedroom.
- It offers a wider sleeping area than a typical junior bed.
- It can be a practical choice when you want to keep more floor space available for other activities.
Just remember that children grow at different rates. If your child is already tall, a longer bed may be the more economical choice over time.
Why Choose a 90 × 200 cm European Single?
A European single bed offers the same 90 cm width as a standard UK single, but with an extra 10 cm of length.
That makes it worth considering for older children and teenagers, particularly if you're hoping to choose a bed that won't need replacing as they grow taller.
It's also important to buy the correct mattress. A standard UK single mattress measures 90 × 190 cm and won't fit a 90 × 200 cm bed as intended.
Explore Our Soft Foam & Wooden Single Beds
Bed size is only part of the decision. The material, height and overall design can make a real difference to how the bed looks and works in your child's bedroom.
MONIO Soft Foam Youth & Single Beds
Our MONIO soft foam beds offer an upholstered alternative to traditional wooden or metal frames. Made with a flexible polyurethane foam structure, they feature a soft headboard and surrounding sides without a conventional rigid frame.
The low-level design makes the sleeping area easy to access, while the upholstered finish creates a cosy, inviting look that works beautifully in children's bedrooms.
Available in two fabric styles:
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Bouclé: A softly textured, looped upholstery fabric with a warm, understated appearance.
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Corduroy: A softly ribbed upholstery fabric with a stain-resistant finish, combining texture with practical everyday care.
Both styles feature removable, machine-washable upholstery covers, breathable spacer mesh beneath the mattress and anti-slip material beneath the foam components.
Choose between a bed-only option and matching mattress bundles, including Bamboo and TENCEL™ options where offered on the individual product page.
Benlemi Wooden Single & House Beds
For a more traditional frame, our Benlemi wooden beds offer a lovely combination of natural materials and thoughtful design.
From simple low-level beds to playful house-shaped frames, wooden beds can suit a wide range of bedroom styles. They're particularly appealing if you prefer the look of natural wood or want furniture that can adapt to changing colours and décor as your child grows.
House beds add a little extra character, with a roof-shaped frame that makes the bed a distinctive feature of the room. Depending on the design, they can also be low-level Montessori-inspired beds.
Benlemi beds come in different sizes and configurations, so check each product's sleeping area, overall dimensions, mattress requirements and included components before ordering.
Are Floor Beds Suitable for Older Children?
Floor beds are often associated with toddlers and Montessori-inspired bedrooms, but a low sleeping position isn't limited to younger children.
Older children may also enjoy a low-level bed, particularly if they prefer a simple, accessible design without a high frame.
A floor bed can work well in a bedroom where you want to keep the furniture visually low, although it's important to consider the complete room layout, mattress ventilation and the manufacturer's guidance.
For children who prefer a more traditional raised sleeping position, a wooden single bed may be a better fit.
What to Consider Before Buying a Single or Youth Bed
A little measuring and planning now can save quite a few surprises on delivery day.
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Choose the right length: Consider your child's current height and how much growing room you'd like to allow.
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Measure the complete frame: The external bed dimensions can be significantly larger than the mattress, especially with upholstered sides or decorative house frames.
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Check mattress compatibility: A 90 × 180 cm, 90 × 190 cm and 90 × 200 cm mattress are not interchangeable. Use the exact size and recommended thickness for your chosen bed.
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Think about bedroom space: Leave room for opening doors, drawers, wardrobes and moving comfortably around the bed.
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Consider materials and care: Washable upholstery covers can be useful for foam beds, while wooden frames have different cleaning and maintenance requirements.
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Check what's included: Some beds are sold without a mattress, while others offer mattress bundles. Wall panels, bedding and decorative accessories shown in photographs may be sold separately.
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Review delivery and assembly: Made-to-order beds may take several weeks to arrive, and assembly requirements vary between designs.
Children's Beds, Carefully Chosen by The Baby Den
As a small, family-run business, we believe children's furniture should be practical enough for everyday life and lovely enough to enjoy for years.
Our growing collection of single and youth beds brings together carefully selected European designs from MONIO and Benlemi, offering a choice of sizes, materials and styles for different bedrooms and stages of childhood.
Whether you're looking for a cosy upholstered floor bed or a wooden house bed with room to grow, explore our collection and find a bed that feels right for your child and your home.
Single & Youth Beds – Frequently Asked Questions
What is a youth bed?
A youth bed is generally a bed intended for growing children who need more room than a toddler or junior bed. There isn't one universal youth bed size, but our MONIO youth beds have a 90 × 180 cm sleeping area.
What is the difference between a youth bed and a single bed?
A youth bed is often shorter than a full-length single. For example, our MONIO youth bed measures 90 × 180 cm, compared with a standard UK single mattress of 90 × 190 cm. Always check the individual dimensions, as manufacturers use different names and sizes.
Is a 90 × 200 cm bed a standard UK single?
No. A standard UK single mattress usually measures 90 × 190 cm. A 90 × 200 cm bed is commonly described as a European single and is 10 cm longer.
What age is a 90 × 180 cm bed suitable for?
A 90 × 180 cm bed can be a useful choice for many school-age children, but there's no fixed age range. Your child's height, sleeping habits and the manufacturer's guidance are more important than age alone.
Are soft foam beds suitable for teenagers?
The larger MONIO beds offer a full-length sleeping area that may appeal to older children and teenagers. However, suitability also depends on the specific model's weight and use limits, so check the manufacturer's guidance before purchasing.
Can I use a UK single mattress with a European single bed?
No. A standard 90 × 190 cm UK single mattress is shorter than the 90 × 200 cm sleeping area of a European single. Choose a correctly sized mattress that meets the bed manufacturer's requirements.
Do single and youth beds come with mattresses?
It depends on the design and selected options. MONIO beds offer bed-only and matching mattress choices, while Benlemi products have their own specifications. Always check the product listing for exactly what's included.
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