John Lewis
Elementary Toddler Bed
6.3/10 overallAround £139 (mattress sold separately)
A simple, understated painted pine toddler bed frame designed to look like a small version of a regular bed.
The verdict
The John Lewis ANYDAY Elementary, around £139 (mattress sold separately), is a plain, low wooden toddler bed designed to look like a scaled-down regular bed rather than a themed novelty item. It suits parents avoiding a character-led bedroom, with better long-term looks and resale value than novelty beds, though it lacks a built-in guard rail.
The ANYDAY toddler bed is a plain, low wooden frame without a themed shape or built-in guard rail — it's designed to look and feel like a scaled-down version of a normal bed rather than a novelty item, which appeals to parents who'd rather the bedroom didn't revolve around a single character or theme.
Against the Kidsaw Racing Car bed in this category, this frame won't provide the same emotional pull for a toddler reluctant to leave the cot, but it has considerably longer visual staying power in the bedroom — a plain wooden bed frame doesn't need replacing for aesthetic reasons the way a themed novelty bed eventually does, and it typically has stronger resale value for the same reason.
Since it doesn't have a built-in guard rail the way some novelty frames do, pairing it with a separate bed rail is worth considering for the first several months after the switch, particularly for toddlers who move around a lot in their sleep.
Is the Elementary Toddler Bed worth it?
- Understated design with no theme to outgrow
- Better long-term looks and resale value than novelty beds
- Sturdy, simple frame construction
What are the downsides of the Elementary Toddler Bed?
- No built-in guard rail, needs a separate purchase
- Less exciting for toddlers reluctant to leave the cot
- Pricier than some equivalent plain frames
Specs
- Style
- Plain, unthemed design
- Assembly
- Flat-packed, self-assembly required
- Material
- Solid wood frame
- Guard rail
- Not built in, sold separately
- Mattress size
- Standard cot bed, 140x70cm
How we scored it
Guard Rail Safety
How well the rail prevents night-time falls without making the bed hard to get in and out of.
No built-in rail; a separate bed rail is worth adding for restless sleepers.
Cot Transition Ease
How smoothly toddlers adjust from a cot to this bed, including familiarity of size and height.
Straightforward transition but lacks the emotional pull of a novelty design.
Build Durability
Sturdiness of the frame and how well the finish holds up to daily knocks.
Solid, simple construction that stays looking good for years.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Around £139 (mattress sold separately) | £69.00 (frame only) | £65.00 (frame only) | Around £90 (mattress sold separately) |
| Overall score | 6.3/10 | 8.1/10 | 8/10 | 7.7/10 |
| Assembly | Flat-packed, self-assembly required | Flatpack | Flatpack | Flat-packed, self-assembly required |
| Material | Solid wood frame | Solid pine, painted finish | Solid pine, untreated/natural finish | Solid pine wood |
| Guard rail | Not built in, sold separately | Integrated | Integrated | Built into the car body sides |
Frequently asked questions
Does the ANYDAY toddler bed have a guard rail?+
No — it doesn't have a built-in guard rail, so pairing it with a separate bed rail is worth considering for the first several months after the switch, particularly for toddlers who move around a lot in their sleep.
How does the ANYDAY bed compare to the Kidsaw Racing Car bed?+
It won't provide the same emotional pull for a toddler reluctant to leave the cot, but it has considerably longer visual staying power — a plain frame doesn't need replacing for aesthetic reasons the way a themed bed eventually does, and typically has stronger resale value.
Does the ANYDAY bed come with a mattress?+
No — it's sized for a standard cot bed mattress (140x160cm), sold separately.
Is the ANYDAY bed good value?+
It's pricier than some equivalent plain frames, but its sturdy, simple construction stays looking good for years without a theme to outgrow.