A bedside table for a child should sit level with the top of their mattress, typically 45--55cm high for a standard kids single bed, and have rounded corners, a stable base, and enough surface area for a lamp, a water cup, and a book. A childrens bedside table is often added when a nursery becomes a first proper bedroom, but it should never be chosen only because it looks cute.
The right piece supports night-time independence, keeps small items organised and helps the room feel complete. It should also work with the bed, mattress height and wider bedroom storage plan.
What Height Should a Kids Bedside Table Be?
The best height for a child's bedside table is level with the top of the mattress, or slightly lower. This means the child can reach a drink, book or lamp without stretching across the bed or knocking items onto the floor. A table that sits too high creates a reaching risk, especially in the dark, while a table that is too low becomes awkward and less useful.
Before buying, measure from the floor to the top of the mattress, not just the bed frame. The mattress is what sets the usable height. This is why the right bedside table should be chosen after the bed and mattress are already decided. If you are still planning the sleep setup, compare kids bed mattresses before finalising bedside furniture height.
| Bed Height From Floor To Mattress Top | Recommended Bedside Table Height | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|
| 30--40cm | 30--40cm | Toddler beds and low first beds |
| 40--45cm | 40--45cm | Lower single beds |
| 45--55cm | 45--55cm | Standard kids single beds |
| 55--65cm | 55--65cm | Storage beds, divan-style bases or taller frames |
When children are moving from cot to bed, bedding also changes. This is a good moment to check cot and cot bed fitted sheets [LINK: Cot Fitted Sheets Guide] and plan the wider bedding transition before moving fully into older-child bedding.
Does a Toddler Need a Bedside Table?
A toddler does not usually need a bedside table before age three. At this stage, many children are still learning safe boundaries around furniture and may use a low table as a step, climbing point or play surface. For very young toddlers, the safest approach is usually to keep the sleep area simple and use nearby adult-controlled storage instead.
From around age 3--4, a toddler bedside table can become useful if the child has a consistent bedtime routine. A small surface for a nightlight, water cup or favourite story can make bedtime feel calmer. The key is choosing a stable, low table with rounded corners and no sharp handles.
From age five onwards, a bedside table becomes more practical. Children begin keeping books, glasses, tissues, small comfort items and sometimes an alarm clock beside the bed. It becomes part of independence rather than decoration.
For children still using a sleeping bag before moving into duvet bedding, a baby sleeping bag guide [LINK: Baby Sleeping Bag Tog Guide] can help parents understand when the bedding setup itself may need to change alongside the bedroom furniture.
What Features Should a Children's Bedside Table Have?
A children's bedside table should have the right height, rounded or chamfered corners, a stable base, and safe storage that does not encourage clutter. It should feel sturdy when touched, opened or leaned against lightly. Children often pull drawers quickly, place weight on furniture without thinking and reach for items when half asleep, so the piece needs to be built for real behaviour.
A kids bedside cabinet should also have at least one practical drawer. This gives small items a place to go and stops the top surface becoming messy within days. A drawer is especially useful for glasses, hair ties, tissues, bookmarks, small bedtime books or a torch.
Soft-close or finger-safe drawer mechanisms are helpful because children are still learning careful movement. A non-toxic, water-based finish is also important for children's furniture, especially in a bedroom where the piece is used daily. The best design is simple, stable and easy for the child to understand.
A nursery bedside table may also be useful for parents before it becomes the child's own furniture. In a nursery, it can sit beside a feeding chair for a bottle of water, muslins or a small lamp, then move beside the child's bed later. If you are building the room as a full setup, kids wardrobes can help create a wider furniture context from the start.
Bedside Table with Drawers vs Open Shelf: Which Is Better for Kids?
A bedside table with drawers is usually better for children aged five and above because it keeps small items contained. Children accumulate little objects quickly, and an open surface can become crowded with books, toys, hair clips, stickers and bedtime treasures. A drawer gives those items a home without making the room look messy.
An open shelf can work better for younger children because they can see what belongs there. It is easier for a 3--4-year-old to return one book or comfort item to a shelf than remember what should go inside a drawer. The downside is that open shelving can look untidy if too many items are collected there.
The most practical choice for ages 5--10 is often a combination unit with one drawer and one open shelf. This gives easy access and hidden storage in one piece. Parents searching for a kids bedside table with storage should look for this balanced design rather than choosing a large unit with too many drawers.
If the room also needs bedding protection, a mattress protector for kids [LINK: Mattress Protector Guide] can sit within the wider bedroom setup. Bedside furniture helps with routine, while mattress protection helps the bed stay cleaner through spills, accidents and everyday use.
Should a Kids Bedside Table Match the Bed?
A child's bedside table does not have to match the bed, but matching pieces usually make the room feel calmer and more finished. This is especially useful in smaller bedrooms where too many finishes can make the space feel busy. A matching set also removes the guesswork around colour, timber tone and proportions.
Buying the bedside table as part of a furniture set can also be practical. The finish is more likely to match, the sizing usually works together and the room feels planned rather than collected over time. If you are already choosing a bed, wardrobe and drawers, adding the bedside table at the same time can save effort later.
Mix-and-match can still work if you keep the materials consistent. Natural wood tones usually pair well when they are close in warmth, while painted furniture works best when the shade is intentionally matched. For a fuller bedroom plan, a nursery chest of drawers can coordinate with the bedside piece, while underbed storage drawers add storage without using extra floor space.
For children who keep several books beside the bed, a bedside table may not be enough. A kids bookshelves option can hold bedtime stories, school reading books and favourite picture books without overloading the bedside surface. This works especially well in a room where a small kids bedside table is needed because space is limited.
The final sleep setup should also consider the mattress under the bedding. When discussing the mattress the duvet sits on, a toddler mattress [LINK: Toddler Mattress Guide] can help parents decide whether the bed is ready for the next stage or still needs a lower, more supportive first-bed setup. When completing the full kids bedding setup, Boori's kids bedding range can also help parents coordinate sheets, protectors and bedding around the bed itself.
FAQ
What height should a child's bedside table be?
A bedside table for a child should sit at approximately the same height as the top of their mattress, typically between 45 and 55cm for a standard kids single bed. This means the child can reach a water cup or book without stretching or risking knocking things off the surface. Always measure your child's specific bed height before buying, as platform beds and divan bases vary significantly.
What age should a child have a bedside table?
Most children benefit from a bedside table from around 4--5 years old, when they begin keeping a consistent water cup, nightlight or story book beside the bed. Younger toddlers generally do not need one and may use it as a climbing aid, so it is worth waiting until the child understands it is furniture rather than play equipment. From age 5--6, a bedside table becomes increasingly practical for supporting a proper bedtime routine.
Should a kids bedside table have drawers?
For children aged five and over, a bedside table with at least one drawer is strongly recommended. Children accumulate small items quickly, including glasses, hair accessories, small toys and books, so an open-top surface can become cluttered. A drawer keeps bedside items contained, reduces night-time knocking accidents and teaches children to keep an organised sleep space.
Summary
Complete the bedroom with the perfect finishing touch. Browse Boori's kids bedside table range: solid wood, rounded edges, and designed to match the full Boori bedroom collection. The right bedside table should be easy to reach, stable in daily use and practical enough to support reading, resting and growing independence.
