From Cot to Double Bed????

[nunheadmum]

Has anyone ever moved their little one from a cot straight to a double bed? Am I just being mad even to think of the concept??

Have tried no2 in same room as no1 but it just hasn't worked as no2 not sleeping well. She's back in the back room which is now acting, at the same time, as her room / spare room / husband's office. It just about works with the cot but definitely won't work when she moves out the cot. As a double bed is best for when grandparents stay (not often but they travel from afar), the thought did come to me as to whether we could move her into the double bed - rather than a toddler or single bed - and then have her on a temporary bed in our room or no1's room when visitors come. But a 2-3year old in a double bed seems a bit excessive and not sure if she'd react to the change in amount of space. She does nap on the floor at nursery and took naps in a variety of places at the childminders so she's used to being out of the confines of the cot.

Just wondered if anyone else had ever tried it? Thanks!

[The Nappy Lady]

Hi NunheadMum,

Not done it yet, but have a similar situation in our house and will probably move our youngest into the double bed at some point.

I don't see any huge problem with it - as long as the bed isn't too far off the ground, and maybe you can put one side against the wall, and have a bed rail along the other side so she can't roll out.

In fact the double bed our little one will go into used to be her Dad's bed when he was little, so it is a bit of a family heirloom. Our 5 year old is very keen that she and her sister sleep in it together eventually, with her bedroom then becoming the playroom, and if this works out we will put a sofa bed in there for them to sleep on when we need to move them out to make room for visitors. I think in theory it may work, but given the 4 year ago gap I am half expecting her to have changed her mind by the time the little one is ready to go into the big bed, and sleeping well enough for them to share. We shall see!

Molly

[ryedalema]

That's exactly what we did - not really by design but because that's the only other bed we had in that room and as she'd never really taken to the cot anyway we'd already been resorting to co sleeping with her in the double bed in her room (which was the spare room).

It hasn't done her any harm at all - we laid pillows down both sides of the bed when she started sleeping in it by herself and she's absolutely fine. Now, however we've just installed bunk beds, so she's back to a single. We're keeping as close eye to see whether she falls out (of the bottom bunk I hasten to add), as she has a tendency to 'travel' in her sleep. Signs are good so far - but we'll let you know when she's been there longer.

[Fuschia]

Certainly did, DS1 went into a double bed at 14m and is still in one now

Can recommend these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170411699862&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[Bobbaz]

I contemplated this myself and see no reason why not to if it works for you - however the only reason I decided not to go down this route what the lack of nice children's bedding available in double size.

[laurac]

Am quite surprised at other people doing this - thought we were really odd!

Completely the same situation as ryedalema - and I still do sleep off and on with her in it.

Perhaps because she never really slept in a cot and has always slept in double beds (in a variety of arrangements since being 7/8 months) we have had no problems. I have a bolster between her and the wall and use a pillow barrier on the other side of the bed if I'm not in it with her. She also has a canopy over her side and her own child set of bedding which moves out with her when people come to stay.

[nunheadmum]

Thanks, great to hear I'm not mad for thinking of it! Good idea about having her own bedding which can move with her. And that bedguard is a great idea - much more workable than the big metal things which I guess wouldn't fit with a double bed.

Thanks all round.

[ryedalema]

If you Google 'child double duvet and bedding' you can get some nice sets now. We got dinosaurs and bubbles (not together) from John Lewis too.

[Smiler]

We have got a really useful bed (from John Lewis) that is a single with another single that is stored underneath, which can be put up to the same height to make a large double. So it is a single most of the time, and can be put up into a (very comfy) double when needed for guests. Co-slept in it for ages, she is now in a cot, and going to use it as a single with a bed guard when ready to come out of the cot.

[prdarling]

My niece went straight into a double and is still there 6 years later... it's actually better than a single in my humble opinion as they have so much space to rolla round they never fall out! Never bother with a toddler bed - they'll grow out of it a year later. Cotbeds with the sides off are an interim measure but there is no way any child over 3-3.5 could be comfortable in one. Both of mine went into full size single beds just after their 2nd birthdays - i'd have done doubles as make very handy guest options, but they share a room and refuse to be parted so not enough space