Comments about toddlers in double beds

[User135792468]

I have a 4 and 2.5 year old and the 4 year old has had a double bed bed since he came out of the cot bed so I could use it for ds2. A few weeks back, we decided that it was time to get ds2 his first proper bed and also went for a double.

The amount of comments I’ve had about how a toddler doesn’t need a double bed and a bit of an eye roll that I got them one is starting to irritate me. I don’t understand why people care? We like the doubles as we lay in bed and read books before bed and the dc like having sleepovers with each other. It seems as though people think it’s an odd way to one-up someone though.

To clarify, I wasn’t discussing it, just had friends over for a play date who then saw it and mentioned it in a bigger group of friends when we were out and it became a topic of conversation. There’s plenty of space for wardrobes and floor space to play so I don’t get the issue.

Is it that odd to have a double bed for young dc who are either pre school or primary age? What does everyone else have out of curiosity?



Yabu - yes, toddlers really don’t need a double bed

Yanbu - people need to mind their own business

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I find it odd that they would even care. Have they given reasons for why they think it's odd?

Doubles will be nice so if they want to bunk in with each other or you need to put them together to host guests in the other one.

Why not?

[00100001]

It is unusual, but not unheard of.


But, why do they care what your kid sleeps in? How does it affect them?? Q

[NiceTwin]

Both my dd's went straight to double beds.
I never thought it odd and it was never commented on by anybody.

[KirkstallAbbess]

My toddler had a double bed. He's twenty now and still sleeps in it 😊

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

I think its wise because it'll last longer.

Tbh when my son gets too big for his cot bed we'll buy him a double.

[BettyMacDonald]

Mine are older than yours (14, 11, 8) but they all have double beds. They’re all tall children and if they’re anything like DH’s side they’re going to keep growing! My 14 year old is already 6 foot .

We figured it was sensible both ecologically and economically to get them double beds now rather than replacing single beds in a few years.

They all have plenty of space to play so I wasn’t worried about lack of floor space. My lot also love sleepovers with each other.

Ultimately though, it’s no one else’s business!

[CeleriacOfTheNight]

My kids all had doubles from being toddlers. I don't ever remember one person commenting on it.

You know some weird folks!

[TheLazyBeagle]

If their bedrooms were big enough I’d have got mine doubles too.

[ifoundthebread]

My ds has a king size, there ended up being a spare bed when we moved house, so just made sense for ds to have it and give up the cot. Might be a bit ott a 4 year old (was only 2 at the time) having a king size but it is ideal as the spare bed for when we have guests and even better for the nights ds Is ill and needs a cuddle- penty of room for us both to sleep.

[LakeShoreD]

I know loads of under 5s with doubles. Most people I know have done it so they can occasionally use the room for overnight guests whilst the child goes in with them or a sibling. My 4YO is getting a new room when our loft conversion is finished and has specifically requested a big bed so she’s getting a double. I would have got one for her ages ago but her old room was too small.

[ThatLibraryMiss]

A double just seems sensible if there's plenty of room. Means a parent can sleep comfortably with a poorly child and it'll be better if you have guests.

On the down side, double bedding is more expensive than single and a bit more awkward to launder and dry.

[Freecuthbert]

If you have the money and space for a double, why not? I don't understand why anyone can have an issue with this. Jealousy perhaps? But then who'd get jealous about someone's child having a double bed?

[PaperMonster]

I always had a double bed when I was a child from being a toddler. Nothing unusual as far as I’m concerned!

[FluffMagnet]

Yep we've got doubles for ours straight from the cot, as have some of our friends. We had the doubles already as rooms had been guest rooms pre-babies and it seemed ridiculous to get rid of perfectly good beds for singles that would undoubtedly need replacing again with new doubles when they become teenagers!

[toddlerdanger]

I made a thread on this today actually because I'm thinking of getting a small double for my toddler instead of a toddler bed. I had nothing but supportive comments, saying it was a good idea actually.

I too was worried I would get stupid comments form friends and in laws about it.

[Traumdeuter]

I think it’s a great idea and want to do this in the future - as others have said it means it can become an impromptu guest space if needed. Will need to move though as bedrooms are too small for double beds + play/storage space. If you’re lucky enough to have nice big bedrooms then I’m all for it!

[Teaforme123]

It is a bit odd but no one else's business to be honest. My 5 yo has a double because he outgrew his cotbed and we had the double as a spare. It made no sense to get rid of it and buy him a new single one, so he's had it since toddler and I love being able to cuddle up and read with him.

[ImustLearn2Cook]

I really wish I had bought my dd a double bed for the following reasons:

She likes being cuddled to sleep and her dad and I do love her cuddles.

Reading bedtime stories while lying next to her is better for my back then sitting next to the bed at an awkward angle so she can see the pictures while I read. There’s just not enough room on her single bed for both of us to be comfortable lying down.

She moves around a lot and has fallen out of bed.

When we got her a single bed her bedroom in the old place was narrow and small, and so it made sense.

But now she has a much bigger room. I paid a lot for a good quality mattress so don’t really want to waste money on upgrading just yet.

@User135792468 If you bought good quality beds then they should last for when your kids are older (obviously replace mattresses every 10 years). So, when they grow older you won’t need to replace beds that they’ve grown out of. So, you save a bit of money.

[SEOeieio]

It's not typical, but no-one should care. If they want to roll their eyes, they should do it privately unless the parent is talking about the size of the bed in some strangely boastful way.

If there's room, why not?

[PattyPan]

I think it is unusual to have a double bed for toddlers and young children - usually they need the space in their room for playing, and it’s easier to change/launder smaller bedding. People are probably commenting because it’s the first time they’ve come across the idea.

[Luredbyapomegranate]

I think it’s a recent thing. But it’s absolutely sensible.

[toomuchlaundry]

Wouldn’t like to have to regularly change double bedding, but DS took quite a few years to be dry at night

[FreshwaterCurls]

YANBU. Mine was/still is, in a small double from approx 2.5 yrs. We already had the bed, it wasn't being used, it fit in her room, with plenty of space to spare, we already had spare double bedding. Made no sense to buy a single?
I thank god every night that she's in it, as we read in bed and I can lie next to her - in tota lcomfort - until she falls asleep. Plus, she can stay in it until she leaves home....! What's not to like?

[SirSamuelVimes]

I'm quite jealous of you having a house big enough for double beds and plenty of playing space in each kid's room, tbh.

My (small) three year old has just started sleeping in a full size double and she seems completely lost in it so I would find putting her in a double weird for that reason.

[Slacktacular]

It sounds utterly glorious! Why wouldn’t you want all that space to wiggle around and spread out? I’m jealous 😆