Single bed or small double for 4yo?

[MinBins]

I'm wanting a single, but OH would prefer a small double (3/4 bed)

I wondered what your little ones have, especially if they like a night-time cuddle once in a while!

I'd straight up go for a single as I had one till mid teens, and would like the space for her room and play etc.

I've co-slept with her since birth, and with her going into her own room recently, she likes us next to her when she's sick or sometimes if she has a nightmare. We lay next to her till she's settled (unless we doze off too...) This is an added factor for going towards a small double, we won't be hanging off the edge like on her current one 😂

We currently have a toddler bed but will have to convert back to a cot, as we're due our second soon. So looking for a new one. I realise this is a way too long post about a bed of all things, but wondered what others experiences are (especially if you have to co-sleep for a few hours)

Thank you!

If you are going to be co-sleeping, I would go for a small double, if you have the room. Generally, at 4, most children are moving towards or soon to be moving towards falling asleep more on their own (even if she doesn't now, a lot will change between now and say 6). Neither of my dc do anything other than sleep in their rooms, except for a sleepover with a friend, and then a double makes life a lot easier. So I wouldn't worry about floor space to play necessarily. My youngest only has a single though as double wouldn't even fit in the room.

We got our DD a double bed at a slightly older age (8) not because she needed the space, but so it could also be used for guests (when she shares with her sister).

We got DD a double when she was 4. We don’t ever get in it with her but wanted the option of using the room for guests (then she goes in with her brother on a trundle) and also she likes to sleep with 1001 soft toys and there wasn’t much space left for her in her old single.

Picture the scene.. 3 am and dc has puked everywhere.. Your dh has likely slept /ignored your dd needing you /him. You are manhandling double bedding filled with carrots and other sick ingredients.. You stumble back to bed knowing come 7 am you actually have to manhandle aforementioned bedding into the washing machine..
Single bed all the way ime.

What on earth?! My kids have never been sick in bed but whatever the reason for a wake up my DH would always help. The picture you paint of the carrot vomit and shitbag twat of a husband is grim but that has nothing to do with the size of the bedding. I don’t personally find changing the sheets on DD’s double any harder than DS’s single.

We got my son a double when he was 5. He loves it, especially when his dad gets in for breakfast in bed and YouTube on a Saturday morning.

Mine has a double. He still wakes in the night occasionally and it's easier for one of us to just get in with him. He has a metal framed bed just in case of a midnight vomcano incident.

I'd get a single, but one of those ones that has another single tucked away underneath.

That way she has room to play, but if you need to sleep in with her/have guests you have the extra bed. Particularly useful once they're older and want their friends to sleep over.

I bought my 4 year old a long, wide single bed (3' x 6'6"). Ten years later he nearly fills it. No need or space for a double yet!

Ah thanks everyone - I've gone for a small double (3/4 bed) wooden one (in case of vomathons).

We've moved house recently and it feels like I've been making eleventy hundred decisions and admin, and in late stage pregnancy - my brain hurt a bit from this one! (I'm one of those people that over analyses every choice😂)

Thanks so much for sharing your insights and experiences! They massively helped!

I should have added that I often go and get in the double with my 4 year old when my husband won't stop snoring too!

Another option, DS has a single with a pull out trundle. At around 6 we moved from hanging off the edge of his bed to pulling out the trundle and just falling asleep near by. It's enough for him that I'm in the room, but I'm comfortable enough to get some sleep and don't get hit in the face by Mr wiggly sleep octopus.