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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Comments about toddlers in double beds

200 replies

User135792468 · 21/01/2022 20:40

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

OP posts:
cherryonthecakes · 21/01/2022 21:41

If you've got the space then that's great. I would be surprised but not so much I discuss it with others

Hugasauras · 21/01/2022 21:42

Mind you, 2yo DD is currently asleep on her own in our super king Grin She's sleeping horizontally to use as much space as possible it seems!

LickYouLikeACrispPacket · 21/01/2022 21:44

My daughter had a double bed in her room from
Birth and when she first flipped out of her cot at 16 months she slept in it from then on. She never fell out of bed and loved it. We did do a lot of on off co-sleeping too and it was good to have a double to share with her when she was restless/ill etc. She has just turned 11 and requested a single bed now but her double served her very well.

LickYouLikeACrispPacket · 21/01/2022 21:44

Oh and it was great for sleepovers too!

VoyageInTheDark · 21/01/2022 21:45

I used to have a double bed as a small child because I used to wake my mum up every night and make her come in with me

NatashaBedwouldbenice · 21/01/2022 21:45

I’m gobsmacked at how this has changed! I can’t think of a house I’ve lived in where there was more than one bedroom large enough for a double.

For those of you with doubles does this mean that siblings aren’t expected to share? And do furniture, book shelves and toy storage all fit in the bedrooms too, or are living spaces used for that kind of thing?

Ozanj · 21/01/2022 21:46

Singles are a waste of money - better to buy once and get a double if you have the space. Then when they move out at least you can sell up on ebay / gumtree etc.

Coldilox · 21/01/2022 21:46

When I was 13 we moved to a new house and my room was big enough for a double. My older sister always had the begged room as she was older, so she’d had a double before. I wasn’t allowed a double bed as my parents thought I was “too young”? 🤨

My 7 year old could have a double in his room but when we moved here we asked him and he said we preferred more floor space. So he has a high sleeper in a really big room. I wish he had a double as our spare room is only big enough for a small double sofa bed.

Sew3stitch · 21/01/2022 21:47

@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.
This is the reason we've done it. 3 bedrooms and 2 kids so my DD has always known that she has a big bed so that if people come to stay, they can sleep in her room. Main benefit has been she's never fallen out of bed!
PattyPan · 21/01/2022 21:47

@Ozanj

Singles are a waste of money - better to buy once and get a double if you have the space. Then when they move out at least you can sell up on ebay / gumtree etc.
Why do they need a double if you’re selling it when they move out anyway? Confused
NoLongerTroels · 21/01/2022 21:47

Our second son went from the cot to a double bed. His room had been the guest room, I wasn't going to get rid of perfectly good bed. He loved it, it was great for lying with him to read at bedtime. It had a bookcase headboard and he had lots of books and toys all set out and never woke us up early as he was busy.

WhyYesYABU · 21/01/2022 21:48

Toddlers don't need a double but we don't need a superking and we have one. I think its a great idea especially for reading etc.

Coldilox · 21/01/2022 21:48

*bigger room

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 21/01/2022 21:49

My friend did this for her child, he's in a double age 5. He's giant, his dad is 6ft 6 and he's going to need a double to sleep diagonally so it made sense!

NoRaceInThisHorse · 21/01/2022 21:49

Why do people care? They have a bed, the size and style if your choice. Some people!

Skiptheheartsandflowers · 21/01/2022 21:51

It is odd that people get so invested in it. Next time someone says but they don't need it ask if their kids have an X box, Playstation etc and then say 'but do they need it?'

Farrandau · 21/01/2022 21:52

DS had a fire engine toddler bed, a mid-sleeper that we eventually took off its legs to be an ordinary single, and latterly a double that used to be in the spare room. The only one he has regularly stayed in all night, ever, was the double.

Pinchofnom · 21/01/2022 21:52

I don’t know how or why anyone could characterise this as odd. Why wouldn’t you if you had the space? Both of ours have doubles. I don’t understand people have opinions on this inane shit. Doubles all the way Op!

WonderfulYou · 21/01/2022 21:54

I do think it’s odd for toddlers to have a double bed but I would never judge you for it.

I personally like the excitement of a toddler moving into a ‘big bed’ which is a toddler bed or single sized and then when they reach the teens the excitement of having a double.

Bunnycat101 · 21/01/2022 21:56

If you’ve got space then it is probably a sensible thing to do. We need get upgrade my 5yo’s bed and will probably go for a single as she’d rather have floor space.

WonderfulYou · 21/01/2022 21:57

he said we preferred more floor space

This is the practical reason I’d have a single for a young child as they have lots of toys and enjoy playing on the floor so the more floor space the better.

EssexLioness · 21/01/2022 22:00

I was an only child until I was 7 and my first bed was a double (prob my parents old bed). I remember having to get a single bed when my sister started sharing a room, so maybe aged 9. I remember when I saw it the first time I was convinced I would roll straight out as it looked tiny to me! 😆

CaptainMerica · 21/01/2022 22:00

We did this, and it has been great, especially for all the night time wake ups. You get lots of kids options in double bedding now, if you want dinosaur duvet covers, etc, too.

I do wonder if we might have missed a trick though. The kids like sharing a twin room on holiday together. So I sometimes think it would be nice to let them try sharing a room, but they won't share a double bed as they fidget too much and annoy each other. We could fit both doubles in one room at a push, but it would mean moving a lot of other furniture out and a major reorganisation. If we had singles it would be easier to just give it a try.

MananaTomorrow · 21/01/2022 22:01

The only reason why we moved from a double to a single is space.
Dc1 room had become the playroom (double bedroom vs box room for dc2) so it allowed them to play together there,

Otherwise, we would have kept for the simple reason that it would also have double as a guest bed (and dc would have stayed somewhere else on a blowbed during that time)

MananaTomorrow · 21/01/2022 22:02

@WonderfulYou

I do think it’s odd for toddlers to have a double bed but I would never judge you for it.

I personally like the excitement of a toddler moving into a ‘big bed’ which is a toddler bed or single sized and then when they reach the teens the excitement of having a double.

It’s interesting because it never crossed my mind to buy my teens a double bed either…..