Cot or cotbed

[Handy83]

Just wondering which is best. My partner and I were all set on a cotbed but his sister said none of her 3 took to a cotbed because they are larger than cots. We are trying to think long term which was why we thought cotbed

We went for a cotbed and I'm pleased we did. My eldest DD transitioned well from the Snuzpod to the cot and then to the toddler bed it converted to. It's now made up as a cot for our youngest and should do the same (although she can use the toddler bed for longer as we don't plan on having any more babies!). My kids both sleep well in any size cots/beds but I know others have used things like the Sleepyhead if they've struggled in larger cots etc.

We had a Snuzpod then into a cot and now in the cotbed conversion too.

The disadvantage I can see if a cotbed is that if this is your first child, you may want the cotbed back for DC2 to use as a cot before DC1 has outgrown it as a bed. A normal cot is cheaper and takes up less space, and yet still works well until age 2-3 by which time many people will have had another baby.

The problem with a cot until 2-3 is they become dangerous when they can climb (then fall) over the sides.

Not all cot beds are big. Ours is an ikea for, standard size, but the sides come off one at a time to transition. DS is almost 2 and still in the cot.

Cotbed for all 3 of mine, DS1 used his until he was 4, DD was only 2/3 as she then went into a bottom bunk bed to save space. DS2 is only 5mo so obviously still in his, he went into it at 7 weeks and slept so much better than he had been in his crib.

If you have space for a cotbed I’d say it’s worth it.

We had a crib (heirloom one), then a cot. Then a toddler bed. We did that because ds was in the cot until he was 17 months. Then we put him in his toddler bed at 17 months.
We plan to have our 2nd when ds is about 5. So we have the crib, and the cot ready to use (will get new mattresses). Then by the time the new baby needs a toddler bed, ds will be in a pepper single bed, so the toddler bed will be ready to be used for DC2.
So for us it made more sense.

Dd is still in her cot bed (with the sides down obviously!) at 5 years old! Best value baby item for long term use that we bought.

Thanks all. So much to think about. Not sure we will have anymore. I'm going to be 35 when this baby arrives so realistically I dunno if we will be young enough for a second. My partners sister is already on about us having more even though this one has not been born yet which in turn is sort of swaying my partner.

We had a cot, which tall daughter was in until 2.5.
She has moved straight from that in to a double bed (!) without any problems.
We got a cot that you could take the side off so we used it from birth next to our bed (initially with a sleepyhead which we also used for downstairs sleep). Worked brilliantly. Ikea cots can all do the 3 side thing.

Moses basket for 5 months then cotbed.

We got 8 years out of a cotbed. Worthwhile.

My son is huge and moved from moses basket to cotbed at 3 months. He loves to roll around so i think its better than a cot where he keep kicking the sides (when we stay at the grandparents)

We had both. We got a cot for our first, then when DD2 came along, DD1 wasn't quite 2, so we got a cotbed for her, which both girls got use from. DD2 only moved out of her cot when she was 4 (!) just before DS' birth. We wedged the cot in our room between the wardrobe and our bed, so climbers could really only fall onto the bed.

We put the newborns in their Moses basket inside the cot so they were used to the sides etc when we moved them out. Tip given to me by a mum of 5!

Smiling here that you think you might only be able to have one baby.... I found them addictive! I had #1 at 34, #2 at 35 (almost 36) and #3 at 40...! You have plenty of time! :)