someone talk me through the whole junior/toddler bed and linen sizes - hopelessly confused!

[LittleMyDancing]

Ok, I know this is probably really simple BUT:

DS is 2 and in a cot. Thinking of moving him into his own bed but not sure whether to go for a toddler bed or a normal single bed.

would like to use a toddler bed as his room is very small as it is, but what bed linen do you use? Ikea seem to have either single duvet sets which are much too long (200cm duvet on a 130cm bed ) or duvet sets designed for their cots, so do the cot ones go on the toddler beds? Am I missing something? Do we carry on using a sleeping bag instead?

And how long can they sleep in one of those toddler beds, what sort of age do they need a normal size single bed? Don't want to buy a toddler bed and have him outgrow it in 30 secs.

TIA

If you can fit a regular single bed in the room I would get that. Easier to get bedding and it will last longer.

My DS1 has a toddler bed which is the same size as a cot bed (I think). There isn't much available in the way of bed linen. I have got mine from John Lewis and the White Company. Both are plain which I jazz up with a nice blanket. Both do junior duvets and pillows which fit these beds.

In terms of length of use, I think it depends on the size of your child, but I imagine that my DS will stay in it until he is 4 or 5.

BTW the toddler bed is a nice height off the floor as well allowing them to get on and off. Both my DSs have small rooms so it makes sense for me.

Thanks NAB and Spoo - the lack of nice bed linen is a big factor. Saw a gorgeous duvet cover in John Lewis but only available as single so that might sway the decision.....

next question - how long can he sleep in a cot? was going to move him out before next DC arrives, but that might be a while - will he be ok in there until he's 3?

He is fine in the cot until he doesn't fit or he can climb out.

No sign of climbing yet - and still room to kick his legs, so maybe we'll wait till there's a lovely sale on at John Lewis!

thanks

Wait until your DC2 arrives before moving him out of the containment of a cot. You don't want him wondering around whilst you are trying to deal with the little one in the middle of the night. If you need the cot for DC2, I would invest in a new cot bed for DS if I were you then you can change it later to a toddler bed really easily.

i really dont see the point of toddler beds

just another way for shops to make money, cos you have to go and buy a single bed at some point anyway

both my dds went into a normal single bed at 18 mnths

have been looking around and I think a small single (2'6") is going to be our best bet. His room's tiny so a standard single would be too big, and I have to say I agree about toddler beds - he might as well stay in his cot as go into a toddler bed. Plus you can't buy linen for them easily, and it means a whole new set of linen when he outgrows the toddler bed. This way he can have a single sheet and duvet now and it'll last him.

Now I have to convince DP, who wants to buy him a 'fun' bed - like a cabin bed or Thomas the Tank

Have tried to explain that 2 is too young for beds up ladders and that I will let one of those Thomas beds over the threshold only over my dead body, but he's still holding out.

tsk.

but surely you will have to get a single bed at some point?

I was given a toddler bed, otherwise I probably wouldn't hae bothered but I have to say it is very, very cute. She has also fallen out of it a couple of times and is so close to the floor has't even really woken up The mattress is the same size as a cot bed - the cot bed linen and duvet from ikea is fine.

I would say, keep him in it for as long as he is happy/fits.

not necessarily - I slept in a 2'6" single till I left home (and indeed then for a further 3y at university)

The sheets aren't easy to get though - Mothercare jersey ones are the best but you have to order as they never have them in store.

the cot that is, keep him in the cot. And the ikea bed linen is really cheap.

I know I will have to get a single bed at some point but then the toddler bed will be passed down to the next one (if we have another one) so we will still get a good few years use out of it.

I do see your point though naily.

I wish we had just gone for a single bed but dh really wanted the cuteness factor (and it IS cute) of the toddler bed. And she pretty much chose it herself at Ikea this one, its ok but side bits are a bit hard - she kept climbing in !

We use cot duvet and pillow and single sheet folded down - the bed is extendable though so a single sheet fits (is already extended once to fit me more comfortably!!).

DD1 had a junior bed from 18 months to 4.2.

We got nice bedding for a cot duvet for a while and then I put a single duvet on as she kept pushing the covers off. It worked a treat as you could tuck it under the mattress.

Now DD2 is in it so I expect we will have had approx 4 years use by the time we stop using it.

my ds went straight into a single bed at 14months old as i didnt see the point in toddler beds and we had the space.
dd has a toddler bed she went into at 19months old, as she is still in my room and a single bed and my double bed didnt both fit. she has a cot bed flat sheet which only just fits and then one of her blankets (which are slightly too short for the bed but still cover her feet) with a single fifi fleece blanket on top.
when we move i plan on getting her a normal sinlge bed when she's settled as she will have her own room then.
how long they are in toddler beds depends on size of child my friends dd is 7 and hasnt long come out of hers wheras my nephew was out of his before he was 4 as he is very big for his age