Double bed for toddler twins?

[Cabra82]

Thinking of transitioning my two year old toddler twins to a double bed. They currently sleep v well but they are in sleep suits and they are getting a bit big for them, they are tall for their age. Their bedroom is small so not much space for toddler beds so a double mattress made more sense to us. We plan to add a single bunk bed above later on when they are older. Does anyone have any experience in moving twins to a double bed?? What age did you do it? Thanks in advance.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Sorry!

Top bunks are not recommended by British safety standards until 6 years old. I would suggest you find a way to accommodate single or toddler beds until then. I don't know your twins but it is likely to be good for them to not have independant sleep space right through to year 1 in school.

Could be tricky to install bed rails on a double.

Do sleep together now or separate cots?

Toddler beds are a waste of time in my opinion I'd go straight for a single bed, you could get one with trundle so gives you floor space in the day and a separate part for each child.

They'll get used to sleeping together and then you'll want them apart. And as they're twins they'll be lumped together a lot so at least let them have their own beds! Even if just a foot gap between.

Cot beds side by side? I have 13 months between my two and had a similar issue. They moved to proper full size bunk beds (with a sloping ladder and handrail rather than straight up ladder) aged about 4 1/2 and 5 1/2. The youngest took the top bunk actually as the older one was more likely to need a wee in the night. Never any problems. I wasn't pleased at having to buy the cot beds, but they did work well as the interim measure.

Unfortunately the room isnt big enough for two toddler beds- the two cots are pretty jammed in there and we cant move at the moment obviously. I have seen some people do it with their twins so it will probably take some adjustment (a lot!) but think it is our only choice. For the bunk bed it would be proper steps going up to it instead of a ladder, but again we wouldnt use that until they are old enough- thanks for the age recommendation!

Am I missing something - isn't a toddler bed the same as a cot bed without bars? Could you remove the bars and push together? Also switch to regular PJ, sorry I don't think I understand the sleepsuit point. My twins are 2 and in separate bedrooms as that's how all we get sleep, so I'm probably not very helpful right now!

Could you and your partner swap rooms with them for a couple of years until they are old enough for bunks?
I'm assuming they are in the smaller bedroom, and if so you could have the double mattress and the children could have a single bed each in the larger room.

Ours moved into a double bed at 18 months and were in it until almost 4. They settled better when together and although they have own beds now still quite often share by choice.

Get two singles, doubles won't work.

Toddler beds aren't waste if they're an interim option. In your case you'll prob end up with bunk beds, but need two small beds in the meantime.

Ikea Kritter beds will last until 6yo, and they're cheap (and resell well). They're longer than nornal toddler beds. Most aren't much longer than a cot. I think Kritter is 140cm.

They're low, toddler friendly (removable safety bar). Perfect imo. I'd go for those.

Bunks can happen at 6 or 7 yo

Bad idea. I have identical twin girls. They have always had their own beds, share a room but seperate beds. And sleep suits at 2 years old seems very very strange.

If you've got room for a double, there's room for two toddler beds. You can always shove them together.

I'd get two single "caravan beds" they are 6ft X 2ft. Even if you only had a foot between the beds you could install sleep rails. And each child would get their own bed.

Sounds like the Kritter beds. 2' wide. Only 5' long.

So let me clarify- I was more asking if anyone had experience doing this (twins in a double)- not asking if you thought it was a good idea or not (if you havent actually tried it yourself!). Also- gro bags are for all ages of children and have been great in stopping our girls climb out of the cot so not sure why a poster thought it was “very very strange”. Not sure that was a necessary comment. Also if we are doing toddler beds Or even single beds side by side (they would have to be right side by side due to the small room as mentioned) what is the difference to having a double bed? Makes more sense to financially buy the double mattress and have this as a future bed than the expense of two toddler beds. Also there is no Ikea where I currently am (not in the UK) so we wouldnt have that option.
Thanks to those who have actually tried this and for your feedback! I really appreciate it. Will post again once we have gone through the first month.

Oh, sorry. I was only trying to be helpful.

Jeez...

I get that- it was the more negative comments which were not v helpful. But as I said- if I have to shove the two toddler beds together I think it is more cost effective to just buy a double mattress rather than two toddler beda which have a limited life. Thanks though.

I don't know why you posted since it seems you've already decided to buy the double mattress.

Because I was asking for people who had done it to see what they had thought/ any tips etc.

It will be fine. As long as they have a warm and comfortable sleeping space then all will be well. It used to be the norm for children to sleep together in larger beds. My DM shared a bed with her grandmother until she got married.

Thank you!

We ended up doing this for our 3 youngest (king size mattress though). There is only 14mths between my youngest (ds2 then twins). Ds2 was in a cot and the twins in seperate cribs until they were about 7 months. We then moved them all into separate cots in the same room, with the intention of moving them into their own rooms once out of cots. It worked fine until ds2 started climbing out of his cot and into one of the twins, which then upset the other one. We tried moving him into his own room but they all got upset and the twins started trying to climb out if their cots too. In the end we took the sides off all their cots and put them back into the same room which made them happy but after a few nights they started getting into each other's beds but as they ouldnt all fit they ended up asleep in a heap on the floor. In the end dh put a mattress on the floor in there, as well as keeping their own beds in case they wanted own space but they all chose to sleep together, they slept like this until they were about 6 when we made a big thing about choosing how to decorate their own rooms and having their own space for toys and being able to have friends sleep over(this was also partly down to fact that we didnt think it was appropriate for them to share much longer giving that dts are b/g). They are now mostly in their own rooms but every now and then they sneak into each others rooms if they are scared or upset but tend to opt for top to toe or curling up on the rug in the same room rather than snuggling together as they did in the big bed. Although they all still have a very close bond.

I think a double bed is far more sensible than toddler beds. The suggestion of a trundle bed is very good as well, it would allow some floor space during the day unless they don't play in their room and floor space isn't an issue. Have you looked at bed guards? Mine had them on initially as they tended to migrate to the very edge of the bed.

I have nearly 6 year old twins. They have had a double bed since they were 2. I had asked them many times if they want singles/ bunk beds/anything else. They love their double bed and refuse to sleep apart.

All twins are different and only you know what would be best for them. I get ALOT of awful comments about their sleeping arrangements, particularly from in-laws. But they are happy and sleep very well in it. 7pm-7am, since around age 3.