When to move toddler to a bed

[Lauren83]

I have a 19 month old in a cot in his own room and an 8 week old who is in with us, we are in the process of moving the toddler to a bigger bedroom which they will then share when the baby is 6 months so I need to have a cot for the baby, I'm not sure if I should buy a second cot the same although the toddler is huge and I'm aware he won't get long out of his, or should I give the cot to the baby and get a toddler bed? I'm thinking if he will be 2 it's probably too young for a toddler bed and I will regret it, has anyone seen a toddler bed with a better guard than the usual ones as that would be the ideal

I’d splash out on another cot and leave the toddler in a cot for as long as you think he needs it. That’s what we’ve done and I have no regrets! You’ll be absolutely exhausted with a small baby and trying to get a just two year old back to bed all the time.

You can always clip a bedguard on to a toddler bed? My DD is 2y3m and we'll probably switch her over in a months time.

Thanks both, I know another cot is probably a better decision and I don't mind buying one to use short term I think I just needed telling it's my best option

I did consider a bed guard but they look too easy to climb out of, he is huge, strong willed and doesn't like going to bed so I guess I just answered my own question there!

I had this problem. I bought a cot bed for my toddler so she’s enclosed but I can change to a bed when needed. If you Buy another cot and then later a bed you’ll also have to buy another cot mattress and then a bed mattress and sheets. If you get a cot bed you only have to get the mattress and sheets once.

How about a cotbed. I think we’ll keep the sides on our DS’s one til he’s nearer 3, then it converts to toddler bed and can add a bed guard.

Sorry I should have said the cot he is in now is actually a cot bed, the sides do come off but he is 90cm now at 19 months and it's only 120cm long the cot so I know I won't get long out of it, most single beds are about 200cm I think.

I was hoping to just have to buy one thing and for both kids to then be sorted for a while but I might just have to have 2 cot beds for a while, they aren't expensive it was only an ikea one we are just planning the room and buying extra wardrobes and drawers etc I just kept swaying between ordering the same cot bed or buying an actual bed for the eldest

Ah right. Yes definitely definitely just get another. You won’t regret it!

Definitely just get another cot. Around here there are loads on freecycle if you'd rather not buy another.

Also- I think you'll get more use out of the cot than you think. They stop growing as fast from around 18 months so though it might not feel that way at the moment, I think he'll take a while to grow out of it

We did at 16&17 months. I wouldn't buy a second cot for that age gap! Your toddler could go into a toddler bed now.

Do you have a travel cot? When my second daughter outgrew the Next2Me (12 weeks) we put her in our Nuna travel cot where she stayed for almost a year - she's just now moved into her sister's cot at 14 months (the sister is almost 3 - 19 month age gap). If you often travel or plan to travel that might be a better investment than a regular cot.

We moved our son when he was 2 years old, needed to change his nursery for his younger sister. We bought the IKEA day bed and a bed guard from Argos. We have had no problems a year later, he sleeps very well in it and has never fallen out. You could put a baby gate at the door, to stop him coming out if that's a worry??

My oldest climbed out of his cot at 2. His little brother climbed out at 19 months....
I'd buy a bed - or just a mattress for the floor initially if you are worried about him falling out?

I would hold off buying anything for a bit longer if you can. When we were planning the room for DD1 and DD2 I was about to buy a new cot as DD1 (22 months) was still in her cot, she then climbed out of her cot the day before I was planning to buy another one so I bought DD1 a toddler bed instead.

Thanks so much for all the input it's given me lots to think about and a few suggestions I hadn't thought of, DP had suggested I ask on here as we both had different views (I originally thought another cot bed and he thought toddler bed with guard) I don't worry so much about him falling out just getting out and messing about all the time, we do have gates on the rooms as the house is 3 story so loads of stairs.

I do think I will hang on before I buy anything as like a PP said a lot could change before we move the baby after Xmas

Thanks again much appreciated!

We have a 17 month gap- I was originally planning on moving DS into DD’s cot when he was six months and she was 23 months, but we’re now 3 weeks off that and it’s become obvious that was a bit ambitious!

We already had a travel cot, so I just bought a decent mattress and moved DS to that when he finally outgrew his side sleeper crib last week. I’ll review it again in another few months, but I really didn’t want to buy another cot!

My little one moved to a bed at 20 months, low bed and no guards. We put cushions down for the first couple of weeks just in case she fell out- she only fell out twice in the first few weeks and hasn’t done since- now 26 months. But she had always co slept and not in a cot so don’t know if it would be different if she had been happy in a cot.

We moved ours at 18 months from cot to bed. He was super excited as we got him involved while we put his bed together. Also changed to pillow and duvet at same time so all big boy stuff at once. Has a small bed rail at his head end as he moves a lot in sleep. Also fell out a few times but soon learnt. So much easier than lifting him in and out of cot, my back was very appreciative! We made a rule of once in bed not allowed out and he therefore is really good about. I think that part was easier as he was younger.

My son went into a toddler bed at 20 months. He absolutely loves in. He never used to nap independently in his cot (even though he did at bedtime) but ever since moving to the toddler bed he falls asleep within 15 mins by himself.

I think so long as you baby proof his room and whatever he has access to outside of his door you will be fine.

But to my surprise my toddler doesn't even get out of the bed! I had to return him to it once or twice the first few nights but now he stays put. Honestly that is a massive shock to me as he's very hyper 🤣. So I say go ahead!

My DS moved to a bed at 21 months. He did completely fine. It’s low, but he has no guard and very rarely falls out. I put a duvet down between the bed and the wall so he didn’t fall in the gap.

No plans to take the side off the cot bed for DD (22 months) any time soon though as she’s shown no desire to climb out

There’s 20 months between my kids and my son went into a single bed with sides when my daughter came home. Seemed fine and rarely came out if it during the night (my children always slept in their own rooms).