Can a 19 month old sleep in a normal bed?

[LibbyVonTrap]

It’s been 21 years since I had a baby so forgive me if this is a daft question but can a 29 month old baby sleep in a normal single bed?

I’d like to do my spare bedroom out for my granddaughter but DHs adult son very occasionally sleeps over too (very very occasionally) so was wondering if I could just let her sleep in that bed maybe with a guard up?

19 month old! Not 29 months lol

You can always get a bed guard that can come up and down dependant on who is sleeping in the bed

If you make sure she can't fall out of the bed xx my son is 17 months old and rolls around a lot

Oh! That's a bit small but it could still be a choice- what do the parents think with a bed guard?

we moved dc to a low single bed at that age as we found them climbing out.
we used a guard rail thingy.

matress on the floor might be safer if dc is a wriggly sleeper.

I would just add a single bed, and just move the mattress onto the floor for granddaughter whilst she’s small.

Although my son is the same age and we just use a travel cot still when needed. So maybe use one another 6-9 months until she’s a bit bigger

My youngest has never slept in anything other than a bed. He coslept with us and then went into a floor bed at 6 months ish. He’s 17 months now and totally fine in it.

DC1 went into a single bed at 19 months because they were able to climb out their cot.We used a bed guard and had no incidents of falling out the bed

It’s fine, some babies escape the cot at this age so have to move to a bed. As well as the bed guard l, just in case she did get up I’d also baby proof the room, secure any free standing furniture etc, and stick a stair gate on the door.

My HV put her 11 month old in a bed as they kept climbing out of the cot.

If you / her parents are worried about her falling out, then just pull the mattress on to the floor until that stage passes.

OR
Put a mattress / roll mat / cushions on the floor for her to land on

OR
Put a pool noodle under the sheet at the edge of the bed to form a little barrier to stop her rolling off.

Simple answer. yes.

Both of mine were in proper beds by age 1. With a bed guard on initially and then a pool noodle.

If she's in a cot at home, I'd say use a travel cot until she's used to being in a bed. You can get them for peanuts second hand.

Sleeping in a strange place is weird enough without getting used to not being enclosed, being able to fall out etc. DS is 2.5 and fairly recently out of cot and into a bed, he often falls out and we find him asleep on the floor.

You might also find that she gets out at night and unless your home is childproofed, you could find her digging around in bathroom cupboards etc.

Thanks everyone, I’m thinking I’ll just pull the mattress onto the floor when she sleeps over. I’ll be completely baby proofing the room along with a stair gate.

Do whatever she does at home. If she's still in a cot, maybe just get a travel cot for when she stays. Most children are out of cots by 3, but her parents probably won't appreciate you doing something wildly different at yours.

They might when provide a travel cot for when she stays.

I think mattress on the floor or bed guard. My DD is still in a cot at home but sleeps on a mat on the floor at nursery & a toddler bed at my parents. She doesn’t seem to find it confusing .. she likes her sleep though!

@LibbyVonTrap

Thanks everyone, I’m thinking I’ll just pull the mattress onto the floor when she sleeps over. I’ll be completely baby proofing the room along with a stair gate.

She won’t be a baby that long anyway.

One thing I’d suggest is trying to avoid making it ‘your granddaughter’s room’. There may be future grandchildren and you really don’t want to end up in a situation where you’re reallocating a room that’s been ‘hers’ in everyone’s minds.

Create a lovely, comfortable, safe space for grandchildren to stay (and other guests). But make it somewhat generic for future changes.

I say this because of what I’ve seen in my (truly awful) MIL, and (while I don’t for a second think you’d play favourites like she does) it does become trickier once a room has a single owner in everyone’s minds. My stepdaughter has a bedroom at MIL’s house. This is referred to as ‘SD’s room’. When SS came along, he didn’t get a room. And it stayed SD’s room (MIL’s hugely favoured grandchild in every single way). He is expected to share with his father instead. While ‘SD’s room’ remains sacred. My husband offered MIL a bunk bed for the kids but she outright refused because ‘SD needs her own room’. For context, they share a room at all other times. It’s only at grandma’s that SD gets her own special room and SS gets nothing.

Obviously no one but my MIL would be so utterly horrible (she is a specialism of terrible) but it does become trickier if you start allocating anything.

It might be best to think about a nice, fairly future proof guest room that’s primarily about accommodating grandchildren.

Do you have room in there for a double? It might be more flexible. My gran has a double in her spare room andi remember sleeping in it regularly (with my sister) as a child

My dd went into a single bed when she was 1. She has a bed guard.

We moved my son to a bed when he was 8 months.
He’s nearly 4 and still sleeping on it
It’s a floor bed. And next to it we’ve a crash mat in case he falls of it he doesn’t hit the floor

If you don’t want something like it (ours was cheap option, ikea frame on the floor and mattress) then make sure it’s got guards .

It is lovely that you want to make a nice, safe space for your grandchild(ren) though.

I spent the summer at my mother’s and it was a tale of constant vigilance with a mobile baby in a very much not suitable house. Your granddaughter’s parents will be really relieved that you’re thinking about these things.