Cot or cot bed?

[birchwoods]

Was initially thinking cot bed for my first baby so it can be used for longer, but when I think about it, I will hopefully have more than one baby, so will have to buy a toddler bed for DC1 when DC2 arrives anyway, then when DC2 outgrows the cot, it could have the toddler bed and then we already have a spare single bed that DC1 could then move into. So surely this means that buying a cot bed (which is usually more expensive than a cot) would be a bit pointless in our case wouldn't it?

One thing that concerns me though is that cot beds are bigger than cots, usually by about 25-30cm in length and approx. 30 cm in width. I like the idea of having a spacious cot, so would a cot of 'normal' (not cot bed) dimensions be small?

I had a continental sized cot/mattress which is slightly bigger than a standard sized one. I never bought a cot bed and both my children went straight into a single bed when they moved from the cot.

I think cot. Big enough (my children stayed in it til moving into a bed at 20 months or so). Would have gone straight to single bed but we were given a toddler bed and dd has a double bed in her room so using toddler bed as half way

ds was in his cot until he was 2 and a half and he was not a small child!

We had the same discussion pre DD1, we got a continental size cot from Ikea and she slept in it until just before DD2 arrived when DD1 was 22 months. She went straight into a full single with no trouble.

I'd say cot bed for the size. DS is 2.4 and tall (94cm). We tried to transition him to a bed a few months ago and had an absolute nightmare (getting out constantly, horrendous bedtimes) so put the sides back on. Now very glad his is a nice roomy cot bed as don't know when we'll dare try again!

a cot bed seems to take a mattress of 140x70
our continental cot took a mattress of 120x60

there is not much difference width wise but the continental is 20cm shorter. The continental still lasted ds until he was 2 and a half.

Thanks everyone, the consensus so far seems to be cot. My only concern about the length is that my DH is 6'3 so we may be having a tall one!

Normal cot lasted us until 2.5 for both children and then they went straight into a single. Toddler beds are a total waste of money imo. Cot v cot bed size may also be important if you want to follow advice to have LO in your room until 6 months - would both sizes fit?

We've just put up our cotbed and it seems huge! We've got a crib and moses basket until baby is old enough to go in the nursery, he'd look completely lost in the cotbed! What I'm trying to say is I'm sure a cot will be plenty big enough as the cotbed seems huge. I reckon I could have quite a good snooze in there! (Am only 5"3 is though :) )

I'd be incredibly surprised if your child outgrew a four foot long cot (120cm=3ft11inches) before they were big enough to go in a normal bed, no matter how tall the parents. Pretty sure you'd have to be giving birth to a giant for them to outgrow it before the age of 2.5.

Id say cot in hindsight. DS has a beautiful cot bed iv only just converted to a toddler bed at 2.5yrs - it's now scratched/bitten etc in places plus I have to find somewhere to store the extra pieces and the screws etc without forgetting where until a new baby comes along and tbh it may be so worn by then that il want to buy new anyhow....

But it was hugely expensive & beautiful when I bought it thinking it was good value for money as would last years

Thanks, that's reassuring. Cots are cheaper too, bonus!

How do people rate the Ikea cots, they have a couple of nice ones with drawers.

We've just bought an Ikea Stuva cot. Not in use yet as baby not yet born, but really pleased with how it looks and how sturdy it is. Seems much more solid compared to ones of a similar price from places like Mothercare.
We decided on a cot not a cot bed for the same reason OP. Hoping DC1 can move into a single bed in time for DC2 to use the cot!

We have a cot bed and have dc2 arriving when dc1 is 21 months. After the initial basket/crib stage we hope to move dc1 into a proper bed (at about 2) and dc2 into the cotbed. But there will be no rush to move dc2 out of that because it'll last until he's about 3/4 I reckon.

Oh and we bought our lovely solid oaj cot bed for about a third of original cost on ebay.

Oak!

I just had a basic cot for DC, and then the eldest moved into a double bed before my youngest was born.

I think cot beds are pointless and a waste of money. You get more value for money with a cot, then you can move each child into an adult single bed/double bed when they outgrow the cot.

"How do people rate the Ikea cots"

My two slept in the Sniglar cot from Ikea, and it lasted both children through their baby stages. I think it was around £40, you need to buy the mattress separately.

We have a Hensvik (I think), still going strong with DD2!

That's all good to know, it definitely seems that buying a cot bed is a bit of a waste of money in some respects, unless you only plan to have one baby I suppose, in which case it would do its job fine.

I think we will go for an Ikea cot, so thanks for the reassurance that they are ok. Did you get an Ikea mattress too boatrace, blow and guybrush?

Boatrace we're looking at the Stuva too, it's between the white Stuva and either white (but I'd change the knobs) or grey Gonatt as we definitely want drawers under it. I think the good thing with the Ikea cots as well is that when they have completely outgrown it, you could still use it as a daybed/sofa in your child's room!

I bought the mattress out of Ikea that was recommended to go with the Ikea cot that we picked out. I bought a brand new mattress for DC2.

DD1 had an Ikea mattress, all was well with it. DD2 has one from Kiddicare simply because they had the top of the range ones for half price at the right time! It also see good at the moment

I haven't got a mattress yet, but will get an Ikea one. Actually have one for my bed and very happy so confident in getting one for the cot. We have stuva in white with birch drawers!