cost or cotbed

[ARV1981]

Which is better?

I'm thinking a cotbed would last longer, but my MiL has my husband's old single bed in her loft and is keen on us taking it asap...

Thing is the old single bed is fine for an older child but it's quite high up and has no rails - what if my little bean fell out?

My husband doesn't seem to care either way. I think he wants to appease his mother and save money by getting the cot.

I meant cot or cotbed obviously! Damon you autocorrect!!!

Again...lol. damn!!!!

Are you planning a second child? My dd is having to move out of her cotbed to make way for dd2 as I don't want to buy a new cot. She is nearly 4 though so ready for a bigger bed.

The other factor is how much room you have. Cotbeds are quite big so a cot might be easier if it'll be in your room for example. Toddler beds are quite cheap. I got one on free cycle.

I agree though that full size singles are quite high. You can buy rails though.

Think about buying new matresses too. They are as expensive as the cot/ bed usually.

Current advice is for baby to be in your room until 6 months. If baby outgrows your first sleeping solution (Moses basket or whatever) can you fit a cot bed in your bedroom?

Some move their toddler into a bed around 15 months onwards. I'm keeping DD in a bag in her cage (corned) until she can throw herself out. We've bought another cot for the next baby.

We had a mothercare crib (narrow like a Moses basket but about the length of a cot) in our room until 6 months, then a cotbed in the nursery. Dd2 still in cot bed (lowered sides off) and is 4yo. It was perfect choice for us. And you can find a low down, single bed on the market - dd2 is disabled so we've been looking recently, ready to make the move to a single bed for her.

We had a cot and DS1 then moved into an ikea toddler bed in time for DS2 to need the cot. The plan is to get DS1 a single bed when DS2 needs the toddler bed. We physically did not have the room for a cotbed when DS1 was due.

We used a crib and then a cot. Both mine moved to a single bed at 2yrs (dd) and 2y6m (ds). We used a bed guard to stop them falling out.

Don't be railroaded into something you don't feel comfortable with just because someone is 'keen on us taking it'. Their decluttering is seperate to your decision on your child's sleeping arrangements.

Good points about the size of the thing.... I'll have to get the tape measure out. Already know our chest of drawers will have to move into the baby's room for the first 6 months because of cot... I haven't done any measurements though. It would be awful if we got the thing and it didn't fit!!!

I don't know if I want another child, I do but this pregnancy hasn't been a walk in the park...but everyone tells me I'll forget all the bad stuff once my little bean is in my arms, so who knows!!!

I think we'll take the single bed anyway as it was made by my husband's late grandfather so has sentimental value for him and I know he wants our baby to sleep in it eventually... we have a big loft so it doesn't really matter (just not really something I can face right now).

Lol. Just measured the space... it's 2cm too small. So looks like it'll have to be a cot after all!

Thank you all so much for the tips... I could have merrily bought it and then discovered it d I didn't bloomin fit!