Co-Sleeping cot beds?

[essexanon]

hey all

im 9+5, and just trying to be organised and think ahead.

is there any such thing as a co-sleeping cot bed?

I like the idea of the baby co-sleeping bedside us until 6-9 months, but would then like to move the baby to a cot in their own room, then eventually a cot bed when they are older.

Im just trying to save on buying lots of different bits of furniture, as storage is an issue when they grow out of it, but as we want another baby soon after, we don't want to throw anything away either.

im basically asking, if there is anything like a 3-1 converting co-sleeping cot bed? xx

You can just buy a regular cot from say ikea, and leave one side off. If you look on pinterest etc you can see lots of people do it.

We used a Chico Next 2 Me with my first and we will with our second. Beware through. Niece our little boy got mobile he gradually moved into our bed. He's 2 now and still won't sleep in his own bed.

However, from the point of view of just getting some sleep in those first months, I wouldn't want to be trudging up and down to do night feeds. And he's always been a brilliant sleeper. Stopped the night feeds very early compared to some of my friends.

*once not niece

Cot beds are quite large (about 150cm x 80cm) so even if you managed to convert one to use as a bedside crib/cosleeper I think you’d find it hard getting in and out of bed around it. I struggled enough with a standard size cosleeper. Also a cot bed will last until at least 3 years old so if you are planning a gap of 3 years or less you will need something else to put the second baby in anyway.

I had a Tutti Bambini which folds up flat into a carry bag so easy to store. We used it as a travel cot in the first six months too.

It might not be possible to continue using any cot as a co-sleeper for that length of time. By the point they're sitting up/coasting you'll need to drop the mattress, which would take it below the height of your own mattress. It would be awkward to use (and potentially a trap hazard), especially given the length of a cot bed. And a precious poster is right, it's a right pain getting in bed even with a smaller co-sleeping crib- I wouldn't want to be crawling in and out postpartum to accomodate an even longer cot bed size.

Personally I would get a standard co-sleeper secondhand with a new mattress. They tend to fold so storage is less of an issue, and you could always sell on and make most (if not all) of your money back if you don't plan another baby.

thanks everyone!

@Darkstar4855 and @TheCraicDealer my bed is a superking size anyway so should still have space to get in and out comfortably and on both sides.
and I only plan on co-sleeping until 6 months (unless baby is stubborn, then I may push it to 9 month)

@darkstar4855 was it the Tutti Bambini CoZee Bedside you had? If I do have a bedside crib instead of cot-bed, I like the idea of being able to fold it up and pop it away when baby grows out of it. does it fold up compact?

xx

I used Chicco next to me, but you can't use it once baby can sit up.
Then we went to our normal cot bed, which we took the side off. It's not much to lower than our bed, 10 cm maybe, but I've put one of baby's blankets rolled so it is a gradual movement from ours to hers. She's 21 months and still sleeps in our room. I don't mind.

I converted a cot bed to side car it, you need to raise the feet with special blocks to make sure it's all at the same height as your bed and you really want it right up against yours and attached with tight straps so there is no gap. This means if your bed is anything but a Devan it can make it tricky as the frame created a dangerous gap that has to be filled. Also be mindful that not all cot beds can be used with just 3 sides so you'd need to check that before buying one. There are guides online about how to side car cots.

images.app.goo.gl/ytnAYKTbQyYEgFgK9

Yes that’s the one!

Even in a superking bed it’s hard to get round a co-sleeper crib as they are fixed to your side of the bed and you have to wriggle down to the bottom and climb out of bed round the end of them. It’s not easy, especially if you’ve had a section or a bad tear! Changing the bed is also tricky unless you unstrap it or climb over from the other side of the bed. But it is really nice to be able to pick them up for a night feed without getting out of bed, especially in the early days when they wake loads.

Oh, meant to say yes it folds completely flat into its own bag.

I have it too Darkstar- on lend from DSis, DD is baby no. 3 in two years to use it! It's lasted really well. The straps to link it to the bed looked too complicated (tbf I don't think this is unique to this crib) so I've never used it as a true co-sleeper, but I know others who skipped using them. Not a risk I'd take personally but evidently people do do it. I had a section and so couldn't have scooted around a crib of any size strapped to the bed in the first week or two. DD is quite happy peering at me through the mesh side though.

Also it doesn't go quite high enough to level with the top of our mattress on the divan base. Apparently there's a style of Chicco Next to Me which is specifically designed to fit taller beds but I'll probably still use the (free!) Tutti Bambini again rather than go and buy one.

Thanks all! I think a good bedside crib it is then first 😬😬