Cot or Cotbed dilemma?

[mrsright]

Having hummed and haaed for several months (DS is 9 mnths old -how?), I was just about to order a new cot mattress with springs for Ds cot when DH said 'won't he need a bed soon?'. Surely not? My dilemma is,do I buy a new cot mattress now and then later on put DS in a bed (when do they go in a bed?) or scrap the cot and buy a cot bed now? or will the cot bed not last much longer.Please can anyone advise on the maximum age for moving from cot to bed or does it depend on athleticism of DS?

We had a cot bed from the start, but converted it into the bed part when dd was 18 months old, the only reason is that she toppled out of it and fell on to a wooden floor.

DD2 also had a cot bed and she is still in it at 19 months and cant see that we will be converting it anytime soon.

DD1 was moved into a full sized single bed at 3, though friends of hers are still in their converted cot beds at 3 1/2.

Personally I would see if you could keep going for a little longer until perhaps you could buy a junior bed.

DS1 was in his cotbed as a cot until he was almost three. Then in it as a toddler bed until he was 4. Now ds2 is in it as a cot and its stil going strong. I certainly recommend them.

we had cotbed from start and ds was using it as a bed from 12mths. Will be using same one for the baby and no idea how long they will be there can be anything from 12mths to 3.

i would recommend getting a cot bed & using it from start, but as you've already got a cot it seems a bit wateful/extravagant to get a cot, then a cot bed, then a bed.

We moved our 1st 2 into a normal single with added foldy down safety rail at about 15 months with absolutely no probs. I would carry on with the cot & move him to normal single when he's grown too big.

Just being nosey, how come you need a new matress after just 9 months?

Thanks for your thoughts on this. earnest-new mattress needed already as it is a foam one that has sagged quite a bit.actually it is after 3 months use as DS was in a crib in our room for first 6 mnths.The cot was given to us by a relative as a second hand cot with new mattress.I have been thinking about getting a spring mattress all along but now that the foam one is sagging I will have to get a move on and make a decision.

Dd was in a cot then we were given a cot bed which she was in until recently, just after her fifth birthday when we moved her into a cabin bed. The cot bed was a good solid wooden one, I don't know whether all others would have lasted that long especially when she was the third to have it and we have now put away for our next.

Personally I think that cotbeds are a waste of money. Far better to get the best mattress possible for the cot, and then get a proper bed. You can get a sturdy bed that will last well into teenagerhood for less than you will spend on a cotbed - and then need to buy a full-size bed in any case.

Ds moved from his cot to a full-size bed at about 3.5y, and dd is still in her cot at nearly 3yo. The earliest your ds is likely to move into a bed is 18m-2y, and the later the better. Children who move to a bed early tend to have more bedtime problems and night-time wanderings (OK, I know I'm going to be shot down for stating that, and I know that not all children are the same.). A child can stay in the cot for as long as they fit in it and are happy in it.

Definitely buy a new, well sprung mattress for your ds! And buy the best you can, even if it seems expensive - it'll be cheaper in the long run.

cot beds aren't a waste of money per se. In this case it would be, but if you get a cotbed from the word go, use it for 5 years then buy a normal single, how is that a waste of money?

Esp if you have a big baby. Mine are all small & all moved to normal bed early (due to being close together, and yes, without any problems - hand on heart none of them have got out & wandered round in the night, ever. My friend had a really big boy & even by age 2 he was practically bent double to get into his cot. Still, I guess you don't know that when they pop out do you, unless you're both 6' + I suppose

I wouldn't bother buying a cotbed now. My DS2 absolutely hated his cotbed, but was quite happy in a normal single bed.

thank you everyone for your input.yes i think a cotbed would be a waste of money now.I've just ordered a new mattress for DS's cot with fingers crossed he wont be a houdini baby.

LGJ sticks her head around the door and whispers what is a cot bed ?? can some one do a link ???

i have cotbeds for both my girls, they're wonderful, and when dd1 grows out of hers (probably next year) I'll sell both of them and get them bunk beds.

you are lazy, LadySherlockofLGJ fancy not spending 2 secs to do a search. Anyway, a cot bed is a larger-than-standard cot, which can then be converted to a junior bed. Typically last from birth till the child is 5-ish like this one