Cot/bed dilemma - new baby

[lisac]

I'd be really grateful for any views or experience. DD is 19 months old and sleeps in a cotbed which she's been in since 12 weeks. I'm 25 weeks pregnant - due at the beginning of May when DD wil be 22/23 months.

DD is still v happy in her cotbed (still set up as a cot rather than a bed) - there's plenty of room and as she sleeps in a sleeping bag she can't climb out (at the moment!).

I've got a moses basket which the new baby will be in for the first 12 weeks, but after then should I:

1. buy a junior bed for DD and let the baby have the cotbed; or

2. leave DD in the cotbed and buy a cot for the baby?

Obviously I want to keep disruption to DD to a minimum, but I don't want to buy another cot which isn't going to get used for very long.

Any views?

It doesn't need to be only a few months though does it? DS is 23 months and still in a cot and sleeping bag with plenty of space. If you bought a cot (second hand or not) you could get a good two/three years use out of it for the new baby and just convert the existing cot to a bed when your daughter is ready. Then when the baby is ready for a bed you could get a full single bed for your daughter and put the baby in the cot bed.

Just an idea.
HTH.

Similar view to Bozza really... and speaking from my own experience, we had a cot bed for dd1 and when dd2 was born we bought a relatively cheap cot from mothercare for dd2 as dd1 was still only 16 mns and had a while left in the cotbed.

Dd1 is now just 3 and is in the cotbed as a bed, and hopefully she will now keep that and when she has a proper bed - within the next 6mns to a year dd2 will have the cotbed.

However - if your dd is ready for a bed when baby is 12 weeks then you could avoid buying a second cot and put dd in a bed. I would wait and see if dd is ready when baby is ready for a cot IYSWIM !

I certianly wouldn't bother with a junior bed - a normal one will last you much better.

DD (nearly 3) has been in a bed for well over a year and DS moved to a bed quite early due to DDs arrival. We never had problems with either. We used a bed guard to prevent tumbles at first but found it got it the way and neither ever fall out.

If you really want to keep DD in the cotbed then why not think about a travel cot instead of a normal one. You can get a new one fro the price of a second hand wooden one. We used to have a wooden cot but both of them used to get their arms stuck or head wedged against the bars waking them up. The travel cot has soft sides and is roomier and has the advantage that you can take it away with you when visiting relatives etc.

Why not try setting up the cotbed as a bed for a while and see how DD gets on - bed guards cost about £25 for extra security. If she does OK which I'm sure she will then you could always make a big thing of buying a big girls bed for her when baby needs to move into the cot. Incidentally DS seemed really chuffed with the idea that his baby sister needed the cot so they don't automatically get jealous either.

Thank you all for your comments. Bozza, I hadn't really thought about getting more use out of a cot - I had assumed the baby would grow of it fairly quickly. Sounds like an excellent plan.
Good luck Pamina - you are braver than me!

Sorry Katherine - didn't see your post, thank you.
Yours also sounds like an excellent plan so I'll have to give this more thought!

we have a cotbed for dd (2 yr 7 mths) which I'll be taking the sides off soon..and using a bedrail borrowed from my sister. I haven't decided what to go for with number 2, but will probably go for Moses basket followed by another cotbed. I think they're good value cos they last till they're up to about 5. until recently dd was in a sleeping bag and we've just started using a duvet (3.5 tog) to get her ready for the bigger change. good luck.