Ideas for first 'big bed'

[sammysam]

What things should I think about when buying dd's first big bed?
And where are good places to look?
What about types of mattresses etc?
I hate things like this-there is just too much around
What things are good/bad?

IKEA extendable beds, they extend to a normal single size bed, they are fab!

We got a pair of bunkbeds and used the top one (because it had a guard all the way round it) on the floor. The other bunk is in the garage (or can be stored under the bed) for later when they're old enough for a bunk bed.

Toddler beds are a bit of a waste of time IMO and know several people whose kids have broken them.

Cheap mattress is fine for a small child, but I would go for a sprung mattress, not foam.

we have a mothercare toddler bed which cost about £40 we bought it on offer then bought their most expensive sprung mattress was about £90 (cotbed size) its a lovely little bed, will easily last til ds is at school or more, but he won't get the chance as ds3 will need it next year!! He has never fallen out of it, so no need for bed guards. its a sturdy bed and excellent value for money, being a cotbed mattress it has waterproof sides to it great for potty training!

God i'm getting myself confused
looking around there are cot beds, toddler beds, 2ft 6" beds, 3ft beds, single beds.....surely they can't all be different sizes????
We have a cot bed at the moment-but still use it as a cot, long story short, my dad wants to buy his gd her first big bed (he has got a bee in his bonnet) and because be are ttc at the mo we will need the cot bed soon (fingers crossed) anyway so i'm indulging my dad .

For this reason i'm thinking maybe we just go straight for a standard single bed...but will this be too big for her? Why are there so many sizes? I really had no idea it would be this difficult!!!!!! I just need to point my dad in the right direction with the size and style we want

No real reason IMO not to go straight to a full-size single bed. We had a junior bed because it saved a little space in a very small room. However, having slept in it a few times myself (we found a lot of musical beds took place when we had two children to settle at different points of the night), I wish we'd gone straight for a single. You'll probably need a bed guard (two if it's not against a wall), as standard single beds are quite high off the ground.

The toddler bed i bought from Argos has lasted through both of my kids, ds is still in it atm, and has been fab, very hardwearing too.

ok-just realised i was being really really dim-the 2ft 6" and 3ft is width!!!!!
Had just decided to go with a single bed but measured her room and unless we can somehow move everything around and/or get rid of something it won't fit How long will a junior/toddler bed last?

agree you will probably need a bed guard with a normal single, but no reason whatsover if not restricted by space to get a normal single. Bedding is easier to come by for a single (3') and usually cheaper then expensive cot bed stuff!

buy a single

why buy another size when it'll only last a year or two

ds1 went from cotbed to full size single bed - he'll stay in that til he leaves home

We use full-size single duvet and duvet cover on a junior bed. Just lie it the otherway around so you have really long overhangs. Or tuck one side right underneath the mattress to stop it falling off. They are usually recommended up to about age 5. We used ours up to 4.5 as my fidget-bum DS kept being found half on the floor.