Toddlers first bed?

[Bec7]

Hi,

We are hoping to try to get my son to sleep in a bed over the next 4 months (he is almost 17months old now) - as we are expecting another baby in February 2010 and will use DS's cot for the new baby (we didn't use a bassinet) - so we don't have to buy another cot.

I'm not sure what sort to get or where to get it. Not sure of whether to get a double, single or even a bunk bed (obviously not for the top level at this stage, but in time, as our bedrooms ain't that big).

We looked at the single beds at SuperAmart, but they seem to tall - I would prefer something lower to the ground, so that DS can easily get on and not be too far to fall as well, even though we'll have those rails up of course.

We then looked at a Beds 4 Kids shop, which had some cool themed beds - DS loved the Thomas one - he ran over to it, climbed up and put his head on the pillow. He knew exactly what it was for (which I thought was pretty good considering he's never slept in a bed - not even ours really). So thought this might encourage him to sleep better in a bed - but the cost for this type of bed was about $600 + mattress price. I wasn't planning to spend so much - but then again we will get a second use of it when this new baby (who we know is also a boy) is ready for a bed, but still $600+ seems alot for a single bed.

So now I'm turning to you guys to help me/us decide, cause I'm starting to confuse myself and not sure where else to look.

What bed would you recommend and where did you get it?

Thanks in advance,

[amberj]

Bumping this up because I am curious too!

[Jodi]

I have heard toddlers outgrow toddler beds pretty quickly as the matress is too small.
With Nina, she went straight into a single bed from the cot. She had no problems getting in and out of it. We just used a side rail until about 6 months ago.
Emily's first night in a single bed is tonight, so I'll let you know how she goes in the morning

[Arimeh]

We got DS the Mammut bed from IKEA. He loves it - close to the ground, and although it is skinnier than the other single type beds, he ends up in our bed for half the night anyway!!!

We've decided that our 2 kids are going to share a room when we move again and we are going to buy bunk beds - with the double on the bottom so they can both share that (hopefully getting them out of OUR bed!!!)

[Eluned]

Just wanting to watch this thread as well as we want to get DS in a big boys bed before the end of the year before the new baby comes.

[RoyaUK]

Hi,

DD2 moved into a single bed (really nice frame bought off ebay & mattress bought new) with no problems at 16 mths. I figured the frame will probably be used for the next 15 years or so (as mine was!) so i just went with a normal single bed. She has no problem climbing in & out sometimes using the bed sheet to gain a grip to climb up!

[Snowy Love]

We bought a race car bed off the internet (can't remember the website). DH had always wanted one when he was a kid. Its close to the ground and has sides, but fits a single bed mattress. We bought a thick foam mattress, as if you bought an innerspring mattress it'd be very heavy to make. DS loves it but doesn't stop him from coming into our bed during the night. Also, its difficult to get out of if you fall asleep in it with DS when you're pregnant .

[thepixie]

Try ebay - we are looking at the moment and it seems there are plenty of good cheap ones there.

[shantelle]

i have been looking at beds alot lately as im in the posistion, im thinking of getting bunks as they can be seperated this way i already have a bed for bub thats arriving in january when she needs it.
toddler beds fit a standard cot mattress and since my boy is tall i dont think this will last long.
i have priced bunks and have managed to find some at a furniture store for $600 plus mattress cost, i fiqure good investment for beds that will last a long time and its works out cheaper then buying 2 single beds....
thats my thoughts but will continue to watch this thread in case an option i hav not thought of pops up

[Lisa]

We just bought a toddler bed for DS2 as Anelise is going to need the cot real soon.
We discussed possibly buying a regular single bed first but then decided against it as DS2 hasn't slept in a bed apart from ours, and he has me & DH to stop him rolling out. We bought him a wooden toddler bed from Toys R Us for $145 on special... we've yet to put it up but we liked it for the fact that due to SIDS recommendations, Anelise will need a new cot mattress anyway so DS2 can use his mattress on the toddler bed, he already as all the manchester to go on the bed and it is little enough for him to not be too worried about it... and when he is finished with it, the cot will come down and Anelise can use it.

[sconeonamission]

Ds went into a big bed when he turned 2 (his choice). All we had for himwas a king single ensemble. It's hard to get sheets for it, but for now he's got a single doona, with single flat sheet as his fitted. He doesn't move much! As for getting in and out, he can def get out. We're moving soon, so i'll get him a step or something to get back in. Maybe then I won't get a visitor in my face at 1am who says (far too cheerily) "hi mummy!" ( it's cute though!)

[~Kate~]

I grabbed a gorgeous white (faux) timber toddler bed from Target on sale for $79. She still has plenty of room in it, it uses the same mattress (so all you'd need to do would be to buy a new mattress for the new bub) and the bed is close to the ground.
DD has been in it for 5 weeks or so and loves it! We were going to go the single bed option but couldn't find one we really liked plus they were all $300+ inc mattress. then we would have had to buy sheets etc. This way we only shelled out the $80 and just use the stuff from her cot.

[Saffi]

We haven't moved into a bed yet, but we are planning on using the trundle part of the single bed we bought in the first instance. Its low to the ground so not far to fall if he does. We got our bed from Super Amart. Originally we used the bed as a single or a double (it can be raised to the same level as the other part of the bed) As he gets older he will move into the single bed and the trundle part will be used when he has sleep overs with his friends. I figure he will be able to use it until he moves out of home.

[aussienic]

We bought a toddler bed for our 3rd child and I love it.. Just put our DD in it..

Ds3 was in it till he was 3. But I think they are great. Only thing to watch for is the base.. If it has bars like mine you will either need an innerspring matress or put a peice of wood down.

We got ours from Toys R us nearly 3 years ago

[CrystalBoo]

I went back and forth for ages changing my mind about the kind of bed to get for DD. In the end, we paid about $700 for a double white timber one from 40 Winks.
It has two heights, a footend (DD still moves about a bit and it saves her falling off the end), is good quality (so hopefully will last until she wants to buy her own), can double as a guest bed if needed, and can fit a fat, pregnant/breastfeeding mum for story time or night cuddles if necessary.
If you'd have asked me a year ago if I would buy my toddler a double bed, I would have thought you were crazy. But I am super happy - it's working really well in all ways for us.

[Bec7]

Thanks for everyones reponses...still confused though

The main problem I seem to be having at the moment is finding somewhere to look at beds, as I didn't really like the quality and types of beds at SuperAmart - but we have formed a list of places we can look at which will attempt to visit tomorrow.

Also still not sure whether to go single bunks or single (possibly themed)- but don't think we will do the toddler sized bed as not sure who mentioned it (can't remember if I saw it on here or somewhere else), but would like the bed to have just enough room for us to lay down or sit on the bed with him to read or even comfort if need be.

Will keep you posted on what we end up with and how it works ( it all works anyway )

[Erin_25]

I think it really depends what you want to get out of the bed, how much you can spend at the time & what you think your DS will be able to handle.
Our DS only went in a bed just after 2 & he's a big boy so a toddler bed was going to be no good for him. He has his own savings account that we regularly put $$$ in so we thought why not use some of that to buy a decent sized bed that will last. Then we don't have to go down the "what bed path"again for some time. We got a white timeber Kind Single & I love it!!! He doesn't fall out as we have a rail, gets in & out no worries at all. No probs getting sheets.....Target has an awesome selection in sooooooo many colours going from single, king single & so on!!! Also it's great as we fit in it too if we need to cuddle.
As for bunks, had we known we were having another boy at the time of buying we prob would have gotten bunks that can be pulled apart as they will eventually share a room. So that's something to think about.
I wouldn't spend too much $$$$ on a themed bed that my later not be as liked by either you or your son IYKWIM.

[Bec7]

Well decision has been made...

We bought Cam's 1st bed today. And typical to me/us , we ended up going back to the 1st one we had seen....a themed 'Happy Train' single bed. We looked at all the bed shops around the Gold Coast, and we really wanted something low to the ground and it seemed the only ones that we could find were those themed beds. After doing the rounds we ended up back at the 1st shop we'd looked at and thought if Cam goes and hops up onto the bed again like he did last time and lays down then we consider that a sign...and that is exactly what he did as soon as we walked into the shop - he wandered from the front door, past all the other beds and straight onto the Train bed.

We figured Cam will get about 3 -4years use out of it, then DS#2 can have it, so at that point we will look at buying Cam a bunk bed - when he is old enough to sleep up top more then likely - as we will probably get one of those study type bunks or ones with draws or something, cause our rooms ain't that big and need to make the most of storage ideas. So it just seemed pointless for now for him to have a bunk bed where the top would not be used for at least 3-4 years.

So now let the fun begin of trying to get Cam to sleep in it. We will probably get it ready in his room (as well as keep the cot in there too, which will be a little bit of a tight squeeze, but hoping it won't be for too long ) so I can try to get him to have his day sleeps in it to begin with, then go from there, at least we have about 3.5months to encourage it (then go to plan B when DS#2 arrives if need be). Will let ya's know how it all goes if you like.

Thanks again for all your advise...it has helped alot.