First baby imminent - please can you help us plan ahead with beds?

Question

Is there one bed option that a baby can use from birth until a few years old?

Is there a difference between a crib and a cot?

What sort of ages do kids go from one sleeping option to the next, i.e. moses basket/crib/cot/bed with rails etc?

We'd like to just buy once if this is possible, but if not we want to plan ahead so that we don't have to change beds and spend more than necessary.

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can buy cribs with a side that is removable. This gives them a toddler bed. Some of these will also break down to just one piece, giving you a headboard for a twin or full-size bed.

My dad actually made our crib. He designed it to be a convertible, but we wound up making a second twin bed for him so I could use the crib later for more babies.

Answer 2

You can purchase the cribs that convert from a crib to a toddler bed to a double bed (without the mattress of course). You can also just take off one of the rails once he/she starts climbing out of the crib. Or buy a simple toddler bed and use the crib mattress for it. Usually they can sleep in a toddler bed until about age 3 or 4, depending on how fast they grow. Then you can get them a regular bed. I always co-slept with my children. I found it much easier and more comforting. There are many other options such as portable bassinets, so you can have them in whatever room you are in. If you choose to co-sleep there are also a lot of products that will fit right into your bed like a bassinet. Good luck to you and your new little one. I am sure you will find a sleeping arrangement that works best for your family.

Answer 3

Crib is for the first few months. Cot is birth till the baby is about 18ths Cot bed is from birth till about 5 or 6 years. Brilliant things.
If you can get a second hand crib just sterilise it and buy a NEW mattress. The mattress is really important that is what you want to spend the money on if you can. Good luck with the little one x

Answer 4

Then you need a cot bed! This is a larger than normal cot, and you can remove the cot sides when you think it is the right time.

There is a magazine you can buy, but it only comes out every three months I think - it is called something like 'Baby's Best Buy'. I think it is produced by Mother & Baby magazine. It's full of baby products that have been tested and reviewed.

Don't waste your time with a moses basket unless you get one for free! Or unless you have a very very small baby. The baby only lasts about 3-4 weeks in it, before he/she gets too big!

Good luck with it all! xxx

Answer 5

This kid will probaly be in your bed a lot as you have to constantly feed it throughout the night so go with a simple crip. Cot's are safe until of course the baby learns to roll, which could happen at night and be VERY dangerous.

The second the kid learns to crawl out of the crib it's time for a bed. This usually happens when he/she is walking pretty well. There's no real age limit for that. It could be any time from 6 months to a year and a half.

Answer 6

We bought my daughter a bed that was a crib, turned into a toddler bed and then to a full size bed. She slept in the crib until she was two years old and then she went to a toddler bed for a short time. Then took her to a full size bed and put the railings up on both size. Since we can't put it up against the wall. We can use the same mattress in the crib and toddler size bed but then you will have to buy a new mattress for the full size bed. I'm 17 weeks pregnant we just took my daughter's bed and are going to use it over again for the baby. We got her a new full size bed to make her feel special.

Answer 7

Buy a cot that later converts to a toddler bed. You don't need a moses basket, crib or bassinet they will all become useless once baby can turn over at about 3 - 4 months.
You can buy 2nd hand but be sure to buy a new matress.
Good luck

Answer 8

A transitional crib would be best. It is a crib that converts to a toddler bed and then either to a twin size or full size bed. Babies can sleep in a basinette or moses basket until they begin to roll or get too big (anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months.) And they stay in a crib til they start climbing out or about 18months.

Answer 9

There are cribs that convert to a toddler bed by removing the side. I still bought a toddler bed as the crib doesn't go low enough to the floor. Also the mattress used for cribs fits toddler beds no need to buy a new mattress.

Answer 10

well mine have always been in a moses basket up to about 4 months tops and then got moved into a cot bed. they were in cot till 1 1/2 and then we took sides of cot and it was a bed he is now 2 1/2 and still massive amounts of room i will get him a bed at about 3 31/2 if neccesary remeber babys dont absaloutley have to be in a moses basket they can go straight into a cot but its just easier for night feeds for a moses basket. good luck.