Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Transitioning to a big boy bed...

theobed

About a month ago Theo made the move from a cot to a big bed. At nearly three you could be forgiven for wondering why it took us so long, but a look at where we were sleeping during our renovations may explain it all!

Although the swap was mostly trouble free, as is always the case, we learned a few things along the way...

Switch bedding before you switch beds

Because Theo was in his cotbed for so long he outgrew his sleeping bags and we had no choice but to introduce a duvet. This switch was a bumpy ride. He hated the feel of something over him and no amount of car duvet covers could persuade him otherwise, but by the time he switched to a bed he was used to this type of bedding which meant it was one less change to contend with.


Buying a folding bedrail, not a bed with a guard

When we stayed in the Isle Of Wight in May, the hotel provided a BabyDan bed guard for Theo's room. We were so pleased with it, that we bought exactly the same model from BabyDino for Theo's bed. It has two advantages over a bed with inbuilt guards. Firstly it can be removed when the child gets older and secondly you can take it with you when you go on holiday or stay away from home. It's very easy to fit too.

Buy bedding for all seasons

Buying a single bed is an expensive purchase and it's very tempting to scrimp and just buy enough bedding for now. The problem is that the moment when you will need a spare duvet cover, or a different weight duvet or a single flat sheet (on a hot night) will be at 2am, when your child can't sleep or have just been ill. In my opinion you need at least a summer and winter weight duvet, a mattress protector, four sheets (including one which isn't fitted) and three duvet covers. Dunelm & Ikea are really good for doing this on a budget...

...But a cheap mattress will probably do

The mattress we bought cost less than £70 and it's perfectly adequate. In fact I have had a lay down on it myself (don't tell anyone) and nearly fell asleep. I work on the principle that it won't have the life span of an adult mattress (due to inevitable accidents) and have budgeted accordingly.


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4 comments:

  1. I bought a duvet for Dan that snaps together, so it does for winter and summer from here http://www.soakandsleep.com/classic-microfibre-duvet.html#253=644&258=754, but he's in a toddler bed, so a single duvet is still too big, but we have it for when we upgrade! Theo's bed looks very comfy indeed :)

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    1. That would have been a sensible option, but we already had the winter weight one (which I thought would do) and the summer weight was then an urgent purchase when it got hot!

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  2. We tested the mattress we bought for Kitty's bed on the basis that at least one of us would end up sleeping in there from time to time when she crawls in with us and we all run out of space - it's proved remarkably comfy for all of us!!

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  3. the wee man is in a cot bed that should do him for another couple of years. we've just got back from holiday where he was in a big single with a very snuggly duvet and pillow (ikea I would guess). His dad has already told me that his mum made quilt will no longer cut it!

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