2 Kids in a Room Question

I think FIRST you have to find out about the one you're being offered. If it doesn't work out, you can get a new mattress for about $100 from a mattress outlet. But why go to the trouble and expense of a new one before you find out about the free one?

Take the twin from your MIL and keep the baby in his crib for as long as possible- it's a blessing when they can't get out! I wouldn't buy a used mattress on craigslist, you don't know who's done what on a mattress. At least from your MIL you know who's used it.

Baby boy is really little for a toddler bed.

I love the idea of the gift of the frame from MIL but I always go with a new mattress. My sister had the honor of accepting a used mattress once and it was a nightmare. I'm not even going to get into the details. It would put the fear of God in you.

I wouldn't let the kids sleep together because this may cause problems for them later. It is just easier for all involved to keep them separate. This way they won't get used to another warm body in bed with them. This of course is my personal preference. Even coming from a large family everyone always had their own bed. Hope this helps.

Do you think that putting your daughter in a bigger bed is going to make a difference? Is she hurting herself? What about putting her current mattress on the floor?

Depending how old the mattress is, I think I would get a new mattress, if this will be the size of her bed for awhile. If the frame is free, why not give it a try. Another option is an extendable bed. My sister just got one at Ikea. it is the width of a twin, and can lengthen as needed.

Personally, I wouldn't even attempt to move your son out of the crib yet. If you're already dealing with your daughters sleep issues, why change things for your son also and create more problems to deal with.
Mattresses are very personal things and I would never consider a used mattresses from someone I didn't personally know, especially with all the bed bug infestations across the country. You have no idea how clean a random person on Craigslist lives and the idea of my child sleeping on someone's bodily fluids is just too gross. I would take the twin from your MIL and use it with a basic bed frame, not the headboard and footboard to save space in the room. That way also, if it's difficult for your daughter to adjust to the height difference between toddler bed and twin bed, you can just set the box spring and mattress directly on the floor until she grows a little more. Even if you need to buy a plain metal bed frame, those aren't very expensive at all. Good luck!

Just keep your son in his crib, until YOU feel, he needs to come out.
Your son is only 1 years old.
That's fine.
Don't change your plans, just because MIL is offering a bed.
Do what YOU think is best.

My son, slept in his crib and loved his crib and slept well there, until he was even 3 years old. Then HE told us, he wants to come out and sleep in a bed. So, he does now. A mattress on the floor. He moves around a LOT during sleep, so having a mattress on the floor is best for him. He sleeps fine. He was ready for that.

Do what YOU think is best....

You can still take the mattress from MIL and then just store it upright against a wall or somewhere and maybe use it when you feel... it is best. You don't have to, use it RIGHT then. I personally, would want a NEW unused, mattress. I would not want bug infestations etc.

I wouldn't put your kids in the same bed.... and since your daughter is a "thrasher" in her sleep. I wouldn't personally, want to sleep with a 'thrasher.' It would disrupt my sleep and irk me. AND then "I" would not get a good sleep. I wouldn't want to get sleep deprived, because of the way the other person sleeps.

good luck,
Susan

Yes, take the twin bed offered and keep using the crib for son. A small child doesn't need anything bigger than a twin bed. They don't even need a head board.
Mattresses / box springs should be of better quality whne the kids get bigger and heavier....8, 9, 10 years old.
Until then, the support in a mattress is plenty for a small, light person.

Both of my kids went from a crib to a twin bed at age 2. My two oldest (5 & 2) currently share a room. They both transitioned easily. About the mattress...a mattress should be replaced every 8 years. So if your MIL's mattress is older than that, then consider buying new. Also, I personally would never buy a mattress used from a stranger. You have no idea where that mattress has been (pets, urine, smoking, bodily fluids, etc). Twin mattresses are pretty cheap (we got ours at Nebraska Furniture Mart)--so go new!!

K.

I don't know if anyone mentioned the bed bug outbreak now but don't buy a used mattress due to that and other not so clean issues. I have done that but wouldn't now. If you have to have the kids in one room I would not put them in one bed at all ever but the twin would be nice when you have no choice but to move her. We got a bed frame, went to Home Depot and bought a piece of plywood which they cut to size for free, and just put a mattress on top of the board. You could have them slightly round the corners and it is perfect for little ones to sit on, make the bed, etc. and sort of like a bunkie board. You can still get things under the bed if you need to, I always put pans with lids and toys under there if the long flat ones. Or whatever you need to put under there if you choose to do that. As for the little one I would leave him where he is until you have to move him. He's happy, safe and why make changes? If you teach your daughter to stay in bed no need for a bigger bed for her and if the mattress is good from your mother in law take it and save it but wrap it in plastic or something to keep it clean until you use it.

twin beds are usually the same size. If you like the frame but think the mattress is too old then buy a new mattress set although for a 3 year old I would wait a few years to buy a new one as they have accidents or get sick. You can buy a mattress cover which helps a lot with keeping the mattress stain free.

If her current mattresses are twin size they will probably fit the frame so have 2 mattress options, pick the best one.

if the bedroom is small the bigger bed will swallow it up. We bought a double bed thinking it would be a nice option for when extra company comes but now there is barely room to walk around the bed let alone have toys in the room, glad we didn't buy a queen size for that room and wishing I would have stayed with the twin size. The room size is 10x10.

in a few years you may want to get bunk beds to have more room available.

I recommend take the twin be and placing it directly on the floor so no injuries from falling out/off while thrashing. And no injuries when baby brother climbs up to visit and falls asleep there too.

Then since space is an issue can you keep the toddler bed until your son crawls out of the crib? Or can you make everyone switch all at the same time to make it all special and fun to have new beds?

And I ditto the thought of not buying a used mattress off of Craig's list. If you must spray with lots of lysol and cover with a good mattress pad.

We also have small rooms and when my son was proabably about that age, maybe a little older, we put both kids together in the converted crib. They sleep together still. They are 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. It gives us enough room to sleep with them if needed and they each have plenty of space that way. Previous to that they were both in our queen bed but we were getting pretty cramped. We have no intention of changing it until one of them isn't happy. My daughter says that she's moving into her room when she's 5 which is great for her but my son will freak! I hope she changes her mind :)

I would leave them just the way they are. My youngest is 3 and moving him from a toddler bed to a twin bed did absolutely nothing for his sleep. He didn't start sleeping thru the night until we separated him and his brother. I know this isn't an option for you but I don't think switching to a twin will do anything. For now I would just leave it as is.