3 Year Old Moving into Her Own Bed

I lived in a one bedroom with my daughter until she was 7 yrs old. At first we had the same arrangement as you. When she outgrew her crib, I got her a twin bed and let her pick out her own bedding. We shared the bedroom. We had the beds right up to one another and almost every night she ended up in my bed which was totally fine with me. I loved having her cuddled up to me.

It actually worked out great and by the time I remarried she was so excited to get her own room; that she transitioned smoothly.

At times I miss those days we co-slept!

She would benefit from her own bed and so would you, but you are under special circumstances. And this is coming from someone who remembers living in a one bedroom apartment with 5 people and mom was pregnant with her 4th! So I can understand the issues of space. Sharing a bed should be fine, especially for the short term.

If it becomes too much, or too uncomfortable or the move doesn't happen when you hope, you can always invest in a bunk bed. They make many with a full bed on the bottom and regular twin on top. You won't loose space or sleep. Just make sure she is fully trained to sleep in a bed and she can maneuver the ladder by herself. I would also make sure that you get a bed with higher rails on the top bunk.

IMO you should sell off the full size bed, get two twins and put them in the room together

OR

don't get her a bed, sell the crib, and let her sleep with you

OR

sell the crib, the full size bed, and get a queen - more room for the both of you! You can find some steals on craigslist - I'll bet there are lots in NYC! This is what I would do if it were me.

The bunk bed idea was kind of good, but I don't know how comfortable I would be with a 3yo in a top bunk as her first 'real' bed. I personally would not do that, but you know your daughter, I don't.

I think having a small bed right next to yours will be pretty much the same as it is right now--with a crib that she seems to be able to get out of safely, etc.
Personally, I'd leave it the way it is, keep the side of the crib down (if it drops) and she will probably still join you sometimes. :)

I don't know if this would work, but is there room under your bed for a mattress? Some bed frames are up higher, and perhaps you could get a kid matress that could easily slide under your bed during the day, and pull out at night for her to sleep on. There are beds called trundle-beds that are made this way, but perhaps you can make one yourself...(or ask a handy friend to make it for you LOL (google trundle beds to see what they look like).

If you have to share the bed, if there's room, they have those long body pillows - perhaps you could put that between the two of you so you have your own bonk-free space in the bed?

Another crazy idea - if you know someone that can build, perhaps a loft bed above your bed - like a bunk bed, but I'm thinking across the top like a headboard. Of course, you'd want high sides so she doesn't fall out; don't know if she's old enough to be ready for that, but some kiddos are and would love it. Wouldn't take up much extra space either.

Good luck.

When my daughter transitioned I got her a toddler bed at Walmart (I think). It fit the crib mattress so I didn't need to buy a new one and that was a huge savings. I let her pick it out herself. She was very excited to be in a bed of her own choosing, it wasn't so big that it was overwhelming, and it took up no more space than the crib.

I do think she would bdnefit from having her "big girl" bed right next to yours-sweet dreams!

I lived in a 2 bedroom apt, with 2 kids a boy and a girl, for about 2.5 yrs. Since the kids needed to have their own rooms, I purchased a sleeper sofa and slept in the living room. You said your living room is noisy, you can get a fan or noise machine to help cover the noise from outside. My sofa was from a thrift store, I opened the bed part to make the mattress was in decent shape. Don't worry about how it looks you can get a slip cover, on clearance. This way you can have a place to sleep and your daughter can have her own room. She can sleep in your bed until you move.
My other idea would be to find a daybed for the living room and you can sleep on it and let her have your room.

This may sound strange, but how about you see if you can borrow or get really inexpensive 2 twin beds, just for this short time.. that way she will not get in the habit of sleeping with you, but it allows some privacy for each of you. Do you have a way to store your bed that you sleep in now?

Then when you do move, you will have your regular bed back and can decide if you want 2 twin beds or just one for your daughters room.