We had a cot upstairs and a cradle downstairs when DD1 was born - her room was upstairs and ours down. The cradle was great because it was right next to my side of the bed, I could just throw an arm out to give her a gentle rock and there was no way I wanted our tiny baby upstairs that far away from us. She also refused to co-sleep. She moved into her cot in her room probably about 4 months old.

The plan was to do the same for DD2 but she had different ideas and would only sleep on me. Not entirely sure how many years it took for that situation to change - think I blocked it out

I swore I would never have any more babies after DD2 so we had sold everything and had to start again this time. DD3 has a cot waiting for her in her room (we've moved house now and in single storey with her room closest to ours), and we have bought a hammock (not an Amby) so she will stay by our bed for the first however long, and day sleeps will be wherever seems to work for her - either in the cot or the hammock. We bought the hammock second hand because (A) trying to save money but (B) well and truly learnt my lesson that what I want my babies to do isn't necessarily what they WILL do.

The reason we got a hammock this time and not a cradle is because both DDs were very refluxey babies, and I've heard great things about hammocks for bubs with reflux.