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AIBU?

To not move DD into a bed yet?

68 replies

DoctorRobert · 21/11/2013 12:17

DD is 2.8 and still in her cot. I thought that this was normal (PFB), until reading something elsewhere which suggested most children are in beds by now and so I'm beginning to doubt what we're doing/planning to do.

She sleeps well and has never attempted to climb out - when she wakes in the morning she chats to herself until we get her up, so is perfectly happy in there. We're not planning anymore children so don't need to use the cot for a baby. We've not started potty training yet (but imagine that she would still wear nappies at night to begin with anyway?) know sod all about potty training

We will be moving house next year, not sure when exactly but she will be somewhere between 3.3 and 3.9 when we do. Assuming that she continues to be happy in the cot, WIBU to wait until we move to get her a bed? If there any particular reason a child needs to be in a bed before 3?

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 21/11/2013 12:20

I would just carry on with what suits you and your DD is happy with, who cares what anyone else thinks? Is she in a cot or cot bed? Can't be much room in a cot at her age.

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Lilicat1013 · 21/11/2013 12:22

I always heard you move them when they can climb out so if she is not doing that and everyone is happy there is probably no reason to move her.

When you move house it might be worth buying her a bed and putting it in her to room so she has both the bed and the cot for a while. That is what we did for my son and it made the transition easier when we did move him in to the bed.

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ZuluWarrior · 21/11/2013 12:29

YANBU.

Keep her caged until she protests! You will miss it when she can climb out of bed on her terms.

My DD (2.4) is still in a cot and will be for as long as possible Grin. DS1 had to come out of his at 2.4 because he could climb out. The next few months were a nightmare of returning him to bed. But that's probably more a reflection of his challenging nature.

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DoctorRobert · 21/11/2013 12:32

She's in a normal cot but she's not particularly tall, so plenty of room in there still at the moment

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DeepThought · 21/11/2013 12:33

It's fine

as pps have said move to big bed when the child can climb out

DS1 about 2.5 DS2 13 months!

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NellyBluth · 21/11/2013 12:38

Absolutely fine. If she's not bothered, why spend the money until you need to? I'm not planning on taking the sides off for a very long time. Though tbf we have a very odd child who has never attempted to climb out - but does regularly want to clmb in!

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LunaticFringe · 21/11/2013 12:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tolittletoolate · 21/11/2013 12:47

my dd is 2 yrs 7 months and still in her cot although I have taken the side off so it's a 3 sided thing. She is ok in it but getting too big length ways her head and feet touch the ends!
We really need to get her a proper bed but can't afford it at the moment.

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absentmindeddooooodles · 21/11/2013 12:51

Do whats best! Ds was a littlw sod and leaent to flip out of his cot by the time he xould stand ( v v tall) so didnt work for us. Would love to beable to keep him contained now at 2.8!

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absentmindeddooooodles · 21/11/2013 12:51

Best for you even. *

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cafebistro · 21/11/2013 12:54

Yanbu. DD2 is 3 years and 7 months and still in a cot. She has plenty of room and sleeps well in it so I see no reason to move her yet. She is also dry at night, she just has a wee before bed and one as soon as she gets up and is fine with that.

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ChippingInLovesAutumn · 21/11/2013 12:56

Do what works for you, don't worry about what anyone else does. As long as she has plenty of room in there, she's fine :) Cots are more snuggly in the winter :)

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Wingdingdong · 21/11/2013 12:58

Both mine were out of cots at 15m - but because they were climbers. Finding your child dangling over the side head down makes you take immediate action!

Personally I'd say 3 is the limit unless there are particular factors - because at this age they start to have friends playing in their bedrooms and are much more aware. DD moved out of her toddler bed just before she turned 4 because she was getting really upset about friends commenting on her 'little bed' or 'baby bed' - the comments had started about a year before but it was only the odd one or two.

If it's simply that you don't want to buy a new bed yet, just take the side off. That's what we did with DS until he got DD's toddler bed. Do be aware, though, that many cots have weight limits (ours is 15kg) and many 3yos are more than that.

We've not had a problem with DC being out of the cot. In fact things got easier - DD would get out of bed, fetch books and climb back in.

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tearsofrobertsmith · 21/11/2013 13:07

I'm so glad to hear that others kept their kids in cots for ages too! My ds stayed in regular sized cot ( not a larger cotbed) until he was 3.1. He had plenty of room, never attempted to climb out and didn't even stand up in it when he woke in the morning, he'd just lie there chatting and singing. He loved his cot, slept well as a baby and was a fab sleeper as a toddler- still is years down the line.
When he moved to a junior bed he still didn't get out in middle of night or morning, transition was easy. Loads of people I know moved their kids into big beds really early when there wasn't a reason to were pulling their hair out when the kids escaped all night.
Good luck, keep doing what makes you all happy.

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whatsagoodusername · 21/11/2013 13:14

DS1 has just turned 3 and is still is in his cotbed. He's climbed out once in a fit of rage and is quite happy in it, so we've left him in it.

I'm more inclined to take DS2's sides off because I think he would put himself to bed if he could get in it!

If DD is happy, stick with it until it's convenient for you to change. It's nice to have them contained.

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MrsCakesPremonition · 21/11/2013 13:20

One night when DS was about 2yo, we heard an almighty crash and found he had launched himself over the cot bars.
The second night he did the same thing.
By the third night he had a bed.

But that was reacting to his needs, not changing something that was working well because of what other people said.

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valiumredhead · 21/11/2013 13:29

The second she gets her leg over the cot get her into a bed,I saw a really nasty accident where a child leant over the bars and fell head first. For this reason alone I would preempt it and move her to a bed before you move. Otherwise yanbu and apart from safety it's no one's businessSmile

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DoctorRobert · 21/11/2013 13:31

Thanks for all the replies. It's good to hear that others have used cots until older. We'll keep doing what we're doing whilst it's working!

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attheendoftheday · 21/11/2013 13:32

Do what works for you. We coslept, so dd1 went straight into a bed at about a year, lots of people think that's odd too. If everyone's happy it doesn't matter.

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ceebie · 21/11/2013 13:34

We took the cot sides off when DD was 2.6 becuase I was 8 months pregnant and struggling to lift her over the sides. She thought it was great being able to get out of bed to read her books before eventually falling asleep on the landing floor! When she was in her cot she was in a sleep bag so wasn't able to climb out.

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Panzee · 21/11/2013 13:36

My son was 4 before he asked for a bed. He never once tried to climb out.

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LadyintheRadiator · 21/11/2013 13:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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Passthecake30 · 21/11/2013 13:51

I only moved dd when she night trained and needed access to a potty I. Her bedroom- so about 3 and 3months. She liked the side up and never tried to climb out, though was in a cotbed as is a lanky lass

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cardamomginger · 21/11/2013 14:45

DD is 3.3 and is in a cot in our room. We have nowhere else to stick her Gin. Hopefully we are moving soonish, and she will then have her own room. I'm planning on keeping her in her cot for a month or so after we move until I know she has settled OK, and then we'll see about getting her a bed. I'll get her a full size 'proper' bed - not wasting money on a kid's bed that I'll only have to replace.

She's happy and sleeps well. When we go away and she's in a new environment/has her own room she sleeps well. So I don't think we are 'harming' her. But I know what you mean about other kids being in beds - my friends' kids are. But they have more room Smile.

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cardamomginger · 21/11/2013 14:46

Gin?!?!? Well, probably. But I meant Grin.

(MN - can we have a gin emoticon??)

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