How old was your LO when they got a bed?

[Poppychick]

Thinking of moving DS to a bed soon (when he's about 20mths). He seems too big for his cot now and could probably climb out plus he loves going in ours and his sister's beds.

Any pearls of wisdom to share for the transition - it was easy with DD but I don't think he'll be so straightforward. How do you get them to stay in the bed?

Thanks for any advice!

[bubblagirl]

my ds was 19 mths he just took to being in a bed staraight away i tucked duvet in on outside of bed and left open by wall so when in he was secured anyway and probably felt like he was unable to get out

but the novelty did ware off but i just took to sitting on his floor reading story saying goodnight and the turning my bavck and he would fall asleep and stay put

[Poppychick]

That sounds sensible bubblagirl although I still think he'd try to climb out over me depending on how tired he was. Thanks for sharing.

[pinkteddy]

20 months is quite young for a bed IMO, dd was 3! But she was in a grobag so couldn't climb out of cot. I think if you are going to put him in a bed you will have a period of difficult nights where you keep having to return him to bed. You can buy those bed guards to put at the sides which may help.

[Seona1973]

dd was 21 months but she hated her cot so that is why we moved her. She was in quite a high bed so we did use a bed guard. DS is 21 months just now but likes his cot so he is staying in it for now.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

DS1 was 20 months he took to it immediately fell out 3 times over first couple of months.

DS2 is 21 months and we will move him soon but not in a rush.

[GentleOtter]

I'm watching this thread due to our 13 month old trying to climb out of his cot in the last few days. He had his waist on the top bit and was trying to 'launch' himself out...
Has anyone any idea how to stop this?

[Amphibimum]

12m
15m
and 18m (both later ones were due to circs outside of control iyswim)

all had side rails on, and still do (5 and 4yos are on top bunks). mine have all been MUCH happier in beds, ds2 articularly HATED his cot.

[Amphibimum]

my ideal would be to have them on a double mattress on the floor, with perhaps a stairgate on room door, from birth.

but dp is less hippy than me

[Poppychick]

Thanks all! Like the idea of the rails, pillows etc. Maybe I'm doing it too soon but worried about him climbing out and it's not a cot bed just a cot and he's a big boy!!!

Any other ideas still appreciated! x

[GentleOtter]

I like your idea Amphibimum...it might be an idea to take the legs off the single bed and put a stairgate at the bedroom door.
We are always in the same room as the baby but he is so quick...

[Poppychick]

Nice idea about a mattress but would have to be a cot one as it's a box room!!

[Amphibimum]

if they are really close to the floor, all you need to add is a rug next to it, just in case they do roll over the edge. just seems so much nicer, freer, more trusting etc, than caging in.
with the kids beds, and curerently ds3 is 30m and on the bottom bunk, the guard rail thing is fine. he can get himself in and out.

but like i say, ideally id have a large mattress on the floor, with a rug next to it, and a stairgate on the door to slow down night wanderings, from birth.

(id really love to ditch the boys' bunk beds and make a huge mattressed area in their room and sleep with all 3 ofthem... but dp thinks im mad )

[Amphibimum]

i reckon that would be ok, poppy!

[posieflump]

I would leave them in a cot as long as possible
We moved ds when he was 2 I think
He got in and out and even now at 4 he often comes into our room at 5.30am When he was in a cot he would get up at 7am

[Amphibimum]

if any of mine come into my room at 5.30, i just pull em in, cuddle up and we all go back to sleep for a bit. ds3 is usually earliest riser (as in makes you get up too) and usually not before 7.

[Poppychick]

Oh god 5.30 doesn't bear thinking about! That's 'not sleeping through' in my book!

[Amphibimum]

me neither! i am not getting up at 5.30 am unless someone is dying. or all the beds are full of vomit/wee/poo... even then, theres the sofa

[rookiemater]

DS was in a cotbed and we took the cot side down and swapped to a bed side when he was just over 2. Seems to have been totally untraumatised about it. We are sticking with tbe bedside for a long period though as friends who have taken theirs down, say that once its gone, they figure out that they can get out of bed and pester you in the early hours.

[MuffinMclay]

Did it with ds1 at 18 months (climbing out of cot and ds2 on the way).

A stairgate across his door has proved vital. We tried the returning him to bed each time he got up thing, but that meant it was taking hours each night to get him to sleep (and still waking up at sill o'clock).

I took the bedguard away after a few nights as he was just climbing round the sides. He has never fallen out of bed.

[sweetkitty]

DD1 was on her third birthday, it never occurred to her to climb out and she's little and it was a cot bed.

DD2 is 2 1/2 and just about to be kicked out her cot for the new baby she's fine about ti going to pick a new big girl bed.