Toddler won't stay in bed

[DesignedForLife]

A couple weeks ago we took the sides off DD's (20months) cot, all went well at first, but now when she wakes up she comes in to us and refuses to go back to sleep in her own bed. We went with it to start with as she had a bad cough, and was obviously needing some comfort, but now it's every night no matter what, and as I'm 36 weeks pregnant with severe SPD it's a real pain, and she will spend at least an hour headbutting me to get comfortable or kicking DH. Our bed isn't that big, so plus pregnant bump and support pillows there really isn't room!

How do we break out of this? She will stay in bed if we sit by her, but the second we move away she wakes and runs after us. So tired and not coping well with this!

[purplefizz26]

My DD is 2.5 and her cot sides are still on and staying on until night potty training is in full swing or she starts trying to climb out.

Is there any reason you removed the side?

I have no experience of this but I would honestly save the hassle at 20 months and put the side back on! They are probably a little young to fully understand they need to stay in bed.

[LuluJakey1]

DS is almost 19 months and it has never crossed my mind to take his cot sides off. What is the prompt to do it?

He is happy in his cot and a good sleeper. I am for leaving him for as long as I can.

[MeredithShepherd]

I've only just taken the sides off my ds's cot at 2.5 years. Only did it because he climbed out twice. I now have a stair gate on his bedroom door so he can't get out of his room. He occasionally comes to the gate and shouts me but we have a not allowed to leave his bedroom rule unless it's for a wee until the sun comes up on his gro clock