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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

Cot to bed transition

11 replies

Joneseygirl77 · 17/05/2016 07:09

DD is 2.1 and is still in a grobag in her cot. I'm happy to keep her this way for as long as possible but aware we will need to move her into a bed at some point. She's a front sleeper who moves a lot in the night. Most nights she'll do a 180 turn in her cot and we'll find her at the other end of the cot. Plus if she ever sleeps in our bed (only if she's poorly or teething badly) then it's a nightmare as she moves all night. This makes me wonder how she'll be in a bed- will she fall out? Or do they tend to settle well in a bed?

Any tips for transitioning? Should I start her with a pillow/duvet first? Planning on getting a bed guard or again should I just do a duvet on the floor? Just after tips on how to manage this as would like to be prepared!

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minipie · 17/05/2016 15:21

We did a duvet in the cot first (during summer) and think this was good as she got used to pulling it over her before she went into a bed.

Once she's in a bed, the Jojomaman duvet clips have been a godsend for stopping the duvet falling off the bed.

We don't have a bedguard but do have a fairly large bedside table up against the head end of DD's bed which seems to help hold her in.

I'm not sure about on the floor - I think it helped us transition to be able to show DD her "big girl bed" - psychology! But they are all different.

You might find she moves around a bit less once she gets bigger and runs out of space??

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LemonBreeland · 17/05/2016 15:30

We put a bed guard on the bed and left DS2 in his grobag in bed, rather than changing everything at once. We moved to a duvet once he was toilet trained.

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Joneseygirl77 · 17/05/2016 20:14

Thanks both.

I was actually thinking of trying her with a duvet MiniPie over the summer. Thought it might help her get used to it whilst it was warmer. I'm unsure as to why she moves round so much as she is tall for age. She fills her standard size cot well but she will sit upright in the night and then flop down to the other end of the cot. Hoping this will stop when she's in a bed.

Out of interest how old were your dcs when you moved them? As I say I'm not keen to rush it especially as we're in the midst of a slight sleep regression at the moment so keen not to rock the boat!

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minipie · 17/05/2016 21:12

DD was about 3 I think? But she had a cotbed, so more space than a cot, and she didn't start trying to climb out till age 3 (many are climbing out before then...)

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Swanclaw · 17/05/2016 21:23

A great tip I got from here was don't mention the fact that they can get out of the bed in front of them and it might not occur to them! Worked for me!
I went from a grobag straight to duvet, pillow and bed. I tried to introduce the duvet earlier while ds was in the cot but he wouldn't have it. With the bed he just accepted it.
Also, I did weeks of "prepping" with my ds, I kept saying things like "wow, you're grobag is getting really small now, you'll have lots more room in your big boy bed" so he knew it was coming. I also did lots of reassuring, like "you'll be able to put lots of your favourite cuddly toys in your big boy bed - which ones would you choose?" and "I can't wait to do a bedtime story with you in your big bed, it's going to be so nice and cosy, and mummy will be able to sit next to you!" (Like - wow!!)
I know that might sound ott but the transition went really well and he loves his "cosy" bed now. DS is 2.8 and we did the transition last month. I was really worried about it but it's been great so far.
instantly jinxes it Good luck!

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Swanclaw · 17/05/2016 21:24

We've got an ikea toddler bed - really low - and I have some pillows on the floor just in case he falls out.

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Joneseygirl77 · 17/05/2016 21:41

Thanks all really helpful tips.
We've got a cot bed so planning on just taking the sides off when the time comes. We used a sleep consultant with DD and she advised me to always lift them out of bed when they first go into it. Same principal i.e if you encourage them to get out then they will!

In two minds now whether to try the duvet/pillow in cot first it just do it all in one go. We have got her a little toddler pillow but she seems to think that it's for our bed and won't entertain it in her room at night!

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AppleMagic · 17/05/2016 21:45

We stuck a pool noodle under ds's fitted sheet to create a ridge instead of using a bed guard. It stopped him falling out but I preferred it to a bed guard because I was worried he'd try and climb over the top of it and would therefore have further to fall.

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SewSlapdash · 17/05/2016 21:47

Beware - we took the sides off the cotbed and -bam! - no more nap. I could have cried. I was about 6 weeks pregnant at the time. Its hideous now I'm 23 weeks.

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drspouse · 17/05/2016 22:04

We used the Gro company duvet covers that zip onto the bed, cot bed size. No falling out. DC2 is in an Ikea cot and they don't come in that size sadly.

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Joneseygirl77 · 18/05/2016 21:08

Sew napping in the cot doesn't really hoped here unless DH is in charge on his own. I can't bear the angry crying so we do naps on our bed or in the car if we're out and about. DD isn't going to win any medals for naps though- normally 40 mins max. Even nursery have commented on how short her days sleeps are compared to others of her age!