To keep my 3.5yr old in a cot?

[portolife]

Talking about sleeping arrangements to some friends recently and one of them was astounded that my 3.5yr old is still in a cot, she's very small for her age and totally happy in there, doesn't climb out etc. Moving her into a big bed just isn't something I've felt bothered enough to do yet! But my friend made me feel a bit weird about it to be honest!

I'm a bit surprised tbh. Most of the 3 year olds I know are in single beds and the ones that aren't have the sides taken off their cot.

I don't think there's anything 'wrong' with it though unless its preventing her doing more independent stuff she'd like to do like go for a wee etc.

All of mine were very contentedly still in their cots at 3.5y. The dropside was down during the day and they could, and did, climb in and out as they pleased. They only moved to a big bed once they had physically outgrown the cot. One of them even slept with the dropside down for several months before moving to the bed.

If it aint broke don't fix it.

Mine were both in beds ar 2yrs old but each to their own i guess! Practically speaking though you wont be able to potty train overnight if she cant get out.

I think you should start thinking about moving her soon - she is going to need to be able to take herself to the toilet and get more independent.

I do feel it's babying your child. plus heavy to get in and out. presumably at school in a year, you have a preschooler.

there's a lot of times where not going on to the next stage isn't particularly harmful but they'll probably find joy in feeling grown up and able to sit next to you on their bed for stories etc.

She was potty trained just before 3yrs and dry overnight since then, she has never wet the bed or even asked to go for a wee overnight!

You know what?
A bed is a bed is a bed is a bed.
Are you all sleeping well and through the night? Because that is ALL that matters.

Hmm I’m a nursery teacher and I’d be a bit shocked if the kids were still in cots. It’s time for them to start to be independent. My son is 3.5 and been in a bed for a year.
On a morning he waits for his groclock to change, gets up, Goes to the loo, takes his pull up off and puts it in the bin, pjs back on and comes in to wake us.
If he was 2 weeks younger he’d be going to school in September where the expectations of what they need to do independently are huge.

I think you're probably right and we should start thinking about moving her, I guess we've just coasted along as it's caused no problems with her being in there so far.

I don’t see an issue. Mine was quite late. Somewhere around 3. Never climbed out, very content in the cot.

You know what?
A bed is a bed is a bed is a bed.
Are you all sleeping well and through the night? Because that is ALL that matters

Ha I think this is part of the issue! She was a terrible sleeper for a long time but finally yes she sleeps great! Maybe I don't want to rock the boat..

My first thought would be that you were trying to keep your child a baby. An almost 4 year old should be out of a cot, in my opinion.

LittleOwl153 that's not necessarily true. DS is dry at night, never goes for a wee at night, but if he wanted to he'd shout. He shouts for everything else, he can get of bed and out of his room, but he doesn't/ won't.

She won't go to school until next September, I think I'd be more in a rush otherwise for some reason. She's honestly fiercely independent in most ways!

I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all.
My DD was in a cot until just before she started school, she's an extremely heavy sleeper and managed to wedge herself between her bedguard and mattress without waking up when she was in a bed and as she has asthma I was worried about her not being able to breathe properly.
I used a travel cot until I thought she was ready stopped being paranoid

My first thought would be that you were trying to keep your child a baby.

Really? Because of where she sleeps?

As long as she can stretch out, it's fine.

Can you take the side off?

Oh come on.

Stop babying her.

Yes.

My DS was in his cot until about 4 months before his 5th birthday.

Mine were in beds at 18 months because they didn't stay in their cots, climbing out was a particular specialty of my youngest, she likes rock climbing now!

Is it a cotbed? If not have you checked the weight and size limits

I suppose you've got to ask yourself why we don't all sleep in cots? We are all free to move in and out of our own beds as we like . Cots exist for the safety of babies but your 3.5 year old will be safe in a bed so surely deserves that freedom. At some point clearly it becomes wrong to put a child in a cot. If a 6 year old were in a cot it would be wrong so where's the cut off?

My daughter is the same age as yours but has been in a big bed for a 1.5 years now, so I do find it quite surprising. She shares her room with her little brother (19 months) who also sleeps in a bed.

I get the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" but...how long is she going to stay in there?

My 2.5 year old is still in a cot. She hasn't tried to climb out it at all.

When she is potty training it doesn't matter if shes in a bed or a cot as she'll have a baby gate on her door as our loo is downstairs and the stairs are quite steep etc.

Weird