AIBU I'm too scared to put my baby in her cot

[Coolbreezee]

DD is nearly 8 months. We currently co-sleep, but as she becomes increasingly mobile I would like to transition her into her cot.
She is at that really awkward accident-waiting-to-happen stage. Her latest party trick is pulling herself to stand (holding on to the side) balancing on one leg and then going no-handed until she falls backwards. She's been doing this in her playpen. When I put her in her cot she was straight up. I know if I turn away she is going to fall and hit her head against the hard wood.
I'm currently sat with an overtired baby on the bed not sure what to do. She is currently in wiggly hyperactive overtired mode. Weve done bath time, several stories, calming music, lights down. Please, give me your top tips 🙏

I wouldn't be using my phone at this point!

Put her in the cot.

She might fall and bump her head, yes. She will fall lots when she is learning to walk. It won't do her any permanent damage whatsoever.

Lay her in her cot. She won’t fall backwards many times. You can’t coddle them forever!

Forget the cot and snuggle her in with you.

Do you use a baby sleeping bag? My DS never bothered with his Houdini antics when he was in his sleeping bag in his cot.

Is the base on the lowest setting?

Yes it is. She can put her mouth over the side so if she falls back it is just the right height for her to hit the back of her head on the wooden edge

I'm afraid that's kind of how they learn!

Just what I was thinking. The wood has some give to it!

She’s a child, they fall down, get back up. It’s how they learn. If she hurts herself she won’t do it again. Part of the problem here is leaving it till 8 months old to put her in her own bed.

Can you put her cot mattress on the floor and lay her down there? As long as her room is safe she'll be fine.

I've been letting her fall left right and centre during the day time. She's bumped her head a few times but shows no signs of learning or any awareness of danger. 2 minutes after a tumble she's back up doing exactly the same thing. I don't want to put her in a situation where she is almost certainly going to hurt herself though. I'm finding this to be the hardest stage so far. The problem is she can now get up but the only way she knows how to get down is falling backwards

I don't currently, but it's definitely worth a try. Thank you

Ask yourself how many times you’ve read in the paper about tragic accidents where babies have died or been seriously injured by falling in a cot? Absolutely none. Every baby in the history of time has gone through the pulling to stand stage and has fallen and probably most have hit their head on the bars of the cot. It’s absolutely fine

That is a very good point and reassuring.

We got the tutti bambini Cozee cot which is fabric not wood, something similar might help with your worry.

Perhaps a needless cost to replace something you already have, as PP have said plenty of babies are fine in wood cots.

As PP - definitely get a baby sleeping bag!

Mine quickly learned that if he pushed his feet down into the corners, he could still toddle around quite happily in his sleeping bag. And climb.

Yep, sounds like a brilliant idea!

She will be fine but you could get something like this for you peace of mind.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eastern-Corridor-EU-Protector-Microfiber-Polyester/dp/B088NGZ9V9/ref=asc_df_B088NGZ9V9/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5734661525474711313&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045873&hvtargid=pla-2281435177178&psc=1&mcid=9710f365019831fd9221a7ca037e4893&hvocijid=5734661525474711313-B088NGZ9V9-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

Not a habit everyone wants to start.

You know those ice breakers at work where you have to fall backwards and your partner catches you? I'm not kidding, that's her new favourite game - climb up something and fall backwards, arms out to the side and all. Absolutely no sense of danger. I am knackered 😅

Please don't add this anything except a single blanket to your cot, goes against all the safe sleep advice!

I do love co-sleeping the problem is I can't be going to bed a 7pm every night! It would be nice at least to have the cot as an option. We share a room but I think it's important she has her own space.

Of course she has no sense of danger she's 8 months old!

Toddlers bodies are much more flexible than ours and their bones are softer. They fall a lot and don't generally get badly injured.

Cots are safe for babies.