Can a 3 year old sleep safely in a bed off the ground?

[FrannyandZooey]

We have just bought a bed for ds (those of you who know we have co-slept for 3 years will understand this is a major development :))

It is \link{http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15558&catalogId=10103&storeId=7&langId=-20&parentCats=155581618016184&productId=53009\this one} and can go either way up so they sleep right down on the ground or a few foot off the floor. I thought ds could have it down on the ground for a while but he saw it in the high up position in the shop and loved it so much.

He can get up and down the ladder very easily and is quite a careful child. However I am worried that in the middle of the night, he might wake up and forget where he is. He can't roll out in his sleep but if he tried to get back to our bedroom for instance do you think he might fall out?

He usually wears a grobag, could I just put him in that and tell him not to get out of bed but shout for mummy instead? Am I going to end up having less sleep after all this?

Help!

lol at image of f&z sleeping on the floor of his room waiting to catch him.

Ah Elibean, I can only pull that trick about once a week or there is tutting

Yes well I am just not sure now. The bed is going up today, and we will get it all ready for him to sleep in tomorrow. I am not sure if it is worth the risk. As Tamba said, you could break your arm falling out quite easily. I am hoping the whole thing will be so exciting that he won't care if he's not allowed to sleep up high (he can play up there, but maybe not sleep there till older).

Will keep you posted :)

He has just had his nap in it :) He was really excited, especially when he saw the new sheets and his own duvet :) :) :) :)

We have decided to compromise - he is having his daytime sleeps up the top (there really is no way he could 'accidentally' fall out I don't think, it's very secure on each side) and his night time sleeps down the bottom. I didn't like the idea of him trying to get down in the dark, or moving about while half asleep and thinking he was in his old bed on the floor.

He says we are "the best mummy and daddy in the world" :) I asked why and he said "because you actually bought me the right bed that I wanted" :) :)

Great compromise - everyone happy: rare! Is it a big deal turning it upside down, or easy?

ps ah, tutting, powerful stuff that

ds sounds adorable, by the way.

Oh he is :)

You don't actually have to turn it upside down, luckily, although I think that's what you're meant to do...but there is space to just move the mattress from the high position onto the floor.

Moving the mattress is a bit of a pain, but not too bad. Turning the actual bed upside down would be going a bit far just to keep him happy I think.

F&Z that sounds like a good compromise. Hope he sleeps well - and you too!

Well I suspect I am going to be up in the small hours, as he will do his usual wake up, but instead of a quick cuddle to get him back to sleep, he will either have to call to me or make his way to our room, by which time I should think one or both of us will be wide awake.

:( also I am sad in case this is really it and he is moving out of my bed for good :(

Milestones...bittersweet....FWIW, dd made the transition to her big girl bed enthusiastically and apparently without a backward glance 3 weeks ago. A week later, she suddenly had a torrent of grief at bedtime, wanting her cot, her babyhood, the lot...then next morning, fine again. Happened a couple of times. TBH, I will be surprised if your ds doesn't have occasional needs to regress and make sure your bed is still available

Glad to hear his bed isn't quite as athletically challenging as it sounded: was beginning to think I was an even lazier Mum than I am!