moving my 20month old into a 'big boy' bed

[sianilovesbeingamummy]

I started this on sunday night, although he went to sleep fine he was up and down through the night and last night it took 4hours putting him back in bed before I gave in and put him back into his cot..... I want to persevere with this but with a demanding 6week old too it sometimes gets very exhausting...... I am going to try setting my daughter at 6 so she is resting when it comes to my little boys bedtime and do bath, bottle with a story and bed, story to be read in bed, and see how I get on..... does anyone have any tips, tried and tested or just advisory?

Why bother? Both my DD and DS stayed in cots until they were over 3 years and it was a real help - especially with my DD when her brother was born. The transition to a bed was then very easy as they were old enough to a) want it and b) stay in bed when left. A cot is a safe, enclosed place, familiar and comfortable and especially at this point, with the upset of a new baby in the house, I can't see why you want to force your son into a bed. The fact that it's proving difficult just makes it clear that now is not the right time. Also, if you're making him leave his cot so the new baby can sleep there, this will make any jealous much, much worse! Get another cot if you need to and leave him in his - he'll be happier and your life will be easier! Good luck!

cathan said it all.

as I don't want my son to later feel jealous as the 'new baby' as you put it will then need the cot! he isn't jealous of his sister in any way shape or form and she slips in a crib at the moment!!!!!!!!!!!! for your information, tonight he has gone down brilliantly and he loves his new bed, he helped Daddy put it up and gets in it straight a way........ no child likes change and this is a big change for him but I, as his mother, feel he is ready for it, why else would he constantly climb out of his cot, he likes to explore!!!!!! I thought this site was for friendly advice, not un-needed and un-necessary hardness.

Don't know why you are jumping down cathans throat.. Everything she said was right.... My sons just 17 months and in his big boy bed since last week but he loves it and didn't need encouraging if that had been the case I would have made it a cot again

Your reply to cathan's excellent post is rude. Please yourself, do as you like but don't post asking for advice if you're not interested in people's views.

Cathans post spot on! Your over reacting! You asked for advice and were given it.

Thanks for asking op, I have been wondering about moving ds into a bed, he will be 20m when dc2 arrives, after reading cathans post I think I'll just get a second cot! One more thing to buy yay!

We moved our dd, just turned 2, into a cotbed a few weeks ago. First week she was good as gold. After that a total nightmare, taking over an hour to settle, up in the night, getting up a 5.30am. She was exhausted,
we were exhausted, in the end I decided it wasn't worth it. She's now back in her cot and sleeping through from. 7-7. I won't be trying it again until she's about 3, an age actually recommended I'm some books I've read since! I'd say, if you're still finding it hard after a few more nights, go back to the cot, as Cathan said, he probably is needing the familiar more than ever at this time.

Rude much? Cathans post is excellent.

Think people being harsh to OP. She posted for advice, we are all trying to do the best being told her plan was basically wrong can feel a bit like your parenting decisions are being questioned. Especially when no one asked her why. I know many people Who like the OP have had to move baby from the cot much earlier than 3years because they manage to climb out which is pretty dangerous and out of consideration for safety moving to a toddler bed is probably for the best in this circumstance.
I have no advice as my LO has never liked the cot and so now we co-sleep but good luck whatever you decide to do.

thankyou mamapants......... yes, had my son stayed in his cot and not continuously climbed out, which I am sure you will agree is extremely dangerous should he get his foot caught etc...... yes I understand people are just giving their opinion but I don't see the need for such harshness..... as mamapants said, non of you asked why I was moving my son, as the fact I have a 'new baby' is not the cause for moving him from his cot, it is merely a safety issue...... I do not feel I was being rude in anyway, sorry if this is how I came across I was extremely upset at the response cathan gave to me, as a single mother it is a struggle at times and I am trying to do the best for my son so he gets a good nights sleep...... he actually slept soundly last night, from 6.30pm to 7.30am

I would also say perhaps he is not yet ready for a big boy bed just yet, but if you'd like to persevere, you'll just need to be consistent about keeping putting him back into bed and eventually he will get it. Don't give in otherwise that'll just be him winning. Perhaps give him a few soft toys to play with while in bed as he is going to sleep - may encourage him to stay in bed? Just a thought, you could try a Grobag in his cot which would make it harder for him to climb out??

he has slept fine in it now for the past 2 nights so things should be fine now