Moving 2 yo into a bed? Advice please?

[vvviola]

DD2 has always been a bad sleeper for various reasons and the latest difficulty is getting her to stay settled in her cot (when she'll happily co-sleep with me in the spare bed in her room). Apart from disturbing my sleep, it's also preventing me finally weaning her from bf.

Creche have mentioned that in preparation for moving her to toddler room (she'll be 2 in 2 months and they'll move her around then), they tried putting her down for her nap on a little bed. It was a big success - much easier to settle, slept better. So I'm beginning to wonder if we should move her into a bed at home too. But I could do with some input on timing (DH has been incredibly helpful and said he'll agree with me no matter what )

• Do I move her into a bed now while she's still getting used to it at crèche (3 days a week) or wait til it's established there?
• should I stop bf first? Or do it all together (big girl bed/no bf) or hold on to the bf to make the transition easier!
• is she too young? I think DD1 was a couple of months over 2 when she moved into a bed, but she has always seemed "older" that DD2 at the same stage.

Any one with any thoughts to help me make a decision Thanks!

Do you want to stop BF? Don't if you don't want to...but if you do, I would stop that first....then when that's over with move her at that point. She's in no way too young, my DD went into a small bed at 18 months.

The main thing is that they usually start climbing out of bed when they first make the change. So be prepared!

Oh yes, NeoMaxi, I forgot to say, I'm well ready to give up breastfeeding at this stage! My original intention was 1 year, but due to her allergies and general stubbornness I've continued, but I think for many many reasons it's time to stop now.

I'm guessing at this age they wouldn't necessarily be able to comprehend the bribery idea of "you can have a big bed when you don't have a bedtime feed"? (It was so much easier with DD1 as she was so articulate that you had a much better idea of what she could understand. DD2 understands a huge amount, but has big sister to do her talking for her so isn't quite as chatty)

I always prefer to do one "big change" at a time, eg, not giving up dummy at same time as moving to bed, not giving up bf-ing at the same time I went back to work. I find its easier to just stick to the one thing and get it sorted. So I would say change to a bed but keep on bf-ing (assuming you want to).

And maybe start making changes to the evening routine to ease the transition if you're stopping breast feeding? Dd went into a bed no probs at about 21mo, but still had a pre-bed bf then. I'm pg now and we've been gradually cutting down the breast feeding (it's sore and there's not much milk there now) but I started reading her a story and having cuddles in bed after her feed every night so that's something that can stay constant. We've done a few nights now without bf and touch wood it's going we'll so far.

Go for it. My DD is a terrible sleeper but we had some really positive improvement when we moved her into her toddler bed at about 20 months. I think the fact that its happening at nursery at the same time is great and will help her to understand.