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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Any tips for changing from cot to bed?

14 replies

Ladymai · 25/06/2006 20:03

I really want to get DS into a bed from his cot but dont know when is a good time to start or how to go about it.

The main reason is because baby no2 is due at the end of the year and I dont want to fork out for another cot, plus he's nearly outgrown his travel cot so makes going away difficult as he sleeps badly in it.

DS is 19mths, sleeps through the night, but is a hanger over the edge boy before going to sleep and also sleeps in every direction in the cot except straight! His cot is a cot bed so we could start him off in that, I just fear we'll hear him falling out every night and have a nightmare getting him to go off again.

We also need to change his room to our spare room as his is a walk through room to the bathroom and our room, otherwise he'll be noseying about all the time. Baby no2 will eventually share with him once sleeping through.

We were planning on starting in September so he's got 3mths to get used to it before sibling arrives.

Your ideas, tips, advice would be really appreciated.

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MamaG · 25/06/2006 20:22

My DS is a wriggle bum (age 2.3) and he's still in a cot. I just wouldn't trust him not to fall out (even with one of those bed side thingies on) - plus he'd be out of bed like a shot, messing about!

Will your new baby be in a moses basket or crib first? If so, you might have until next March (is baby due in Dec?) before you have to put him in a bed!

Friends have successfully moved their young children into a bed, but I wouldn't do it yet

kayzed · 25/06/2006 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Elibean · 25/06/2006 20:30

We moved dd at 2.3, and I was dreading it but...it was fine. We bought a full size single bed (so it lasts) and a bedguard, and to our amazement she stays put most of the time. She's also a wriggler, and I have to dress her in warm enough pjs to contend with her habit of pushing the duvet away and lying across the top of the bed next to the headboard - but the bed guard is as long as she is, and reminds her of her travel cot, so she feels pretty secure. She was very excited to see her new bed, wanted to jump on it (of course) and put all her toys to bed in it immediately.

The couple of times she tried getting out, walking to the top of the stairs and shouting for us, we did the Supernanny thing of just taking her back, saying 'bedtime, night night lovey' first time, then just 'bedtime' the second, and the third time never happened.

All that said, I agree with MamaG about leaving it as long as possible, age-wise...though I do hear you on timing it wisely re sibling too. Can you fit a guard to a cotbed?? (I know nothing about cotbeds, sorry, might be a daft thing to say) And, do you need the cot for your new baby straightaway?

smoggie · 25/06/2006 20:31

Ladymai -same sort of timescales here too. Moved ds1 into his new bedroom and 'big boy bed' about two months before the arrval of ds2 when ds1 was almost 2yo. We made him v involved in chosing the furniture, bedclothes etc. We then started putting him in there for daytime naps and making sure we played in the room a lot before the big changeover. In fact he actually moved in before we'd planned as he was so excited. WE had a few falling out of the bed mishaps, but we put a spare duvet on the floor next to the bed to make a softer landing. It's suprising how quickly they adapt. He was so seettled in there by the time ds2 came along tht he didn't feel at all 'pushed out'. Good luck!

Medulla · 25/06/2006 20:33

another tip that worked for us was to put the bed up next to the cot. we played on the bed for weeks until DD finally asked if she could sleep in it all night. that was it we didn't look back.

sansouci · 25/06/2006 20:34

I've heard to be careful about this as firstborns have enough reason to be resentful of the new baby without having their cot given to the new one as well! Maybe you could get a secondhand cot?

busybusybee · 25/06/2006 20:39

DS was 2 years 9 months when dd was born
He slept in his cot until dd was too big for her moses basket at 4/5 months

So ds didnt switch to his bed - which had been there for months until several months after his 3rd birthday - we had quite a hassle keeping him in but he was certainly never jealous of dd having his cot

Soon we are going to explore the 'joy' of getting them both to share a room - oh what fun that is not going to be!!!!!!!!!!!!

sansouci · 25/06/2006 20:44

There's 3 yrs difference between my 2 & dd still refers to ds' bed as "my cot that N. is borrowing". We have just bought an Ikea bed for him but I'm dreading getting it set up as I know for sure ds will be running around, creating havoc.

sansouci · 25/06/2006 20:45

He's almost 3, btw!

Reece · 26/06/2006 10:31

DS is 2.7 and about 6 months ago he climbed out of the cot a couple of times. We set up the toddler bed in his room ready for the changeover but he wasn't keen on the bed and has been sleeping in the cot ever since.

2 nights ago he climbed out the cot again several times and last night was the same. He kept coming out of the room and it was only the fact that he didn't want to sleep in the "big bed" that he finally settled to sleep in his cot.

I am wondering now should we move him into the bed? He chose a new duvet set a few weeks back in preparation and is happy to sit on the bed each evening reading stories etc.

The things that are holding me back are that I am potty training him at the moment plus he is going to summer camp next week 5 morning a week (never been away from me before). I am wondering if maybe it would be too much change all at once? Could it create problems in other areas?

Reece · 26/06/2006 15:47

Anybody out there today?

cakemonster · 26/06/2006 15:55

When my first twin daughter grew out of her cot I did what you have done, buy the duvet etc etc. The 1st attempt resulted in loads of aggro so I put her back in her cot with her sister. I left it a few weeks and then took the cot down and removed it from sight ( with her help). After that she settled straight away. However, he does have a lot going on so maybe leave it until he finishes summer camp and go along the lines - big boy away from Mum etc etc.

Reece · 26/06/2006 22:50

Yeh I thought there was just too much going on as well. He did give me the impression tonight that he wanted to sleep in the big bed but then ended up in the cot again. (toying with me). I told him it was up to him when he wanted to go into the big bed. No pressure.

DS2 is in another room in another cot so I don't have to be rushing him out of the cot for another baby. At least not yet anyway!!!

jamsambam · 30/06/2006 12:43

when i had to move the last time (4 weeks before ds2 was born) i changed ds1 from cot to cot bed, it worked really well untill ds2 arrived and had his own little room with just the cot and wardrobe...i think ds1 got jelous of ds2 not having to chase his favourite toys and duve across the room in the night, so when i moved here ds1 went straight into a big single and has loved it...there was certainly too much going on the first time, new house, new baby etc...

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