Is it time to take the sides off?! Cotbed question for twins.

[Twinsplusonesurprise]

My 2 DDs are 2.5yo and very strong willed. They are challenging, determined, stubborn, independent. Frequent tantrums are due to frustration and, I think, embarrassment when told off.
They're also loving, sharing and happy. We have a new member of our family too, DS is 7 weeks now. The girls seem to have accepted him as part of our family and are quite affectionate - sometimes a bit too enthusiastic though!

Bedtimes are ok, stressful for me as I'm exhausted by the end of the day, there's a lot of shouting and screeching. If they are really tired I know there'll be a lot of monkeying around after lights out. They do have a night light and a groclock which they like. They can both open their bedroom door though.
One DD is tall enough now to climb out of her cotbed but I'm too nervous to take the sides off.
Any suggestions on techniques?

I don't have direct experience as I cosleep with my twins, but my friend put hers into toddler beds at about 2 years old.

She put a gate on their room. Then she'd put them to bed and leave them to it, as long as they weren't noisy or upset.

At first, they thought it was all great fun. They'd lie in bed for a few minutes, then get up and play with whatever (few) toys were in their room. My friend would go in on her way to bed and scoop them off the floor (where they'd eventually passed out while playing) and tuck them back in their beds. Each morning, without fail, they'd both be cuddling each other in one bed :)

I think the night time playing stopped after a few months, but they still swap beds in the night and are regularly found in the same bed!

My DD started climbing out at 19 months when her brother arrived. I think she thought she was missing something. Bedtime was always a doddle when she was in a cot so we took the sides off thinking it would still be a case of taking her to bed, kisses and night night but no. She got out, walked around and generally faffed about. We now have to sit with her until she is drowsy.
I would do it when you are ready to spend a few nights installing the necessary discipline
Congrats on your DS, what a lovely little family.

I think I will wait til DS is a bit more predictable. Have only just got him into a slightly more planned bedtime so don't think I can cope with hours of in and out of beds.
Happyasasandboy do you have much behavioural problems with either of your twins? We've just been told by nursery that one of ours is spending a lot of time having 'time out' and today missed lunch because of it. She is very strong willed and fiercely independent but I am now worried that she's the worst behaved in their class! This is probably covered in another thread...I will have a look.