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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

What age did your LO move from cot to cot bed?

19 replies

snowgirl1 · 03/12/2013 23:34

I received an email from bounty and it mentioned that at 23 months we could be nearing the time we switch from cot to cot bed (or bed) and we should think about how we would deal with night-time visits.

Did you wait until your LO could climb out of the cot before switching to a bed? Or did you just decide to switch at some other point? Our DD is a bit of a bedtime protester and I'm wondering if not feeling trapped in a cot might make bedtimes easier (or worse...)

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audreyandrustygriswold · 04/12/2013 11:57

We moved DD a month after her 3rd birthday. This was late compared to her friends, but she was happy in her cot, so no need to rock the boat. Once she started asking about a big girls bed, we took the sides down and made it a cot bed. No bother with the transition at all.

DD never tried to climb out though, had she tried that, I would have made the switch earlier.

CinnabarRed · 04/12/2013 12:02

All 3 of mine transitioned from cot to cot-bed around their 2nd birthdays. Not because of advice from Bounty (I don't get those emails) - it just seemed the right time.

Bramshott · 04/12/2013 12:03

Both of mine could shin up and out of the cot for quite a while before they went into a (regular sized single) bed. We just left the side down once they could climb out.

thekatsatonthematt · 04/12/2013 12:18

We are moving ds in a couple of weeks, just before he turns two. Mostly because we're decorating his new bedroom as part of his birthday present.

I think on our Dec11 postnatal thread there are two or three already in beds rather than cots. Ds isn't climbing out so we probably wouldn't have thought about it yet. But want the cot at least available for dd (4 months and happily Co sleeping at the moment)

Loftyjen · 04/12/2013 12:28

Moved DD at 23mths. She'd made an attempt to climb out of a travel cot, but her reg cot was deeper & she's petite so knew she wouldn't be able to climb out of it for a long time, but it felt right & by doing it then we avoided it being a big deal (didn't even tell her we were doing it).
Was few months before it clicked that she could climb out of it by herself!!

matana · 04/12/2013 12:40

Around 2 years. He'd never tried climbing out but I knew he was ready and chose a very settled period to try it. Took to it brilliantly. He loves his bed. And sleep!

ThurlHoHoHow · 04/12/2013 12:44

Whenever they start climbing out, I'd say. DD is almost 2 and I'm not even going to consider it. We've barely just moved from sleeping bags to duvets. She's not interested in climbing out of her cot and sleeps really well in it, so I don't see the need to make any changes. I'd imagine it could make bedtime a lot worse too if they realise they can get out of bed...

audreyandrustygriswold · 04/12/2013 12:46

Sssshh. My 3 year old hasn't quite twigged she can get out. I still get called through in the morning when she wakes. I am certainly not going to tell her otherwise!

Pantah630 · 04/12/2013 12:50

DS1 was 18 months old when he moved to a single bed, not that he'd spent a night in his cot or carrycot from birth, he only slept if in with us.
DS2 went into a single bed around the age of 2. I didn't see the point of a cot bed, more expense and entirely unnecessary. If you're worried about them falling out, get a bed guard or line with pillows down one side. We never had any issues with falling out of bed with either of them. If your DC is capable of climbing out of their cot, and is likely too, some don't, then it's time to move them.

gourd · 04/12/2013 12:51

About 18 months. We took the cot side off as she'd dstrated standing up in bed and rying to climb the rail and we were worried she would climb and then fall from the height of the top of the cot rail if we didnt take the side off. She never fell out with the side off (not did she ever stand up on the bed or try to get out of bed once we had removed the side), but the cot bottom was very low anyway and she has soft carpet in her room.. It was the height of the rail that worried us, and when it looked like she might climb up it and try to get out over the top we thought it was better to take the side off at that point. She went into a normal single sized bed aged 2 and has never fallen out (or even tried to get up/out of bed by herself- she always just shouted for us to come to her instead!). She's only started getting up and out of bed on her own aged 3 years!

gamerchick · 04/12/2013 12:53

As soon as they can climb out I take the side off and push it up against my bed. Takes a couple of nights but they stay in it if you're consistent in putting them back.

Original poster

snowgirl1 · 04/12/2013 13:44

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think I'm going to leave her in the cot a bit longer. at the little ones who don't realise they can get out of bed on their own!

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sparkleshine · 04/12/2013 14:13

DS was just after his 2nd birthday. No reason. Just wanted a change. He was excited to sleep in his new bed. Fell out of it a few times but no bother really, just tucked him in a bit more. He has a toddler bed at mine which has those raised sides at the head so doesn't fall out. Mum has the cot bed with sides down and he still falls out of the bed there and he's nearly 4. No harm done though he just gets back in or comes in with me.

Dwerf · 04/12/2013 14:22

I think I gave birth to mountain goats, three of them were in beds by 18 months old for their own safety and my sanity dd2 has to be evicted from hers at 2 because I needed it for dd3.

rrreow · 04/12/2013 17:55

DS1 is 2.5 and can climb out of his cot. However, he knows we don't want him to do it and I think the novelty has worn off. We want to get him a toddler bed now but mostly because DS2 needs the cot (co-sleeping with DS2 currently).

I think at whichever point you introduce a toddler bed there will need to be some adjusting (maybe a few bedtimes with them trying it on getting out of bed etc).

MiaowTheCat · 05/12/2013 08:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

neversleepagain · 05/12/2013 13:04

The longer you leave them in their cot the longer the day time sleep lasts. I personally would leave them until 3(ish), unless they are climbing out.

Original poster

snowgirl1 · 10/12/2013 12:01

I realised that once DD's out of the cot, we won't be able to use the cot-top changer anymore so I think we'll be sticking to the cot until DD is potty trained!

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drspouse · 10/12/2013 12:06

We've been using the cot bed as a cot since 6 months, and took the side off so it's more of a daybed (stops toys being dropped down the side quite so much) recently at 22-23 months. He'd started trying to climb out of the bath (nearly successful) and the cot (it was really too big for him).

We put the stairgate on his room (which is the alternative to closing it at the top of the stairs as his room's on the landing and the door doesn't shut properly). So he doesn't come in and disturb us. But we've had about 3 weeks of this and thanks to the magic of Gro company zip up duvets he's only got out of bed about three times, once when ill and twice when he already had his morning milk to come to the stairgate and tell me it was all gone. But he does love his sleep.

I'm curious actually as to how big a toddler could be and still last in a regular cot (possibly with the side off as a daybed)?

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