2.5 DD - Cot to Bed - Not sure what to doooooooooo ..........

[CaptainDippy]

Hello!

My DD1 is 2.5 yrs. She is currently sleeping in a cot-bed. We made the cot into a bed when she was about 2yrs, as a consequence she refused to have a daytime nap period and was tired and crotchety and cross all day long. As soon as we changed the bed back into a cot she commenced her daytime sleeps again. She sleeps from 10am til 12pm most days, which is lovely as I have a 13 month old DD2 who sleeps from 9am til 12pm most days.

Recentely she has started pushing her cot out from against her wall (we only have one side up on the cot), climbing out and round the cot and then playing in the nursery for hours, not going to sleep.

So.

My dilemma is ......

Do I put the cot side back up or do we try the bed thing again?? I just find the whole "being a complete grump-bag the whole day long" thing a bit wearing, iykwim??

Is it time for bed??

Comments please .......

Put the cot side back up and make her sleep in it. And any shenanigans the door is shut and/or she's put back in again and again and again until she gets the message. That's what I'd do anyway. Dd is 2.8 and has dropped the daytime sleep but on ONE night only climbed out (she's in a travel cot with nice high sides!) and messed around whereupon we put her back and back and back and she got the idea and didn't do it again. Well worth one night of pain imo.

dd is 22 months and has been in a bed since we moved into our own place when she as about 18 monhs.

anyway i did excactly what WWW has advised. she has only ever gotten out of bed twice.

agree with WWW and fattiemumma, you have a couple of aces up your sleeve - you can put the cot side up, and/or shut the door, if necessary as consequences...

it occurred to me that she may well drop this sleep soon and this may be why she's getting more busy instead of sleeping - but you could use these ideas to enforce some 'quiet time' for her; even if she doesn't drop off, she could have some 'down' time in her room in order that she is at least resting, maybe making her NOT such a grump!

maybe it's something to do with the heat, it is difficult to sleep in the day when it's so hot and sticky. She may settle again to it all anyway!

I'm confused WWW - put the cot side up or make it into a bed??

Put the side back up!

I having been humming & haaing about this with DS fora few weeks, he's 2.4, sometimes doesn't go to sleep now at nap time but after the week from hell this week when he only had one afternoon nap all week, he is going to be put up there for a nap every day and at least he has a quiet time.

I know if we take the sides off he will not nap so I am resolved not to do it now until he no longer needs a nap.

Put the side up I would. I think that bit where they are knackered if they DON'T sleep in the day but don't want to and anyway, it stops them sleeping at night if they DO have a daytime sleep is horrible!

Now i'm going to upset the apple cart, i think you should give her the bed back ! my dd was 20 months old when we put her in a bed, we made a big thing of it (ie postman pat bed covers)we made sure she had plenty of books and quiet toys to occupy her when she got up. she really seemed to like the independance this gave her. dont get me wrong, we still have had times when she has woken us up, faffing around at 5.30am, but not very often. at night if she doesnt want ot fall asleep straight away, she gets a book and gets back into bed with it. she is never awake any later than 8pm. On the subject of naps, she also rarely has a daytime nap since she was just under 2. now she is 2.5 she tells me if she wants a nap! i havent found this to be a problem apart from not having the luxury of any quiet time during the day ! Ihope this is of some use to you...I think kids like to feel that they have some kind of independance (albeit small)even at this age. good luck !

Thank you for your comments - MommyTsang - Yeah but - do you have a 13 month old as well?? Does your DD drive you completely nuts every second she is made to stay in the house?? Is she a complete misery if she doesn't get her nap?? At least you had the luxury of choice, your DD had dropped her nap so you put her in a bed, which makes sense, my DD hasn't dropped her nap, and still very much needs it!! I am just asking questions btw, not "having a go"

Liking what BHFrayedKnot says - put the sides up til she no longer requires the nap - Yep, thinking that is probably best! (Hope so!) Keep suggestions coming though ......

Yes i do have a ds just turned 1. I know you're not having a go, every kid is different and you know yours better than anyone, go with what feels right i say. just wanted to give you another perspective. good luck with it all

Thanks a lot MS - Glad you didn't take my ranting personally, think I was rather tired and stressed last night!

Anyone else wanna put their tuppenceworth in??

I went with you in the end MT - Going ok so far!