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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

DS resisting move from cot to bed

11 replies

expatmama · 10/10/2006 18:19

for the past 2 weeks i have been trying to persuade 22 month DS to move from cot to bed, to make way for his sibling due end Nov. just to complicate things he has also moved rooms.
after much fuss we ended up moving the cot into the new room, next to the bed, as i felt he needed the reassurance of his cot whilst he got used to his new room. so, here we are 2 weeks in, he seems to be OK with new room, but refusing to go into the bed. we lie him in the bed but he gets straight up and goes over to the cot. have tried the big boys like you sleep in beds, cots are for babies thing, but no joy so far.
am hesitant to move the cot out of the room before he has made the transition as it is a pain to move (especially with a huge bump) and i think he would end up back in it, in the original room anyhow. any ideas? many thanks.

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sleepingbag · 10/10/2006 18:29

does he have to move to a bed? My DS is 26 mths and still in cot, there is a bed in his room but i know he would hate it and as he can't get out his cot, i say why ruin a good thing, i plan to leave him in it until he is about 3.

Original poster

expatmama · 11/10/2006 13:37

i need the cot for the new baby, due end of november, so yes he does really. i decided to buy him a bed, rather than buy the baby a new cot, so don't really want to end up having bought a bed and now have to go out and buy another cot. i shall just have to persevere with persuading him!

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Xena · 11/10/2006 13:40

Oh I don't wish to worry you expat but having successfully moved DD1 for DD2 there was no convincing DD2 to move in time for DS2 at 2.4 years (much later than the older 2) she is still firmly attached to her cot, we have tried her in a bed lots but she won't stay and cries etc etc

Xena · 11/10/2006 13:41

I figure she won't want to be in a cot when she is 5

porpoise · 11/10/2006 13:43

expatmama, I sympathise!
Strikes me, though, that you need to get your ds to fall in love with the idea of a bed first.
Could you take him with you to buy some new bedding for it (duvet with trains on or whatever else he likes)?
Could you seek his advice on where to put it in the room - by the window, behind the door etc.
Could you find out (subtly) exactly what it is he doesn't like about it? Sometimes, they worry about falling out, so maybe you could get a bedguard or even put the mattress on the floor for a bit?
Any of that help?

KTeepee · 11/10/2006 13:49

If you can bear it, buy some stickers of his favourite toys/tv show and let him decorate the bed. I would leave the cot in the room for a little while but you may have to go cold turkey eventually.

When he does start sleeping in the bed I would also dismantle the cot and hide it in the attic for a while before using it for the baby - can you put the baby in a moses basket or crib first first? - that way he doesn't think that the baby is sleeping in "his" cot.

Original poster

expatmama · 11/10/2006 13:55

oh dear, i've done it all wrong - i bought the linen without his input, and decorated the room with jungle stickers whilst he was sleeping one night (and glad i did TBH, they were a nightmare as they were really static and kept clinging to the wall where i didn't want them!). the bed is in the one spot in the room where it can go, but does have rails either side - maybe i could try taking them off, perhaps they are putting him off?

otherwise your suggestions have made me think that i have a lion snuggle sack in the cupboard, perhaps i could get him interested in sleeping in that, and persuade him that he can only do that in the big bed. worth a shot!

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MamaMaiasaura · 11/10/2006 13:59

expat, do you have a crib for new baby?

Also perhaps buy him a baby doll that he can practice being a big brother too and let him put his 'ba by' to bed in a toy cot or even in his cot.

He might be picking up on you wanting him to leave his cot and is clinging to being your baby for a while longer. Big changes are already on he way and am sure he must be picking up on it.

clairemow · 11/10/2006 14:04

Expat, could you put the new baby to sleep in a travel cot for a while too, after he/she grows out of a moses basket/crib? you could make the bottom softer by putting lots of towels under the mattress thing. 22 months is quite young maybe. DS moved around that time (for the same reason) and the first few weeks were a bit of a nightmare with him getting up over and over again. The last thing you need with a new baby (believe me, I'm there with 5 week old!) is DS to be troubled/upset/not sleeping.

Original poster

expatmama · 11/10/2006 19:18

failed miserably with the snuggle sack this evening

i do have a moses basket for the baby, so we are not in a huge rush, but i was hoping to have DS happily moved into his bed well in advance of baby arriving so that he didn't feel ousted from him cot by the new arrival.

i like the baby doll idea awen, will give that a whirl as well, thank you.

and i hear you clairemow - if he is happy in the cot, i should be grateful that he is at least sleeping, especially once baby is here!

i'll keep on trying though!

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Peridot30 · 11/10/2006 19:44

I had the same dilemma as you as i needed ds cot for new baby. My 2 share a room so couldn't move cot out the room so we made abig fuss about big boy in a big bed and let him choose bedding. I would leave it a month or so and try again. My ds was only out the cot for a month before we put dd in it.

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