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From cot to cot bed - shall I do it?

1 reply

carocaro · 02/12/2008 19:46

DS2 is 2 at the end of Jan and is being a complete pain in the bottom at bedtime, yelling screaming etc etc. Shall I put him in his cotbed? With DS1 we moved house around the same time and he just went straight to his cot bed in his new room with a gate on the door, he would potter about and fall asleep in bed, or on the floor and we would transfer him to bed. DH is off for two week over Xmas then away mon - fri for Jan and Feb, and two heads better than one to cope.

Can't decied. Help.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Schnullerbacke · 02/12/2008 20:58

Hi carocaro - I feel for you.

I think you'll just have to be tough and introduce a sleeping routine if you haven't already got one.

My DD co-slept with us for quite a long time until it all became too much and I put her into her own cot. I felt a bit mean at first and would lie down on the floor with her and hold her hand through the railings until she fell asleep. This went on for 2 months or so and wouldn't get any better - it took her over an hour to just fall asleep and by the time she did (ie 10pm) I was really pissed off.

Then I decided that things have to change and haven't looked back. Think about what kind of routine you would like, implement it, stick to it and no giving in.

Ours looks like this:
All eat together
Playtime with Daddy
Wash and brush teeth
Some more cuddling with Daddy

Then we go to her room, plug the nightlight in, turn off lights. DD lies on my lap, I tell her all the things we have done today and will do tomorrow, then we say good night to everyone. We have family in quite a few places so I name the place, good night...and then say all the names. By then she has calmed down quite a lot. I tell her I want her to be a good girl at bed time, no getting out of bed etc. She is only allowed into our bed when the sun is up.

In the beginning she didn't like it at all. would come out of bed, find all kind of excuses. The first time I would talk to her, cuddle, put her bed in bed and tuck her in. Second time she comes out I would just say 'bed now' and put her down, third and subsequent visits I would say nothing and just put her down again. She soon got the drift ie even if I get up, Mummy is not talking to me or giving me cuddles so its pointless.

So I think you'll just have to be tough and not give in. Be consistent every night. Have lots of cuddles and talks during the day, more before bedtime but once in bed, thats it.

Hopefully she'll soon get the hint. Good luck!

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