Is it OK for a 2.9 yr old to still be in a cot bed?

[meandjoe]

We are thinking of taking the bars off the sides of ds bed. He is great sleeper, sleeps from 7pm til 6:30am, rarely wakes int the night unless ill. Never attempts to climb out of the cot in the night. Is it worth upsetting it all just because people (my friends who all had their babies in beds by 16 - 18 months) seem to think he should be in a bed by now? Even dh is keen to get him in a bed and 'stop babying him'.

Part of me wants to encourage him to grow up and be in a bed etc but the other part of me thinks why rock the boat when we have always been so lucky with him at night time??!

I was in my cotbed til I was 4yrs old apparently (I can vividly remember still sleeping in there) and as far as I know has done me no harm... so what do you all think?

DS is 3.9 years. He was still in his cotbed until nearly 3 with the sides up. He then asked for them to come off just after his sister was born- he was always a great sleeper and after the sides came off he still wouldn't get out himself and it made no difference to his sleeping !...and even since then he never gets out and comes downstairs or comes in in the night - we're lucky that he seems to just want to go to bed and go to sleep . I suspect his sister won't be quite as compliant !....

Oh we just took the sides of DD (just turned 2) cotbed only last night. Was worried she'd fall out or get up to mischief but so far so good. I don't understand why you would put them in a bed before they have grown out of cotbed?

My DS had the side dropped off his cot at 18mths. I put blankets and pillows on the floor just in case. He fell out 3 times in total. Went into a toddler bed at 2 and mid sleeper bed at 3.5.

But, I did this as I felt that we were both more than ready for it and not because of anyone telling me so.

You must go with what you feel is right for you and your DS. You as his mother will know instinctively.

Good luck with whatever you go with!