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?

Leave well alone in my view, tho what would sleeping arrangements be when visiting/holidays?

If bed there then would remove bars now.

ds was happy in his till he got too heavy for me to lift out.
No rush if he is happy imo.
Also, he was quite happy when I changed it and stayed in no problem - it was like he was so used to it he didn't realise you can get out yourself!

I'd leave well enough alone as well.

Ds2 is 2.6 and we're in no hurry to take him out of his cot (a cotbed), although possibly we may do it before we go on holiday in August. (Not definitely, because we've booked an apartment with cot as well as bed, just in case).

He's comfortable, doesn't seem to have any interest in hurling himself out and it means we can out off the evil moment of repeated putting-back-to-bed for as long as possible.

DS stayed in his until he was 3, and by then he could understand and be negotiated with concerning staying in bed.

We know loads of people who got kids into beds young, and then faffed around at bedtime for years, who bitterly envied us and our stupidly simple transition!

It doesn't matter if he stays in a cot bed for now but is it really about him or is it about you? You seem to equate the decision with a transition from him being your little baby to a boy. In reality he will still be your little man whether he sleeps in a cot bed or in a bed.

I would look at it another way. He is old enough to know the difference between a cot bed and a bed so why not ask him if he would like to have a new bed? If he says yes then part of the process can be going to the shop and choosing one together and make it fun. If he says no then leave it for now. Either way it's nothing to stress over, you'll be fine.