Cot or bed

[sykes]

Am about to move younger dd into a bed - she's two. Last move (for older dd) was forced by needing cot for younger dd - if you see what I mean. Wonder if this is the right age to move her/any problems associated with keeping children in cots until much older. Have heard of someone who keeps her four year old in a cot to make her life easier - it has a net or something over the top. Must stress don't know her and would never do it but surely that's unkind, at the least?

DD was 1.10 when she went into a bed - best thing ever!!! It stopped her from waking in the night, as she didn't bump the sides of the cot. We didn't even bother with a safety rail, as that's something else to wean them off!! She has only fallen out about 4 times in a yr.

I left it up to my DS1 when he wanted to move to a bed - I just borrowed another cot for DS2. He moved to his bed when he was about 3.5. (we had the bed and the cot both up in his room for about six months.) He never tried to climb or jump out.

Am taking same approach with DS2 who slept in toddler bed for a week before rebelling and demanding his cot back! Recently he has started to ask again about his bed, so hopefully soon he will move into it of his own volition.

I agree that it seems unkind to keep a child in a cot when they actually want to sleep in a bed. I don't know of any other problems associated with keeping children in cots until much older.

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We've delayed buying a bed for dd (29 months) by taking the dropside off her cot. As she is so petite she has enough room lengthwise and has only partially rolled off once but remained asleep (since New year-ish). We have offered her a bed but she was not that keen so she just got some more "grown up" bedding instead. She does like the independence of being able to get herself up but is rarely any trouble. Guess our arrangement would not necessarily suit all personalities though.

Thanks, think will leave it until really necessary but having a general move around so will do in next couple of months. She's very good in her cot so seems a bit daft, really.

Sykes you don't want your daughter having a fear of confined places or ending up in prison because of the need for bars. Get her out now before you commit anymore psychological damage on the poor child. You silly woman

I think my dd1 was about 2 when we moved her into a bed. She hated it butr i was determined to not put her back in a cot so we worked it out in the end. My dd2 was about 3 i think, but that was because she was a terrible sleeper and i din't want to rock the boat.

I was going to ask a similar question as dd turned two in january. I don't see any real reason to move her into a bed as she has a cot bed which has plenty of room for her (and all her cuddly toys!) as she is quite small. She has never tried to climb out and is perfectly happy sleeping from 7pm - 7am. Most of my friends babies are in beds because they tried to climb out of their cots and think that its time dd had a bed. I'm not convinced its necessary.

Why do you want to move her? My ds is 2 and four months and I see no reason at all to put him in a bed. He doesn't try to climb out of his cot at all. I won't move him until either he can't physically fit into any more or he actively wants to sleep in a bed.

Sykes - I would wait until she becomes unhappy in her cot or starts trying to climb out. No rush, may as well get the use from it.

We moved our twin DDs into beds at about 15 months because they kept trying to climb out to get to each other and eventually one hurt herself.

ds1 went into a bed at 18 mths, ds2 at 22 mths - both because they were attempting to climb out.

Ds2 will still sleep in the travel cot if necessary, but climbs in and out at will - he's 2.5 now

DS moved to a bed at 27 months as he was starting to get a bit big for his cot. As he slept in a sleeping bag (until last week, when we introduced the duvet) he never climbed out of the cot and it also meant he stayed in the bed. We have put a fold-up rail on the side. I see no reason to move your DD unless she is too big or climbing out.

Moved DS at about 27 months. Wanted to get him used to sleeping in a bed because he was getting too big for travel cot and was also well over weight limit. He doesn't get up even now (aged 3) - just shouts for us.

I don't know what the cot design is like in the UK, but here in Germany they are designed so that the sides don't go up and down, but you can adjust the height of the mattress AND also you can remove two of the bars, so that they can get in and out without climbing over the top, but in the night still can't roll out. I think it is a fab idea as an inbetween solution. Then my cot converts to a bed. Tough to beat german technology and furniture.

My ds is still in a cot and he is 4.5! He loves it and often falls out of bed if we are away from home as he is so used to it. He is special needs but not physically disabled. He's never tried to climb out of the cot despite being able to. I think he just feels secure. However he does now reach the end of it and I am currently looking into getting a bed with guard. I always wonder why cots are made so big when people generally move their children out of them around age 2.

Agree a net over the top is cruel but otherwise if a child is happy to stay there then let them do it.

Sykes, i hope you are pleased with the advice