3 year old doesn't want the bars off her cotbed

[Iggleonk]

All her friends now sleep in beds but when I suggested to DD she could do the same and we could take the bars off, she was adament she likes it how it is i.e. bars on.

She NEVER tries to climb out (in fact she lies in bed in the morning shouting "Come and get me, it is morning time!"). She is potty trained and dry all night. I feel like taking the bars off is the last big step to being a big girl and I am quite happy that we leave them on but should I take them off?

Lots of the friends that have done that already are now experiencing the toddler in the bed in the middle of the night which I really don't want as we have an 8 month old.

What is the latest I should leave it?.....

Leave it until she asks. Maybe she is clinging to the last bit of "babyhood" - as a reaction to you having a new baby.

I'd leave it until she feels ready.

Leave it until she is happy. When my children were little (seems like a million years ago) we didn't have these fancy cot beds (grief I sound old!) We put them straight into ordinary beds with a safety guard at either side. They could get out by climbing around them at the bottom of the bed but couldn't fall out. Because they didn't actually restrict them getting in and out we left them on later than three, til they were about 4/5. Had a real struggle with one of my DCs though on 6th birthday. DC cried because they didn't want them removed. Said they made them feel "safe". She probably sees it as the last step to being a big girl too. Maybe she's not feeling ready to be a big girl yet? Does she have to be?

Hmm, I left it until 3.5 and ended up in A&E with a huge gash in his forehead because he climbed out and slipped

Put a thick rug by the cot and remove any toys near it if you are going to leave the bars on