Nightmare Toddler Transition to Bed

[Huffpot]

Hi all
We have recently removed the sides to DS's (2.10) cot and made it into a cotbed as he has been climbing out and we are afraid that he will hurt himself.

We have always had a good bedtime routine and he has always been a good sleeper.

Since taking the side off the cot though he is just not staying it.

He shares a room (through necessity) with DS (1.11) and other than a few giggles and talking never had a problem.

Now I think he's showing off and its turning into a nightmare ending up with us (the parents) stressed and the boys overtired and screaming. It took 2.5 hours last night.

I'm debating putting the little one to bed first but think this may just upset him as although theres an 11 month age gap he thinks he's entitled to all the same treatment and will be upset without his brother.

Have tried taking things away but its just not working with him.

Any ideas gratefully welcomed!

Could DS2 sleep in your room for a while?

We used the whole pep talk thing. Before bed I would say to DS2 how proud of him we'd be if he could show us how brill he was at sleeping in his 'big boy' bed. I would then specify that this meant going to sleep nicely and not getting out of bed.

DS2is quite a monkey but this chat and all the praise he gets every morning has made his transition from cot to bed so much easier than we had with DS1.