Advice as to what to do when DD has grown out of travel cot, but not yet ready for big bed.

[MrsMoppetMama]

I wonder if anyone has some advice, my DD is 22 months and usually sleeps really well in her cot bed at home. She still has the sides on her cot because she's never tried to get out or really fussed about bedtime. However, she is now quite long and seems to find her travel cot too small or not comfy. Does this mean that it's time to teach her how to stay in bed at home without the sides on her cot or is there another solution to the travelling situation. I'm not keen to change things at home because it seems to work well, but we now feel that we can't stay places and use her travel cot as it takes so long and so many tears to get her settled. Please help!!

Our ds is 2 and sleeps in a little nest next to us when we are overnight guests made up of a folded sleeping bag or duvet and a blanket on top. He loves it. I've never owned a travel cot and before dd came along he'd sleep with us.

Have you put extra padding in the travel cot? The mattresses are horrible usually. Worth a try?

Thanks for the replies. We have put extra padding under her, but it just seems to be the whole concept of the travel cot that was a problem last night.

at about the same age, we bought a travel cot the same length and width as a standard cot as like you, we found the travel cot was too short. Also, a slim type of mattress. We also used it in the house as a playpen so our DD was used to it.

We felt happier when we were away on holiday that we knew were she was. No attempts to climb out though.

If your DD has gone off the whole idea though you may not want to invest!

DD was in her cot at home until almost aged 3.

could you try somthing like this?

Air beds are good - they have high sides at the head and the cover is sewn on so the legs can't roll off.

We have one for DS on holiday and he loves it.

Ah ok. Well we moved ds to a bed at around a similar age. He was actually fine the first couple of weeks then it got a bit hairy then settled down again.

Thanks, we'll look at the ready beds. I think that's what worries me CreatureRetorts, her sleeping and bed time are excellent at the mo and it seems silly to rock the boat (or cot!) but we need to be able to go away from time to time.

I've never been great at making decisions!

Phone hotel reception, ask for 4 extra squishy duvets, and build a cozy nest. I have done this many, many times with DD from 6 months till now, a 7 year old. If she rolls out, wanders around in her sleep, it isn't a big deal, because hotel rooms are very very safe, they have to be. More than a few times we found her fallen asleep under the desk in the morning.

Even now, sleeping on a nest, is a big treat for her.

Ds slept on his cot mattress on the floor - he loved it!