Removing cot bars

[BlueThursday]

DD will be 2 at the start of next year and is still in her cot.

The cot itself has removable bars to make it into a bed and DH and I are debating whether to take the bars off.

I always said I'd leave the bars until she tried to climb over but it looks like she probably won't ever do that; she just calls for us if she wants us.

Would you remove the bars even though there's no real reason to other than she's now a bit older?

I'd leave them as long as possible tbh. Ds was 2 and a half when he switched from cot to bed

I'm thinking that. I put the stair gate on at night just in case one night she does manage to get out but every now and then I forget.

I'd be gutted if we took her bars off and also forgot the gate in case she fell down the stairs

what's the reason for removing the cot bars?

my DD is 2.5, she still has the bars on and i won't be removing them until she tries to climb out, which i don't think she will! she sleeps so well, i can't imagine disturbing that by letting her wander around wherever she wants. ha :)

No actual reason tbh, just felt that maybe we ought to

So long as we are not the weird family caging in their child

Yes it's a weird one. We took them off when dd was 3 because she outgrew the travel cot and had to sleep in a bed when we went away.

DS will be 2 early next year and we still have the bars on too. He hasn't attempted to climb out and I still like the fact he's contained! Not sure when we'll remove.

Honestly there's no rush! Dd1 was around 2 and 4 months when she went into a bed. We plan on getting bunk beds for both dc around this time next year when dd2 will be around 2.5 but until then she'll be in her cot.

Why the rush? My DC slept in their cots till they were 3yo. Their choice. We lowered the side once they'd learnt to climb out!

We had the same as Xmas - we were going on holiday somewhere with only normal beds or cots when ds was 2 and a half and too big for a cot. We had to bit the bullet. Ds was gleeful and ran in and out of his room for months at bedtime so I wouldn't rush!

All duly noted thank you, she'll be kept in till further notice

My wee boy is 2 and a half, I've often thought the same, but he's content enough and hasnt attempted to climb out. I go to him when he calls me. No rush.... 🙄

Mine turned 2 in july and we took the bars off then. Means he can come into our room when he wakes up so we dont have to get out of bed!

In a similar situation but for different reasons. My dd is almost 1 and has always absolutely hated her cot. We have tried everything but it is the worst nightmare possible, so she co-sleeps with us. However, in the new year we will be getting her a toddler bed (to be pushed up against our bed, with a guard rail on the other side), as we are currently teaching her how to climb down from things.

Whether or not you remove the bars is completely up to you; every baby and parenting situation is different. You could try removing the bars and if your baby becomes a hassle then put them back on, or you might find it works perfectly. There's no right or wrong time to do these things, although if your baby is fine with the bars up, you may just be causing problems for yourself by removing them lol

God I wish my dd would sleep in a cot!

Dd1 was 3 when we took the bars off! It meant more then as she felt like a "big girl". One thing we were prepared for was she kept rolling out of bed for a few weeks as she wasn't used to the bars not "saving" her, rarely happens now though, we'd put a soft landing there for her when it did happen!

We moved DS1 into a toddler bed just after he turned 2 (needed the cot for DS2) and he didn't really realise that he could climb out of bed. I guess he just didn't make the connection. A year and a half on and he has only got out of his cot in the morning and has never(!) climbed out after bedtime.