Safe sleeping advice for an 18 month old?

[Stephanieava]

Hey guys!

I’m just wondering if anybody has any advice please

My DC is 19 months in 11 days. I was wondering if I should be introducing a pillow &/or duvet? Also still got our cotbed with all sides up

Sleep is really good still. A good solid 10-12 hours a night. Got DC in a sleep suit that is suitable for upto 20c but I always feel the bare sheet is cold and just doesn’t look cosy!

Are we still ok to literally just have a bare bed with a sleepsuit only (and clothes under obviously) or should we be introducing a pillow and stuff. Also should the sides come down?

Not sure when the right age is and lots of contradicting advice

thanks guys x

No advice but following as wondering about the same thing!

I think it depends on the baby tbh. My eldest tosses and turned and flipped about the cot all night so he was over 2 before we introduced a duvet and even then it took him a while to learn to sleep in one spot all night!

DC2 has had a pillow (a flat adult one) for about 6 weeks now and he has just turned 17 months. He sleeps perfectly on it, but still has a sleeping bag and still has all sides on the cot as he's not showing any signs of wanting out of it. When they start climbing out I move to a bed.

I think that’s fine! If your DC is sleeping well they must be warm and comfortable?

We introduced pillow and duvet when my DS grew out of sleeping bags around the age of 2 (he’s very tall). We kept the cot sides up for ages until he was almost 3 - he loved it and didn’t ever try to climb out. Of course if your DC ever attempts climbing out you will have to take the side down for safety.

Ours was in a cot until over 2 and quite happy. Sleeping bag until 19 months. Light duvet after that, no pillow until in toddler bed. In toddler bed til 4.

Ge never climbed out of cot and only once fell out of toddler bed.

He was very prem, if you are wondering about size. Suffice to say, still in age 2 clothes in Reception year

It's fine go introduce a pillow at this age.

However, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

The bare sheet isn't cold. If they're in a sleeping bag still then they're just as cosy as they would be under a duvet- more so if they're inclined to kick a duvet off. There's no real need to change anything if you have a good routine and your child sleeps so well.

Mine is 28 months and has been under a duvet with thin toddler pillow since about 20 months because I got sick of the faff of sleeping bags at bedtime. They're expensive every time you need to size up too.

Sides are still up on the cot though and won't be coming off any time soon. I can see us making 3 years old at this rate with him still in a cot.

Just go with what works for you.

With my first I didn't bother taking the side off until I was potty training as she showed no signs of getting out. She also still sleeps under her pillow rather than on it. So with my second I'm just keeping things as they are , rather than bothering to change anything any time soon .

if you're getting 10-12 hours a night I wouldn't change a thing!

Sleep is really good still. A good solid 10-12 hours a night

Don’t change anything until this changes.

Ours is 3 and still happy in a cot with sides up and a sleeping bag!

Advice on a cot is when they start trying to climb out/are too tall for it. For us DD was coming up quite high on the bars. Usually 2-3 years for most. We moved to a double bed which was so much easier!

Pillows. I've read a lot of advice saying 3-4 years ideally. Not for safety but more for back/neck/spine health. We offered one earlier but she never used it. Has only in part used one now at 3.5.

Quilt. Again tried it. She kicked it off and got cold and woke up. At 3.5 she still has a light weight sleeping bag (they go up to adult sizes!) And a light weight quilt. It means when she often kicks the quilt off shes not frozen instantly. More sleep for everyone. In summer sleeping bag is off and its just quilt or lighter if really warm.

Safe sleep wise you're fine with a quilt and pillow now if you want one. But expect some wakes when they get cold.

We moved our daughter at around 2 to a toddler bed with a duvet and pillow. Before this she was in a cot with a sleeping bag and sleeping really well. The only reason we had for moving her to a bed out of the cot at the time was because I was expecting and we wanted her to get used to her bed while we only had her to focus on before her brother came along and he needs the cot. I'd say if it's all working for you as it is at the moment then stick with it for now.

We did a pillow and a duvet around 1. Can’t quite remember why but I think he started waking in the night again and it was one of the (many) things we tried to improve his sleep. We didn’t take the cot sides down until he climbed out though at around 2 and we just moved him straight into a toddler bed.

Agree with pp - if it isn't broke, don't fix it. You could create all kinds of problems! Our daughter is 2.5 and still in a cot and sleeping bag 🤷‍♀️

I have no idea how I ended up on this thread! Sorry! Asked HQ to delete...

With my first, cot sides stayed up until around 3. Introduced a flat follow around 2.5 I think as he had a horrid cold and I wanted to see if lifting his head would help at all. Changed to a duvet around 3 as well when he grew out of the sleeping bag. My second is also 19 months and is still in the cot bed with sides up, no pillow and in a sleeping bag. In the last few months he has wanted to take a small toy to bed with him which my eldest didn’t until around 3.

I kept DD in a cot til after 3. She was happy with the sides up, I knew she was safe.

she only got a pillow around 3.5 and to be honest, I go in now and it’s somewhere other than Under her head. She’s 4 now.

Small cot quilt I did at 2.5 ish when she outgrew her sleeping bags.

none of it’s been a problem for us.

Yep, my 3 year old is also still in a sleeping bag with the bars on the cot. I really don't understand the desire to rush babies (toddlers really are still babies) into actual beds with pillows/duvets etc. A sleeping bag guarantees they stay a consistent temperature through the night. And as for removing the bars - jesus, why unleash a toddler to roam freely until it is absolutely necessary. Can't think of anything worse. As others have said, if it ain't broke, don't mess with it!

Both our DD went into a bed with duvet and pillow on their first birthday. Both were walking by then, but never got out, they just used to shout for us. Eldest has always loved to be tucked in really tight, youngest folds it around her in a nest

Sides come off when they climb because they’re then a danger, or when they need to access the potty - whichever comes first. One of mine was 3, the other was 13 months!! If the child is under 3 I’d consider putting a stairgate on their door to stop wandering, a high one for dogs if they’re a climber.

Duvet and pillow can be anytime from 1 but there’s no rush. Personally I think it’s easier to do the transition in the summer, so they won’t get cold if they don’t stay under the covers. Then by the time winter hits they’re used to it.

If it isn't broken- don't fix it. I would not be risking any change here if sleep is currently good!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Your child sleeps well, why would you need to change anything?

I wouldn’t change things. If LO is comfy they are comfy! It might not be what looks comfy to you but they’ll let you know.
I think we got a duvet around 2, because they outgrew the sleeping bags, but 10-12 hours sleep is a blessing.

My philosophy is "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

Honestly- if what you're doing works-don't change it. Why would you?