Is it just a phase?

[MichC]

My DS is 16 months old. Over the last few weeks he has been teething but coping really well. Not up in the night etc..

However, the last couple of weeks he has been waking regulary, crying, not in pain, and asking to go into the bed. Not neccessarily our bed, with us, just a bed.

He has now been doing this when going to bed. He doesn't want one of us with him he just wants the bed.

I thought of taking the side off of his cotbed but have been told he is too young and it will be a nightmare as he will keep getting up.

Any advice? Is it just a phase? It dopesn't happen every night but is becoming more regular and it is a nightmare to get him back to sleep in his cot, making us all tired in the morning!!

I suspect its just a phase - though some children are ready for beds earlier than others. Maybe you could take the side off his cot bed and put a guard on (so he feels like its a bed but he's secure in there)?

My first DS was in a bed at 15 months, and my DS2 at 17 months. My first was traumatised by his cot from day one - I think he hated the sides. We had much better sleep all round when he went into a bed. He did not keep getting out as he was too little to realise that he could get out. For me, it was easier if they woke up in the night because I could snuggle up with them (and stay half asleep at leats), then creep back in my own bed.

I just put a bed guard on a normal single bed and some big cushions on the floor, just in case.