At what age do you remove the sides from the cot bed?

[Summerbird73]

Hi - please settle an argument!

DS is 21mo. He is in a cot bed and i think he is ready to have the sides taken down. He sleeps well, wakes early but doesnt like us lifting him out of the cot. I think he would be fine waking in a bed and if he is restless in the morning he can get up and play with his toys.

DH doesnt think he is anywhere near ready. His argument is that we cant communicate properly with DS, for example if he is restless at night and wont settle, DH reckons he will be in and out of his cot (honestly - once DS goes to sleep he is out for the count unless he wakes up all sweaty).

I have said we can put a long pillow next to the bed in case he falls out (DH reckons he will). The bed is low anyway.

My view is that we have years of possibly chasing him in and out of bed! Also if we wait until we can communicate with him properly we could be waiting until he is 3!

What age did you all put them in a bed/remove the cot guards?

Thanks in advance

dd was in a bed around the age of 2 and ds was 2 1/2. I would leave them on as long as possible as at least then they are contained and cant get up to mischief

My older 2 both started climbing over the bars at 2 ish, so the sides had to go. My youngest had hers taken off about 2 weeks ago, she is 3.6, but very wilful and I knew it would be a nightmare until we could fully reason with her and tbh she was happy as she was.

DS1 2 and DS2 2 1/2. Both were trying to climb over the top of the cot sides.

OK i think we will wait until DS is trying to climb the cot, as you have said it keeps tantrums and mischief contained

thanks for the advice - i now have to go and tell DH he was right - god i hate doing that!