The dreaded cot bed!

[Familyguyfan]

Hi all,

I'm posting this before I burst into tears. My 25 month old daughter has moved from a cot into a cot bed (same bed just with the sides taken off). She's a great sleeper, 1-2 hours nap in an afternoon, in bed by 7, asleep by 8, awake at 6.40ish.

However, with the freedom of not being in a cot, this has all gone to pot. She refuses to nap, won't go to sleep when put to bed (it was 9.30 last night when she went to sleep) and I am losing my mind. I am up and down the stairs like a yo-yo. I have a really pressurised and awful job and a deadline looming, a husband who is working away and I'm worried that I just can't cope.

Please help me!!

Put her back in the cot? It is obviously big enough since you're using the same one as a bed.

I kept my DSs in the cotbed (with sides on) until they were 3.4 (DS1) and 2.10 (DS2). DS2 has just moved into a bed this week - he's staying in, but I am certain he wouldn't have six months ago.

Mind you, I tend to do all these sorts of things (moving to a bed, potty training etc) later than many people, because it seems to be much quicker and easier then, and less trouble for me disruptive for DCs.

I would suggest starting to cut out the afternoon nap and see how that works.
I took the sides off my DS's bed last night and used bribery of getting a new toy if he stayed in bed nicely, which seemed to work. I don't think it quite occured to him that he could get back out if he wanted to. BTW DS is a bit older than yours, turning 3 in mid July. I have been putting it off incase I had the same problem you are having!

Thanks for the suggestions. We only removed the bars (sounds like a cage!) because she has started throwing herself out of her cot and we were worried about her hurting herself. I could try and bribe her with a new toy, if the gaffe tape doesn't work!

oh, the throwing out is troublesome. Perhaps a lid for the cage cot

DS2 (nearly 3) doesn't seem to have the will power yet for bribes like that. He can barely manage the 'stay on your chair and you'll get pudding in a minute', let alone anything longer. I do, though, regularly threaten him at bedtime with the idea that his bed will be transformed back into a cot if he doesn't get in it, and that seems to have some effect.

My DD is 2.3 and we have had exactly the same issues (and so have all of her peer group, it is def an age thing).

A few things we've done which have worked well and got her to sleep a bit sooner:

Took the bars off but put a mesh bed guard on (kindly donated by SIL, Lindam one, only cheap), she was worried about falling out and it made her feel more secure. She also likes to line her teddies up along it.

No TV in the hour before bed. Not even Bedtime Hour downstairs. It was firing her imagination and there was all talk of dragons and monsters and bad dreams and noises (we are working on this!).

Having to begrudgingly admit that it may be time to give up the daytime nap and face a full one-shift day head-on .

Cutting down the daytime nap may definitely make a difference. You end up with a very grumpy overtired teatime for a while, but they do fall asleep quickly at night.

Thanks everyone. It's rather comforting just to know others are suffering. That sounds mean but I hope you all know what I mean. Strength in numbers!

I've cut down her nap and last night and today have been much better. I'm just hoping I've not spoken too soon. Thanks everyone for your suggestions and help. You've saved my sanity, well, what's left of it!