how to transfer from cot to bed

[redwellybluewelly]

DD is 28months and still wakes between 3-4 times a night. We have always coslept for at least part of the night. We have slowly been decorating a room for her with a single bed in it (her cot and a double bed are in our spare room), she has very much been a part of this and knows it's her room.

Tonight was the night when we decided ahead was ready to move from the cot to the single and she happily agreed is as much as she can. Stories went ok she laid down to sleep but then burst into tears and asked to go to her cot where she wiggled and settled instantly.

I used her cot sheet and cot pillow in the single, how should I have done this? Should we have started with naps first? Putting the cot in the little room? No room to put the single in the spare room. I really hoped that this would be a success but we have moved too fast for her obviously.

Help!

Sorry its not clear she has always been a part of decorating the new room knowing she will move into it

Maybe get her used her room in cot (even if you have to dismantle bed and put it elsewhere for a while) first, then change from cot to bed. She may understand in theory that it is going to be her room, but in practise, het first night in a new room, everything is different for her.

Hmm. Yes. I had hoped that by having a single when she woke in the night we would go to her rather than her come in with one of us in the spare room iyswim

And the bed was a right arse to put together!

She has always had big challenges with sleep so it's not a surprise we failed

Both of ours went straight from a cot to a bed without any transition, and they were fine. Sorry, not trying to sound smug, but just reassure that you haven't done anything "wrong", though my experience means I don't have any useful advice to offer...

Yes, DS transfered straight from cot to bed at 20 months, but had been sleeping in his room for naps and nights since he wasva few months old. When he went into a bed, he used to get out and come into our room when he woke in night.

With DD1 we put the single bed in her room with her cot initially. She was 21 months. She was very keen to go in the bed initially but when it came to bedtime she didn't want to. We didn't push it so she slept in her cot.

We offered her the bed every evening and after about a week, maybe two she wanted the bed... Never asked for cot again. Can you fit the cot in "her room"? She'll get used to it then, take a step at a time.

We decided not to rush her (although would have done are a while as DD2 was on her way) and luckily she wanted the bed soon enough.

About to go through the same thing with DD2 however she now shares a room with DD1 and don't think we'll have room to keep cot in there so hoping she's okay and be keen to be like her big sister!! :)

PS have you got a bed guard?

Unless you need the cot for another dc on the way, why not wait a bit? 28 months is still quite young and there is no rule which says they need to move to a bed when they are just 2 . Lots of child profs suggest that it is easiest to move a child to a bed between 2.5 and 3 . I moved dd1 at 2.9 and there were no issues - and she is not good with transition generally. She would not have been ready at 28 months but was a few months later. No plans to move dd2 until she is at least 2.5 good luck whatever you do.

Keep the bed up, but also have her cot in the same room and let her sleep in it until she gets used to that room.
Then move her into the bed and put a bed guard on.
I did this with all of mine

Thank you everyone, we do have a Lindam bed guard.

We could wait as there is no need for the cot for a few months but its a small cot - not a cotbed and she has well and truly grown out of it, also able to climb out as and when she has a mind.

We can't fit the cot & the single in the small room which is hers - I'm intending on moving all her clothes (and sorting them at the same time) tomorrow to the 'new room' and putting her favourite toys up there too. We will do as you suggest iloveholidays and go very slowly, we are all about to have a 2 week break from nursery/work etc and so lots of opportunities to nap at home in the new room with me.