DS 23mo wanting to sleep in big bed but not 'ready'?

[Wylye]

Not sure what to do, any advice welcomed!
DS is 23 months old, small for his age, and throws himself around a lot in his sleep.
He's still in a cot, hasn't started climbing out, and used to settle easily.
We have a high single bed in his room, with a trundle under it, which he's meant to move in to.

After bath, he loves to tuck himself into bed in our room, pulling the duvet up etc. Now he's started to do the same in the single bed in his room.

Recently he's taken ages to settle, screaming for ages, and if I'm stood there cuddling him, he's pulling and reaching for the big bed.
If I put him in the big bed he tucks himself in happily.

Longwinded explanation, sorry! but, does this mean he's 'ready'?
I worry that he'd fall out of the big bed, it's really high up, and he wriggles all around in his cot. Even with side guards added, I'm not sure he'd be safe.

Options are;
Leave him in the cot a bit longer.
Adapt his cot into a cotbed (DH is a carpenter!)
Put him in the big bed with guards and hope for the best.
Dismantle the big bed, and try him on the trundle?

Whaddya reckon?

My dd2 was the same and we put her in a single bed with a bed guard. We had a couple of nights when she kept getting out but we kept putting her back until she stayed we also put a stair gate on her bedroom door so she can't wander out at night near the stairs. She goes to bed really nicely and hasn't fallen out so far...

DD1 went into a single (with drawers underneath so I imagine same sort of height) at 18 months as we needed the cot for DD2's arrival and I was too tight to buy another one

She needed a step to get on and then had a bed guard at the top to stop her falling. We also turned the single duvet round and had it across the bed, so loads of extra fabric to tuck her in.

Could you pull the trundle out a bit, so if he does fall out he'll land on that instead of the floor?

DD just moved into a single bed (with drawers underneath so fairly high). She is also small and very much a wriggler when she was in her cotbed - we often found her at one end or the other, upside down etc.

We put her in the single bed - she too was climbing in and pulling up covers - when she was 22 months. We tried an afternoon nap, also put stairgate on her room door. She got up 5 times in first 5 minutes, then that was it. She has never got up since until the morning and has slept much better - doesn't really move at all. We have a bed guard on too.

Thank you everyone!

Sounds like we need to buy bed guards ASAP! I'll try to order some tonight, he took ages to settle tonight, when I went back up to settle him he was reaching for the big bed and pointing at it - he's not subtle!

Good idea about pulling the trundle out Bedhog :)

We have a stairgate at the top of the stairs, so that will stay on all night.

Sounds like he's ready for a bed! Does the trundle have a mattress? Could he sleep on that to start with?

Yes it does, but not much room to pull it out - it takes up the whole room! We bought it as a future bed for DS that could be an emergency double bed.

It might work for the first few days tho - but I think half the appeal is that he's climbing UP into bed! :)

I may be a bit of a harsh mum but I didn't get bed guards - I figured DD had to learn not to fall out of bed. Surely eventually you will take guards away? So for the first about 5 nights she fell out and then ever since she has been fine!

I see what you mean, but DS flails around so much I don't think he'd learn quickly! He's sound asleep when he thrashes about.
I guess I'll take the bed guards away when I stop finding him upside down!

Now I'm wondering if I should keep him in his grobags, or start him on duvets.... :)

Update!

Last night he screamed so much I ended up in his room all night, we both got very little sleep. He would only settle in the big bed, and tbh it was a complete nightmare.

We have ordered Magic Bumpers but out of desperation to avoid a repeat of last night, we rolled up some blankets and wedged them under the single bed sheet - voila! One toddler safe bed.
I set up all his toys and blankets and he was very very excited when he saw the bed all ready for him. :)
The trundle is pulled out halfway in case he falls, and makes a perfect step for him to climb up anyway.

He settled as soon as we put him down, not a peep of protest, and conked out within minutes. Hasn't moved since!

Happy boy, happy me. :)
Thank you for all the advice, fingers crossed its all sorted!