Moving to a big bed after one failed attempt....

[Judessis]

Advice please! Tried moving DS into toddler bed from cot 3 months ago (he's 25 months now BTW) and was a disaster.... Need to try again as he can now get his leg onto the top bar of the cot and will be out soon (this is a child who has climbed 6 foot trellis and loves the loft ladder and had a broken arm at 14 months from climbing off the sofa when I was sat next to him ....) but he is still not sleeping properly since the first attempt so not sure whether to try again now or wait until we have the sleeping sorted, but don't want to try controlled crying....
So I guess the questions are:
Is waking between 9.30 and 11 (every night for no apparent reason) potentially due to the cot?
Should I use controlled crying to sort this before the move to the big bed
Would a bed rail help (we didn't use one last time as the bed is low)
Any other tips/advice/support?

How was the first attempt a disaster?

I would talk to him about his new bed, have a look with him at bed guards like Argos book, Mothercare and let him choose one.

Use the bed for naps and stories.

Could you lower the cot rail?

I don't like CC, i prefere to resettle, resettle, resettle . . . . . as they feel secure and responded to when they are anxious.

Thanks for this - makes me feel better that I'm not the only one who finds the thought of CC a bit harsh
First one was a disaster as he just wou;d not go to sleep - and keeping him in the bed was almost impossible - we tried rapid return (got to 50 before he fell asleep the first night, then improved but stopped working after a few nights), then tried timeout for getting out of bed (spent 2 hours doing time out...), and then tried leaving him to it - 2 hours later he's pushing the bed round the room (little rotter!). Asked him if he wanted to go back into his cot (as a threat) and he looked relieved, laughed and grinned at me - then (when I'd built it with his help as DH was at work) slept straight through - and I think that was the last time he slept without getting us up in the evening....

Had the same problems with naps and when used for stories (although TBH the mattress feels a bit thin when we're sitting on it but I could do with loosing 3 stone...).

So that's the last time.

Can't lower the cot as the side doesn't drop - when we bought it, I couldn't do any of them 1 handed so didn't bother.

Tonight I have dispensed with the grobag and put him in long pjs with a thin (4tog) duvet (sideways with half under the mattress) and a thin pillow - he is still awake 20 minutes later but is chattering away so that's OK.

Also had a chat to him tonight about not waking up for a cuddle and he looked really cross - will see what happens tonight.....

in bed or cot been a long day.

i would either persevere with the rapid returns, did see a child that had over 200 one night and then very few to none.

or stay in the room, no eye contact or talking, just putting him in bed each time he gets out.

on house of tiny tearaways that is

Yes, saw that - suspect DH was talking to him... despite being asked not to , any ideas about whether I should sort out the waking before moving?

Has got to 21.25 and not stirred yet - everything I've got two of crossed!! Will update in the morning!

Oh well, another bad one.. did CC by default as he was screaming so much before we got to him the first time he lost his voice and only had the power for a few more goes....
Still, we managed to avoid drugging/feeding him which has been the pattern so far, and I had to wake him up this morning to get him ready for nursery....Here's hoping that tonight will be better.

WOW, keep it up, sounds like he really caught up with his sleep, a few more nights and you could well have it cracked.

Another better night - woke at 10.35 and grizzled for 5 minutes, then settled, woke again about 20 mninutes later and grizzled again for another few minutes, then settled and slept through, and again had to be woken for nursery this morning. . Still v hoarse though (mean Mummy!!). Am feeling much more positive, and lovely neighbour has lent us a bed guard so if we do have to go to a cot to prevent him jumping out of the cot, we can at least have a psychological barrier against getting up... Thanks for all the support and helpful comments!