Experiences of putting 16mo in a proper bed?

[Needsweetstosurvive]

He is a terrible sleeper but settles well at bedtime by himself. The cot seems so small for him and I hear him constantly banging into the sides. Is it too soon to make the transition?

Yes! Wait until at least 2 IMO.

I only just moved dd2 this week, she's 2.5. It's been a breeze, she understands she needs to stay in bed, she can manage a big duvet, and also she's really v excited, talking about her big girl bed.

We moved one at about 18 months as he just climbed out of the cot. Had no problems and he did not seem to realise he could get out of the bed, so stayed put. Fell out a few times so we put a folded duvet next to the bed.

Had to take down the stair gates for the same reason.

DD went into her own bed at 18 months and it was fine

We moved our first into a bed at 17 months and it was fine.

We did it at 15 months. Best thing we ever did. Granted it was a toddler bed, but we decorated his room in his favourite cartoon which he then went off a week later and he's never slept better. Try it. We did it because he was climbing out the cot, wouldn't settle at night and clearly hated it. After, bedtime was a dream!!!

We did 14 months here. First two nights we stayed with her, but she enjoyed that far too much and just batted out heads a lot until falling alseep 1.5hrs later than usual. On the third night we walked out after the usual bedtime routines (as we would have when she was in the cot). She got out of bed twice, and we put her straight back, and left again swiftly. She stayed put on day 4, but got out of bed in the morning (5am!) and came stomping through (day 5 too). Day 6-10 had a few more random early mornings or night wakings that were a bit unusual for her, but eventually it all settled down. I would say it got back to 'normal' properly within 3 weeks.
Hope that helps!