Help moving Ds from a cot to a bed

[bubbaloo]

Ds is only 17 months old,but baby number 2 is due in 4 months and I really want to get him settled into a bed before then,partly because I'll need the cot and also because I think it will make things easier.
Anyway...Dh has been off all week,so we thought now was a good time to get him a bed,incase he plays up etc...I wouldn't have to deal with it on my own.We bought a lovely bed on Monday and Ds really took to it and even played on it for over an hour,before we took it upstairs.The first 2 nights were fine-he went down with no probs at 6pm and came into us at 8am.The last couple of days have been completely different though.He has refused to have his morning nap and at bedtime is refusing to stay in the bed.He is virtauly running about upstairs laughing,really enjoying the "fun" while we're slowly going mad.We have taken him back to bed about 40 times both nights and even brought him downstairs which we never do,and finally after about 2 hours he goes to bed,very tired and we're pulling our hair out.He has also been waking very early in the morning these last couple of days and coming into us at 5.30 and not wanting to go back to bed.He loves the independance of being able to run around upstairs and play in his room and also seems to love getting in and out of his bed,but it's really taking it's toll on us.
I knew it wasn't going to be easy and obviously it's all new to him and he is still a baby afterall,but he took to it so well to start with which has now made it harder.We finally had enough tonight and put his cot back in his room and took the bed out.I feel really guilty and know this isn't the best thing to do,but I don't know what the answer is.When he went up to bed(back in his cot) he cried for what seemed like ages(probably about 10 mins) and was clearly upset,but then fell asleep and is still asleep.I'm now wondering what I should've done and whether to put the bed back tomorrow,as it's really bothering me.

Any advice....please!!!!!!!!!

keep him in his cot - buy or borrow another one if/when you need to. My dd's were two and a half when they went into beds, they are small for such a short while, they can't tell the time / have little sense and therefore need containing 'til you are ready for them to get up. Peace should be restored, you will again be in control and you can rest and focus on growing that new baby.

my ds was 2 in sept and hates the bed!!
Wont the new baby be in a moses basket or similar for a bit anyway so that buys you a bit more time.
Its up to you really can you stand a few more nights like this and hope you crack it?
Maybe put him to sleep in his cot and move him later?
I dont really know!! try put him down for his daytime nap in his bed, when its not too important if he gets up.
Put a stair gate on the door so he cant escape the room?

We did the stairgate on the bedroom door when dd moved to a bed. She was about 18 months old at the time (likewise moved to accommodate new baby). It worked well.

when I had DS2, he was in the moses basket for a month & then we had to move DS1 aged 20 months into new room & new bed - very traumatic with him crying on the landing until he fell asleep in exhaustion.

Then we did a super nanny trick - I sat on the floor in his bedroom until he feel asleep - no talking no eye contact & then gradually each night sat nearer the door, until I sat outside the door and then stopped. It was less painful that way.

Don't know how you feel about doing that pregnant - maybe leave it for a while as he will be nearly 2 by the time you really need the cot and it's amazing the communication difference there is in those 6 months.

We moved DS to a bed at around 19m, as DD was already 4m old and desperately needed the cot! We did the stairgate on the door thing and it worked really well. Admittedly, he did fall asleep on the floor in front of the gate a few times, but soon got the hang of it and was very ok with the transition - no screaming, etc. However, DD will be 2 in Jan and I have absolutely no intention of putting her in a bed until she is much older! I have tried - twice - but she is very defiant and refuses point blank to go to sleep. She has just started nursery 3 days a week and still has a day time nap, every other child in her class goes to sleep on mats on the floor but my DD has to be put in a travel cot - its the only way they can get her to sleep!
I suppose what I'm trying to say is don't do it until he is ready - both of you will find the transition much easier that way.

Thanks for your replies.

Yes,the new baby will be in with us in the travel cot for a few months,which although does give us a little extra time,I was hoping to get Ds settled before the baby arrived,so he didn't feel the baby would be taking his cot away from him and I'd be less stressed(if that's possible!)as he wouldn't be coming into us in the night when the baby(and us) are trying to sleep.
The stairgate on the door sounds like a good idea.We currently only have them on the stairs,so I may try that and see if it works.
Think maybe we'll leave him in his cot and try again around March time and hope it goes smoothly,as the baby is due in April.