Won't stay in her bed !!

[Lizzi]

I've got a problem with my 23 month old DD. She seemed ready for moving to a bed, so we bought one and set it all up in her room. She loves it, she gets in and out, puts teddies to bed in it, pretends to go to sleep in it herself and genuinely seems to want to go to sleep in it - BUT - she cannot resist getting out as soon as we leave the room ! Even when she is so tired that her eyes are closing she still gets out and runs around !

Someone told me to tie her in with reins - but that sounded a bit barbaric, someone else said to move her into the bed once she was asleep and she's get used to waking up in it ! At the moment she's still sleeping in the cot - and there's no real reason to push the issue - so I'm inclined to just go with the flow.

Anyone cracked this one and got any advice for me ?

Lizzi, are you sure that when you put dd to bed that the room is dark enough? I leave the landing light on but in their rooms is dark. You could try putting a travel stair gate up at her door or push the cot up snug against the bed so that when she looks out of her bed she sees the cot bars.

I'd keep the cot for a bit if I were you. Even Gina doesn't believe in getting kids out of cots too soon (See! I have read her!). Sounds like you have an easier life with her in a cot, which has to be good.

Yes, I'd stick with the cot, too. Let sleeping dogs (and children!) lie and all that.

I wouldn't be tempted to tie her into bed, because of the danger of strangulation, of which there were a few tragic cases some years ago.

I'd keep her the cot as long as possible. Had exactly the same trouble with my daughter at 2, after being very easy to put to bed in a cot. 2 months of very stressful evenings dealt with with a hotch potch of contolled crying, stairgates, ignoring etc etc etc! 3 years later still have to hold her hand and say 'I'm going downstairs in 1 minute' exactly three times before can escape her room.

I'd delay the awfulness as long as possible!

Thanks everyone, I agree totally - she can sleep in her cot just as long as she likes !

oh yes.. keep her in the cot as long as the cot isnt dangerous for her (I mean she isnt dangerous in the cot) i.e she cant climb out or get her legs/arms stuck in the bars leave her as long as youre still getting a peaceful nights sleep!