Page 2 | 3 year old, cotbed sides and sleeping bag

PinkDaydreams · 2020-11-29T07:54:50+00:00

Morning! Nearly 3 year old son is still in a cot bed and sleeping bag. I'm wondering when to take the sides off the cot bed? He isn't trying to climb out which makes me think should I just leave things as they are? He won't use a quilt or pillow, pillow gets thrown out every night. I've tried the quilt but he gets so upset not being in his bag, it's like he associates the sleeping bag with going to sleep. I'm worried he will fall out of bed if I take the sides off and leave him in a bag though. What should I do wise mumsnetters?!

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Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 29/11/2020 08:22

Double checked and it's the mamas and papas Rocco cotbed he is in which is suitable up to 4 years.

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Duckchick · 29/11/2020 08:32

DS had the sides on his cot bed until age 3.5 and he was in a back for most of that time. We'd asked him if he wanted the sides off from about age 3 but he got really upset at the idea, he was really attached to them. We told him they had to come off at age 4 and left it, but he suddenly decided age 3.5 he wanted them off. For traveling, we kept him in the travel cot until then. After then, we've given him the choice of using a big bed but until age 5 his preference was to take the travel cot mattress and put it on the floor (he sleeps curled up so it wasn't a problem it being too small).

What does your DS want to do? I wouldn't rush changing anything, our experience is they will suddenly be ready and it'll be really easy.

Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 29/11/2020 08:36

@Duckchick

DS had the sides on his cot bed until age 3.5 and he was in a back for most of that time. We'd asked him if he wanted the sides off from about age 3 but he got really upset at the idea, he was really attached to them. We told him they had to come off at age 4 and left it, but he suddenly decided age 3.5 he wanted them off. For traveling, we kept him in the travel cot until then. After then, we've given him the choice of using a big bed but until age 5 his preference was to take the travel cot mattress and put it on the floor (he sleeps curled up so it wasn't a problem it being too small).

What does your DS want to do? I wouldn't rush changing anything, our experience is they will suddenly be ready and it'll be really easy.

What does my son want to do? Do you know what, I hadn't actually thought of this from my son's point of view. I've been feeling a little pressured into what others think. Son has autism, speech delay and is behind with his understanding. I think my son would prefer a sleeping bag and keep the sides up, he seems happy anyway.

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minnie465 · 29/11/2020 08:50

@PinkDaydreams my DS sounds exactly the same as yours! He's 2 yrs 8 months.
I've a duvet and pillow all ready. I think he associates his sleeping bag with sleep too. Im just leaving it for now but I don't know will he just decide on his own 🤷‍♀️ and can you get gro bags for over 3s? he goes mental if I try the pillow or duvet

Duckchick · 29/11/2020 09:20

@PinkDaydreams my DS isn't autistic, but doesn't like change. From what I could get him to articulate, the sides made him feel safe at night - I wouldn't rush if you don't think it's a change he'd like, it could be very upsetting for him. You have plenty of time, DS is still in his cot bed as a very tall almost 6 year old - there's a big bed there for him to move into but he doesn't want to yet (I know your cot bed has an age limit of 4 but as long as it doesn't collapse under your weight if you sit on it it's hardly going to collapse under his when he's sleeping in it).

With the sleeping bag, we waited until it got a bit small and then picked a duvet cover with him with his favourite things on - he got very excited about it. We had no trouble with it, but then with the sides still on the duvet couldn't fall off at night to make him not like it, and by the time we took the sides off he was completely used to the duvet.

KormaKormaChameleon · 29/11/2020 11:29

My toddler liked his sleeping bag, when he grew out of a size we got him a duvet with things he liked on it and made a big fuss of how good it was, then just put it in his bed but not over him (he was still in his bag), then eventually we covered him up with the duvet but gave him his bag to hold/have near him as well (it was a fleecy one so he liked the texture) then eventually just put him under duvet without bag and it was no problem.
So a kind of gradual transition...but don't be pressured to change anything if your child's happy.

Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 29/11/2020 11:34

Thank you so much for all of your replies, I wasn't expecting so many! I think I'm going to leave him as is for now as he's due to start nursery in January so don't want too much change all at the same time.
I'll continue trying to encourage the pillow and quilt use, we use his quilt to chill out in our bed at night before he goes into his bed.

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Incrediblytired · 29/11/2020 16:57

OP if your son has autism the sleeping bag might be meeting a sensory need, feeling snugger and more secure. It might be worth looking at weighted blankets? My SIL’s little boy has autism and a weighted blanket really helped him xx

Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 29/11/2020 17:42

@Incrediblytired

OP if your son has autism the sleeping bag might be meeting a sensory need, feeling snugger and more secure. It might be worth looking at weighted blankets? My SIL’s little boy has autism and a weighted blanket really helped him xx

Thank you so much for this, I hadn't even thought of it being a sensory comfort. I'll have a look for a weighted blanket for him

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JanewaysBun · 29/11/2020 17:45

My 13 month old climbs out but my 2yo is happy to stay in so not changing the status quo!

Bobbybobbins · 29/11/2020 17:55

My DS2 climbed out of his cot at about 18 months old. I was absolutely gutted that I had to take the sides off! My eldest never climbed out.

OverTheRainbow88 · 29/11/2020 17:59

My son was the same and finally moved him out of his cotbed with the sides up 3 weeks after his 4th birthday.

He feels happy, safe, secure and sleeps well. That’s all that matters

Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 07/12/2020 14:23

Me again hello!
Can I ask do any of you have any recommendations for a bed rail please? There's so much choice!

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PinGwyn · 07/12/2020 14:44

Try without first, we used a soft tube under the sheet as a bolster as DD seen any sort of barrier/fence/wall as a challenge to jump or climb 😂

Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 07/12/2020 14:49

He's extremely wriggly so I'm worried he will fall out. Also I'm thinking a rail won't be too much of a change from his cot bed sides

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Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 08/12/2020 18:35

I now have a bed rail for when we are ready to take the sides off :)
He will start nursery in the new year so I don’t think it’s wise for me to make any changes yet.

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Original poster

PinkDaydreams · 15/10/2021 13:46

Hello!
Following on from this thread...... currently on holiday and my DS hasn't been interested in his seeping bag and has slept with a quilt and pillow every night bar the first night. Admittedly he's in bed with us but will be back in his own bed once home. Do I take this jump now and take the sides off his cotbed and try encourage his own pillow and quilt again once home?? He's such a wriggler, but I have a bed guard there ready.
The first night we are home we get back at silly time so I'm thinking put him in our bed at home so as not to go back to the sleeping bag? Then take sides off during the day and convert it to a bed?

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