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Sleep

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Original poster

When did your LO move from a cot to a toddler bed?

37 replies

Justanothercyster · 27/04/2023 09:50

Just that really. I

have an 18mo and another on the way, but we have plenty of time (due December). I just don't want to go buying another full sized cot so hoping by the time the new addition grows out of the next to me, my other little one might be ready for a toddler bed 🙈

OP posts:

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MyLifeIsFullOfLemons · 27/04/2023 10:10

It was around 18 months.
DS was a terrible sleeper so we made the change in desperation.
He was then at least able to get out of bed and snuggle into ours himself at 5am or whenever, it saved us having to go and lift him out of the cot.

Caspianberg · 27/04/2023 10:20

We have a cot bed, so it’s the same one but side off. Ds started climbing out around 18 months so the Side came off soon after.

I wouldn’t buy another cot. I wouldn’t buy toddler bed either tbh unless you need for small space. Buy single mattress when your ready to move, and just use mattress 6 months or so then buy single bed and put mattress on it.

summerlovingvibes · 27/04/2023 10:21

about 18-20 months - same reason as you due to second baby. It worked well and at 2yrs 6 months she went into a single bed as we'd bad no problem with the cot bed. This then freed the cot bed up to be used again as a cot for the baby.

NameChange30 · 27/04/2023 10:50

My approach is to keep my kids imprisoned as long as possible Don't want them being able to get in and out. We have a cot bed ie bars can be removed to turn it into a toddler bed. DC1 started waking up to go for a wee (usually early morning) so that's when we took the bars off for him. I think he had recently turned 3. DC2 is 2y7m and I have no plans to remove the bars any time soon, unless she starts trying to climb out by herself. Going to potty train soon, but night time potty training usually takes longer, so I think we'll keep the bars for a while yet.

If your youngest stays in the next 2 me until they are 6 months old, then your oldest will be 2.5 when baby needs the cot, so you might be ok. However, we found it helpful to put baby in cot for daytime naps even when she still slept in the bedside crib at night. So might be worth bearing that in mind.

GinnyBee · 27/04/2023 12:28

I transitioned mine into a queen size floor bed at 8 months and the cot bed that was supposed to go from cot to toddler bed to sofa skipped so many months of use and is in its final form as a reading nook sofa now.

The floor bed will eventually become a big boy bed with legs attached, it should last him until he goes off to uni 😂

Duttercup · 27/04/2023 12:34

It's just one of those 'whatevers best for your family' things. Families who have a new one arriving who need the cot are likely to move them out quicker than families that don't. I think the only real advice is to not time any kind of move exactly with the arrival of the new baby.

dementedpixie · 27/04/2023 12:36

Dd was 2 and ds was 2½ years when they moved to a single bed

CatOnTheChair · 27/04/2023 12:44

DS1 climbed out at 22 months.
DS2 climbed out at 18 months.
Both got a toddler bed the next day by taking the bars off.

If you aren't sure, why not get a cot bed, and put your oldest in that. When they climb out (and I wouldn't move them before they climb out or are too big) you can convert that easily.

Hazelnuttella · 27/04/2023 12:47

I’m planning on keeping my 2yo in the cot for as long as possible, so he doesn’t have the option of getting out.

However, he has never shown any inclination to try to climb out of the cot, would be different if it became unsafe.

HippyChickMama · 27/04/2023 12:48

Mine are both older now so quite some time ago but, ds was just 2, one of the slats broke on his cot bed so we bought a single divan. He did occasionally slide off the side in the night (fidgety sleeper) but didn't wake. I used to put another quilt on the floor next to the bed at night for a soft landing. Dd was in a cot bed with the side removed until she was 3.5. No real reason, she could have gone into a full sized bed before this but she was still comfortable in the cot bed and could get in and out. She's 9 now and still occasionally falls out of bed in the night!

Olivia199 · 27/04/2023 12:50

Mine was 13 months when she pulled herself up, in her sleeping bag, and tipped over the edge. Caught at the last second. Took the sides off her cot bed there and then and she's been grand since. Gets up and reads a book in the morning before yelling at me for toast.

Olivia199 · 27/04/2023 12:52

Wasn't my plan mind.. imagined a nice day out to go buy her a big girl bed having kept her in her cot until the last moment.. Not mad late night baby proofing! (And then an even later dash out for a slimline stair gate when she learnt to open her door at 17 months).

SparkyBlue · 27/04/2023 12:56

I've never used a cot bed I just put mine straight into beds. DD1 was almost two and she went into a single bed. DS was two when he went into a single and DD2 is now sharing with her older sister and they have bunk beds so she went into the bottom double bed when she was one and a half. We had no space so she was in her cot in our room for longer than normal as DH needed to take DS's room for a home office during covid.

Original poster

Justanothercyster · 27/04/2023 13:04

Thanks for all the advice ladies, I've got more of an idea now.
She's a really good sleeper luckily so will only move her when the time is right for her, she hasn't started climbing out yet so hopefully we've got a bit longer 🤞🏼

OP posts:

FrenchandSaunders · 27/04/2023 13:07

10 or 11 months when I found DT1 fast asleep one morning in her twin's cot. It was next to hers but had a gap large enough for us to walk between them.

ParentsTrapped · 27/04/2023 13:08

DC1 was 2.5 because I was pregnant with DC2 and didn’t want to do it once she had arrived in case she felt pushed out.

DC2 is now 2.5 and I’m keeping her in there as long as possible! She could easily throw herself out of it but hasn’t tried (yet). As soon as she attempts it I’ll take the side off. Kids share a room
so it will be interesting!

Wannabegreenfingers · 27/04/2023 13:08

Each child is different, but both of mine were climbers so at 12 months the cot sides came down.

traytablestowed · 27/04/2023 13:13

FrenchandSaunders · 27/04/2023 13:07

10 or 11 months when I found DT1 fast asleep one morning in her twin's cot. It was next to hers but had a gap large enough for us to walk between them.

😮
My MIL said DH (a twin) did this also when he was very little. It's cute that they miss each other!
Meanwhile my 2YO hasn't figured out she can climb out yet haha (touch wood! I like her contained!!)

FlounderingFruitcake · 27/04/2023 13:30

3 years for DD (she never climbed), 15 months for DS (total opposite to his sister!). We never had a toddler bed though and they went straight into a standard single with a guard. Unless you’re really tight on space then toddler beds are a waste of money because they’ll be outgrown in a few years. Also you have less options for bedding. They make sense if you’re talking about taking the sides off your existing cot but if the cot is going to the new baby then that won’t be an option.

elevenplusdilemma · 27/04/2023 13:31

18 months. There's 20 months between my children so I didn't want the older one feeling that the baby had stolen their cot.

Littlegoth · 27/04/2023 13:32

We put him in a full-size bed (with bed guard) from 21 months

lifehappens12 · 27/04/2023 13:41

Kept my son in as long as possible 2 1/2 when he started climbing out.

Moving him into a toddler bed with a low side rail that he can climb over to get into bed but doesn't fall out.

My child used to sleep against his cot rails and does the same in his bed now. So a rail was important. He is 5 now and still plenty of growing room left

Caspianberg · 27/04/2023 17:36

Also bare in mind potty training. We trained Ds at 2 just past his birthday. He trained himself the same time overnight so by 2.2/2.3 years needed access to the toilet.

Skybluepinky · 27/04/2023 19:54

As soon as they can climb out of it.

FebMama · 27/04/2023 21:07

Wow is it just my 3 year old who has NEVER climbed out of his cot?! I am surprised though as he's a climber everywhere else. He's still in his cot. But will be going into a double bed with a bed guard this summer when he's 3.5 and DS2 is 6 months so he'll have the current cot.
You know what they say, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

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