When should I move my toddler to a cotbed?

[Aoibh10]

Hi,

looking some advice on when I should move my toddler to a cotbed?

For context, she’s 18 months old, sleeps through the night with the odd night wake when she’s sick, regressions etc. We plan to start trying for our second baby next year and don’t want to do it too close to a new sibling arriving and also want to use her current cot for the new baby.

I see quite a lot of people online with toddlers younger than mine who are in cotbeds already and I’m wondering if I’m holding her back?

When did your LO move into a cotbed? How did it go and how long did it take?

As late as possible?!

Mine were all in a single bed with a roll out bar by the time they were 2.

My youngest went in a bed at about 10 months old. So 18 months will be fine. Just child proof the area they can get to and leave a few toys and books out that are safe to play with.

Ds just turned 3 and is still in his cot. I've been putting it off as long as possible because bedtimes can be tricky winding him down and I'm dreading it! I'm planning to do it in the next 6 months as we're moving soon and don't want to change too much on him in one go.

I would be more inclined to buy another cot (one that converts to a toddler bed) rather than take her out at 18 months. Generally the advise is to do it when they can climb out.

I converted my son's cot to a bed at about 3 - he had never climbed out (although he could have - it just never seemed to occur to him to) so there didn't seem any reason to change it earlier. Then we got him a proper single bed when he went to school (4.5).

DS will be 3 this month and we haven’t even considered it. He hasn’t even tried to climb out, he’s not arsed about the bars being there. He knows no different and it’s working. In fact he’s quite particular and not great with change! So will go as long as possible I reckon

Agree as late as possible. For my son, this was around his 3rd birthday when he was getting too tall (risk of toppling over side of cot). His cot converted to a cot bed. He slept in it in cot bed format until 4.5 years.

Sone children start trying to climb out of cot at a young age. My nephew was in cot bed (again his cot converted to cot bed) from his second birthday for this reason - so a whole year younger than my son.

Also just to add, mine has also never attempted to climb out. Definitely tall enough for it but doesn't seem to have connected those dots yet either. If yours is showing interest in climbing out then I would convert to cot bed.

Dc1 was 10 months as climbed out.
Dt were 20 months as caught them trying to climb out. I never used a cot bed they went straight into single beds and never had an issue with any of them.

We had a cot that converted to a cotbed and dd was in there from birth. Took off the bars at 13m because she kept climbing out.

As late as possible.
DS1 climbed out at 22 months. DS2 managed it at 18 months. So both were in beds the day after that!

It sounds like you are a year off needing a cot tho?? Try next year, 9 month pregnancy, bit if time in a miles basket/crib? I'd leave things as they are right now.

When they climb out / are ready.
Mine weren't climbers.

I have a 20m gap and had the same dilema.

Internet said leave it as long a possible / tell child decides so I did.
My oldest went from the cot straight to a small double (its a low bed maybe 1-2 inches off the floor)

I was realllly hoping to use the same cot but she just wasnt ready before.
sp baby arrived and we kept the baby in the stupid next to me type thing and in oldest room had the cot AND bed (and no other room 🤣) and were encouraging her onto the bed. No dice.
Baby got to 6 months.
Still no dice.
I cracked and bought a wooden cot for £10 on fb market place.
3 months later dd just turned around and asked for "big bed" and for the fairies to take the cot for a "little baby who need it".

Btw the small double is the BEST life choice we made. If you have room - get one.
Not having to awkwardly hold a childs hand while lying on a hard floor makes the nights SO much easier.

Youngest is 22m and also not a climber...

My kids are 22 months apart. Eldest stayed in cot until they were 3, went straight into a normal single bed. Youngest couldn't stand not having the same as older sibling, so went from a cot to cotbed at just over a year. Both have been fine.

Top tip: keep your cot mattress and put it beside their bed for a few months after they make the change so if they do fall out of bed they have a soft landing!

As late as possible. My oldest was 22 months as he climbed out of his cot. It was a right pain getting him to stay in bed! My other three were all approaching 4 before they moved to a bed. They slept well so I had no reason to move them.

DS1 was just turned 2 because he toppled out of it. It was hell. It was then almost impossible to get him to take an afternoon nap even though he clearly still needed it. Bedtime became way more complicated. Etc.

DS2 never attempted an escape so was in it until well after he turned 3. So much better. Don’t do it until you absolutely have to!

If they have plenty of room in the cot and aren’t climbing out I would keep them in it for as long as possible. They’re only babies for a short while, don’t rush it.

Our DC1 and 2 were in cot-bed sized beds with the bars up until they were both around 3.5ish. Neither ever tried to climb out and they both slept very well so we were reluctant to upset the apple cart. The eldest had a dummy overnight too which we removed around that age too, we left about a month in between so there wasn't too much change at once. We put a bedguard on for both and their bed was against the wall on the other side anyway so I think that helped them not come in and out once the bars were off anyway as they still felt enclosed to a degree. DC1 went into a single bed around the age of 5, DC2 is still in the cotbed at 4.

DC3 has recently turned 1 but a lot more physically active than our older ones were so I expect that he will be a climber and have to take the bars off a lot earlier but we will see.

We never had a cotbed, it's an unnecessary purchase, all three of ours moved straight from their cot to a full sized single bed. So DD1 moved into her bed when she was under 2, DD2 was 3.5 and DS was in the cot until he was 5 (we're a short family so he still fitted, and we had the sides off once he could climb out so 12-18 months (ish).

Sometimes its good to follow a lead that we know works. I wish you all the best.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

I think I’ll leave her be as she’s not showing any negative signs towards her cot and is, all in all, a great sleeper.

I might just purchase a cot (and not the nursery furniture set) when the time comes and buy her new furniture as I’d planned to do her room up anyways, so I don’t need to stress about moving her to a small double bed which was the original plan. That part can come when she’s ready.

I would always leave them until either they climb, are dry at night so may need the loo or are over 3 years old. Maybe also if a second baby is on the way and you’ll likely have a c-section and may need to do bedtime and mornings yourself whilst still recovering because you’re not going to be able to lift a toddler in/out the cot. Right now though leave her be and enjoy the undisturbed sleep!

You should move her as soon as you even suspect she could climb out.

When they could climb out or were too big. Then they went straight into a single with a duvet on the floor next to it initially.

My 14 month old has a single floor bed. So much easier than lifting in and out of a cot. Everyone has told me it's easier to transition younger, and we can co-sleep with her in there rather than coming in our bed as she was before.

Do you have a link to the bed or similar? I'm interested in this for my 13 month old who is a terrible sleeper. I'm starting to struggle now with the constant lifting in and out of cot multiple times throughout every night and it often disturbs them now too. Never had this issue with my elder two as they were much better sleepers.