From cot to bed

[Harrie]

I have an 18 month old and I am wondering when to take the bars of her cotbed. My cousins daughter has slept with her since she put her in a bed as she just gets out of bed after 2 hours sleep and gets in bed with mum. I want to avoid this so I was wondering whether its better to leave them in their cot longer or get them into a bed as soon as possible. My daughter will not got to sleep in my bed (she thinks its playtime) so I hope this may be an advantage. Any ideas???

Thanx for great advice, will leave in cot as long as possible after reading these comments, so far she has not tried climbing out ('touch wood' I hear you all shout). Would glow in the dark stickers or light throwing toys help at all? Something to encourage them to stop in bed, maybe star charts like suggested in potty training, a star or reward for stopping in own bed, possibly some are too young for that. Stairgate on door is a good sugestion I thought.

sorry to hijack here, but Lockets and Satine have you had any success with keeping your children in bed? I am having a nightmare with my just 2 yo dd. She won't go down in her bed and won't stay in it. She was up until 2 am last night - I have moved her because I need her cot soon (dd3 is 8 weeks old). I am exhausted!

(harrie my advice is to wait as long as possible. I took dd1 out of her cot when she started jumping out of it = in her grobag!).

Yes, on Wednesday night dd3 slept through the night, but dd2 was up hundreds of times! it is awful when they're both up, particularly as dh has been away this week so I've had to deal with them both. I am on the verge of going back to the cot (dd3 will just have to wait). a bed guard isn't working for me as dd3 gets out of the bottom. she stayed in all night last night imprisoned in her grobag - perhaps that will work again tonight?? Who knows... [tired emoticon]