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Original poster

The 'would you move a 17 month old to a bed if you didn't absolutely have to?' and 'advantages and disadvantages of a big bed' thread.

24 replies

norktasticninja · 20/04/2009 09:04

DD is 17 months and DC2 is due at the beginning of June, I'd expected to have to move DD to a bed so the baby could have her cot. But, now, due to a long winded series of events, we're expecting the delivery of a 'big bed' and a new cot for the baby on Wednesday

I'm short and have a massive bump already and because DDs cot doesn't have a drop side it's getting really very uncomfortable to lift her in and out. But, other than that, there is no real reason to move her. Are there advantages to moving DC to a big bed or would I be better off storing the new bed until she's older?

I'd kind of like to get the move over and done with, but on the other hand I don't want to make the last weeks of my pregnancy any harder than they need to be. Her room already has a gate on the door and with the addition of a couple of cupboard locks it would be totally baby proofed...

So what would you do?

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MerlinsBeard · 20/04/2009 09:10

oh dear what a muddle you are in! Can you take a side off the cot and see how she goes until wednesday? Then make up your mind depending on how she is (so you are only putting one side on a cot rather than dismantling a bed and rebuilding a cot.

I think the last few weeks of pregnancy are horrid anyway tbh

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 20/04/2009 09:18

We moved dd into a little bed at about 17 month iirc.
We also did this as someone reccomended it before ds arrived as we would need her cot for him. Ds was in our room for the first 5 months so wasnt planning on using cot straight away. However I was told she may get jealous if we took it and put baby in it.
So we set it up in nursery before ds arrived.
Ds now 8 month, dd now 2.2years.
She settled in this little bed fantasticly, we actually put up one of those ready beds on her floor first, she slept in that for 3 nights so we decided to put up her bed.
However since ds was born and in our room she started coming in to our bed. Jealousy probably.
ds is in his own room but she still gets in our bed almost every night.
I sometimes wish I had left her in cot longer, or at least till she started showing signs of climning out.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 20/04/2009 09:22

I would like to put a gate on her door, however we wouldnt be able to close the door and she hates any light coming in at night and insists on closing it.
Have tried one of those travel gates but she just pulled it off.
Also dh thinks she gets in our bed because its comfy and not just because we are in it, as she often gets out of hers and into ours when we are not even in bed.

MerlinsBeard · 20/04/2009 09:22

you could get a bed gurad thing for the bed too so she still feels secure all round like in the cot IYSWIM

Original poster

norktasticninja · 20/04/2009 09:33

I am indeed in a right muddle. I've really no idea what to do, 'tis most annoying as I'm usually quite decisive! I blame the pregnancy.

Taking the side off the bed for a couple of days might be an option, I'll have to look at the construction when DD wakes from her nap. There's a bed guard coming with the bed, I figured that would be handy as much for making her feel secure a stopping her falling out...

DD insists on sleeping with the door shut too and I'm not actually sure if she can reach the door handle but she's never opened a door yet. TBH we only have the gate there because it's not possible to fit one to the top of our stairs. We have a gate on our door too - it's like a fort here!

I can see what No1 means about it maybe being better to keep DC contained in a cot they are older, but then I wonder if the escapism becomes worse if they learn to get out of the cot before you move them to a bed IYSWIM.

Oh what a hormone fueled pickle I've talked myself into!

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no1putsbabyinthecorner · 20/04/2009 09:42

aw bless you, It took me ages to decide. I have a brother and sister 18 months apart like my two, and my step mum moved my dbrother into a bed when he was 1 year old to pinch his cot for when dd came.
In my opinion that is early but he was absolutley fine with it.
If know what you mean about them trying to escape though, as they are bound to do it when you are not there. I would be terrified of them hurting themselves.
I think if you are going to use a bed guard, then go for it, as it will still feel like the security of a cot.iykwim.
We never used bed guard, as bed very low anyway.

buggylovinmummy · 20/04/2009 09:45

I put both my dc,s into a bed at 16 months and it was so easy they didnt keep getting out as i think at that age they are too young to quite catch on to the fact that they can keep getting out. All my friends who have put it off until their dc,s are older have had problems with getting them to stay in their beds at first.

Obviously this is just my experience and all children are different but i would say go for it if the new bed has got a bed guard with it.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 20/04/2009 09:45

Also with gate on door,at least she cant get into mischief and also will prevent the whole habbit of them climbing into your bed when you are too exhausted to put her back in her own.(unless you dont mind that)
It was something I said I would never do, infact she hated getting in our bed before ds arrived.

Original poster

norktasticninja · 20/04/2009 09:50

OK, maybe I should just be brave and go for it!

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Original poster

norktasticninja · 20/04/2009 12:14

Hmmmm, DP now says we shouldn't move her. FFS. It's my fault, I asked (lovely) MIL for tips on how to do it and she said it was far too soon - TBH I pick and choose what to listen to with MIL but DP has taken it as gospel...

Thanks for all the advice so far, has anyone got anything persuasive (either way) to add?

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buggylovinmummy · 21/04/2009 11:32

I definatly think the earlier the better as at this age they dont seem to realise they can keep getting in and out or at least mine didnt seem to at 16 months when i put them both into beds.

Original poster

norktasticninja · 21/04/2009 12:23

Thanks buggylovinmummy! I think I'm inclined to agree but each time I make a 'decision' about it I start doubting again. What a palava!

Did you just remove the cot and replace it with a bed or did you offer the choice for a while?

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knickers0nmahead · 21/04/2009 12:28

No, dont move her!!! I moved dd into a bed and it was the worst decision I have ever made. I put her back into her cot a month later but she managed to climb out of it so is now back to being in a bed and a terrible sleeper.

Honestly, I would say, the longer you can keep her in a cot, the better.

Original poster

norktasticninja · 21/04/2009 12:32

Oh help!

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knickers0nmahead · 21/04/2009 12:33

Sorry

Original poster

norktasticninja · 21/04/2009 12:38

No no. All advice and experience is gratefully received! I genuinely have no idea what I should do for the best but I keep hoping that there is some sort of golden rule / age, which (of course) there isn't

I blame the raging hormones...

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knickers0nmahead · 21/04/2009 12:43

My reasoning for moving dd into a bd was the fact that I thought, when she was at 'that age' to be moved, ds (who was a month from being born at that stage) would be ready to be moved into her room with her. So I thought I would move her then so she doesnt think that ds would be taking her cot away from her.

It didnt work out that way and I really do wish that we had kept her in a cot.

Original poster

norktasticninja · 21/04/2009 15:24

Thanks Knickers! It's so hard to know what to do for the best with these things...

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no1putsbabyinthecorner · 21/04/2009 19:05

Maybe if she is happy, and sleeping well I would leave her a while longer then. When new baby is here and you feel more strongly to move her then you can do it then.
While ever you are a little undecided/unsure and she is happy leave her in a cot.
Its better than having to go back or regret doing it too early.
I tried for the exact same reason as knickersonmahead wish I had waited.

Original poster

norktasticninja · 21/04/2009 22:26

Thanks no1! I think it comes down to me finding it hard to differentiate between whats due to that drive to get as much as possible sorted before the baby comes and instinct over what DDs ready for.

I'm at least going to give myself until Saturday to make up my mind. It would have been a bonus not to have to assemble the bed myself but it's not worht rushing into a decision for. Although we obviously had decided otherwise we wouldn't have ordered the thing

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SazzlesA · 21/04/2009 22:35

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thedolly · 21/04/2009 22:54

All 3 of mine in cot bed since age 1. At this age they didn't seem interested in going into cupboards/drawers etc. No need to baby proof apart from sockets. We have occasionally had to wedge a book under the door to stop DS2 escaping!

buggylovinmummy · 22/04/2009 07:27

In answer to your question about did i just replace the cot,we had a cot bed and just removed the sides so it was quite easy for us.

By the time dd was 2.5 she went into a mid sleeper.

Original poster

norktasticninja · 22/04/2009 08:09

Thanks

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