When to move 2yr old from cot to bed ...

9 replies

ducdo · 05/07/2009 21:07

Our DS is 2 yrs 3 months and still has 30 min day sleep and sleeps well at night for 11 hrs. The other day he decided to escape the cot when putting him to bed and appeared on the landing with a big grin on his face, clearly chuffed that he got out by himself!

I am thinking is is time to move him to a big bed? Just worried he will think 'yippeee I'm free' and just never stay in it!!

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MegBusset · 05/07/2009 21:08

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 05/07/2009 21:09

It sounds like he is getting too big for his cot. You could try putting him in a bed and attaching a stair gate to his dorr so that he stays put but can get in and out of bed at will- the novelty will soon wear off though!

Original poster

ducdo · 06/07/2009 12:29

Doing research at the mo looking at different types of proper beds. He has a cot duvet already in the cot with him so hoping he will be OK.

Staying at friends in a couple of weeks so will try him out in her spare bed and see how it goes (will take travelcot just in case!). If he likes the bed and stays in it, think I will bite the bullet and order a new bed. Thank you

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girlsyearapart · 06/07/2009 19:10

dd1 (2 at beg sept) starting taking her baby sleeping bag off and also nappy and pjs and attempting cot breakout a few months ago. Changed her to a proper single duvet, pull up nappies and then bizarrely cot break out and pj removal stopped.. Children are funny creatures..

ches · 07/07/2009 03:46

If your DS is already climbing out of the cot then every single time you put him in that cot you are risking him falling and breaking his neck. Put the mattress on the floor NOW and then get him a bed.

Swaliswan · 07/07/2009 10:26

We've just put DD1 (2.1) into her 'big girl bed'. Back in january we made the transition to pillow and duvet and we bought a cotbed for her as it was really low and she could get used to how big it was with the cot sides on. A week ago, we took one of the sides off in front of her and asked her if she would like a bed. She was very excited! We have been very strict about once she is in bed, she stays in bed and so far she calls out for us when she gets up in the morning. We've also made a 'sticker chart' for her. She is a bit young to understand a proper sticker chart but from the first night of being in her bed, she's chosen an ITNG sticker the next morning and put it on the sheet of paper that's on the fridge whilst being given lots of praise. We place a very padded change mat (from Ikea) next to the bed in case she falls out. We would use the old cot mattress instead but DD2 may have something to say about that!

Original poster

ducdo · 13/07/2009 13:05

Thanks to all for your advice. We have bought a 'big boy' bed and yesterday was the first sleep. Daytime nap all OK and went straight to bed until I woke him. Then bedtime last night went to bed no problems and called me this morning when he woke up .. just like he did when in the cot.

So... first night OK, guess when he realises he can get out on his own he may try to, but so far so good. I was the one that didn't sleep too well as I was worrying that he might fall out of bed!

OP posts:

Mammina · 13/07/2009 16:35

ducdo my daughter does the same it's amazing - she won't get out of her bed! (and this has lasted about 6 months! she's 2.6)

keresley · 30/07/2009 20:09

Just put my dd (2.1) into a bed for the first time tonight. She went hysterical as soon as she saw the bed and even more so when we put her in it. Anyone had this? My dh is currently lying in the bed with her. My ds transferred smoothly from cot to bed so I've not had experience of this.

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