Transition from cot to big bed

[JJAZ]

Hi all,

Interested to know at what age you have or plan to make the change from a cot to a bug bed.

And if there are any ideas tips to make it more simple....

[Pina Colada]

My DD was in a big bed at 19 months - and that was pretty much because I needed the cot for DS - although I do think that she was getting big enough anyway.

I pretty much did exactly what they tell you is bad - she slept her first night in her big bed, the first night that DS was home from hospital. And she was fine. When she wakes up, she comes into our room, but then I just walk her back and she hops back in (she still does that most nights now :rolleyes:)

DS will be going into a big bed at exactly the same age, so new bub can have the cot. I'll try and be a bit more organised and have him in it a couple of weeks earlier this time.

Oh, DD has a collapsable bed rail, as she would roll out otherwise. And she helped put the bed together, and we made a big deal out of it for her, and she helped choose the linen etc.

Good luck.

[Bubble*Crazy]

We have had a single bed is DS' room since he was born - there was just no room elsewhere for it!

It was only 3 weeks ago that he decided he wanted to go to sleep (night) in the 'big boy bed' ... so we played along with it and it went really well! :yelclap:
After day 3 I took the cot down so there was no temptation to go back!

We have had a couple of nights when it's been a struggle, but apart from that, generally good :smiliedance:

The only problem I've encountered is he's now not wanting a day sleep but really still needs one! So he's quite ratty in the arvo, but that just makes it a little easier at night to put him to bed.

This was a really easy experience for us, but I figure it was as he was ready. LOT and LOTS of positive praise never goes astray either - he loves showing off his 'big boy bed' to everyone that comes over now too :D

[shanz]

We moved DS at about 18-19 months. He was moving rooms too. So we all set his room up together and put the cot in there aswell so he still knew that it was a sleeping area as such. And no toys in the room straight away. The first night we did the same bedtime thing as usual and said to him that he is a big boy and this is where he sleeps now and laid him down. He didnt get up once, and slept all night.
After a few weeks we got rid of the cot, he never went in it anyway after that first night. Then when he had been in there about a month he would come out occassionally,but as soon as we saw him he would go back. We think he was just testing to see if he would be allowed to stay out. and the rule was introduced that if he came out 3 times the door would get shut. He actually prefers the door shut and everynight if you dont shut the door he will say "shut please" as you walk out.
He never had a problem with day sleeps either and now actually sleeps at least twice as long as he ever did in the cot!
So in this house it was so easy and great.

[BraydenzDad]

my son was in a big boys bed as we call it at the age of 2.. he used to say my cot all the time then once he was old enough to undersand that mummy was preggy he now refers to it as Bubba's cot , but he was in a bed at 2 and sleeps like a log and all night

[mummeeto2]

We moved DS to a bed and new room around 19mths, when we started trying for DD. We wanted him settled in the new room & bed before he knew the cot would be used again.
We put the cot & bed in the room & let him use the cot for a few weeks, then he wanted the bed so we took the cot down & not too many probs. He doesn't always sleep in the bed (we've found him in the cupboards with his stuffed toys & the toybox) but as long as he's asleep & not in danger we're happy.

[Bubble*Crazy]

He doesn't always sleep in the bed (we've found him in the cupboards with his stuffed toys & the toybox) but as long as he's asleep & not in danger we're happy.


Awww, how cute! :goodvibes:

[Jinglebells]

I put DS in a bed when he was 19mths old, only because we were moving countries and wern't taking his cot with us, if we hadn't have moved I probably would've waited till closer to 2, he never tried to climb out of the cot or anything so there was really no need to

i'm not sure when i'll put DD in a bed, will see when she's ready or when she starts trying to escape out of the cot, which ever is first

[Chunkydunks]

I've got a boy who always hated being confined. He was out of the cradle at 3 weeks (he just wouldn't settle in it) and in a big bed at 18 months. It was a little difficult for him cos soon after he went into a bed we went on a trip wo my parents and he had to sleep in a cot for nearly 3 weeks again. When we got home he didn't like the idea of the bed anymore. We ended up taking the side off his cot to get him used to the idea.

[Teto]

All very interesting!
I am buying a toddler bed for DS (18 months) as we are due with #2 in September so want to make the change in the next month or two. He's a good sleeper so hoping for not too many problems. He recently slept in all kinds of motel rooms and mattresses on floor during a holiday so hopefully...
We're getting a toddler bed instead of a single because of the added space in the room and because well it's cuter! and because with two under two we will get probably five years' use out of it :)

[LittleMissyMoo]

We're planning to change DD's cot to a toddler bed when she's 18 months old. The best advice I've been given is to buy a cheap air mattress from Red Dot and place it on the floor next to the bed. This way, if the bed rails don't hold bub in, they'll fall safely.