We had Sammy's bed set up for a few months before we actually tried him in it at night time. He used to jump on it and didnt see it as a threatening thing at all so when we started putting him to sleep in it he was perfectly fine. We are still in the process of transitioning between our bed and his bed but we have no cot right now. I cant say about getting up and out though cos we tend to still feed to sleep so when he wakes up he runs out all proud of himself lol
My daughter just started to sleep in a big bed (the day she turned 2) because of the new arrival coming soon. Like clockwork every second day she wakes up at 1.30am all upset and wanting to come in and sleep with us but on the other days she sleeps through and is very proud of herself when she wakes up and comes to the door. Dunno whats going on there but Im really really tired.
Matilda transfered into her big girl bed at 16 months because she was climbing in & out of the cot.
It was very very hard to do. We spent a few weeks where it took 2 hours or so to get her to sleep and we would have to sit in her room & repeatedly put her back to bed. She's gone through phases of sleeping really well and not in it but she isn't a good sleeper at the best of times.
I would definately say start trying at least 2 months before the baby comes. Maybe a month of day sleeps first and then attempt the night ones. Goodluck!
We didn't transition Aidyn into a big bed until he was 2yrs 9months old. And then it took a good month+ of hard work - lying on the floor for hours each night next to his bed so he would stay in there. (and now months later things have gone backwards again, and he is spending every night in our bed!)
I think a car bed is a great idea though, as it has some similarities to a cot, with the sides etc. I agree that you should set it up a few months before the new bubs arrive, and try to get him gradually used to it... All the best!
With Maddy she was about 15mths & I set up the bed which was in her room, she climbed up on it & wanted to sleep there so i left the cot next to it for a few dyas & then took the cot down as she just wanted to be in a big girls bed!
With Indah we bought bunks so her & Maddy could share, the top for Mad & bottom for Indah (bottom is a double bed too so plenty of room!) But she will play on it & sleep in it if DH or I lay there with her, she wont with Maddy (which is what I had originally thought the 2 girls would sleep together for a whyile making it fun!)
Indah will fall asleep Dh & I will get out & 10-15mins later she is pitter pattering down the hall way saying HI! We try to put her back but she kicks & screams & yells that she wnats to go in her cot, we put her in there & she immediately lays down & goes to sleep!
So they are complete opposites & it's an issue at our place at the moment as we chose not to keep a bassinette/cradle as we figured Indah would love sleeping with Maddy in a big bed! But nope!
So I think iut's really when your kid is ready... However I am thinking if he can easily climb in & out now, I'd start trying day sleeps, after all he can't fall out of it!???
I had the same dilemma, Ben was 13 mo when chloe was born. WE put him in a bed about a month or two before she was born, made it all a big deal and that his old cot was for the new baby. He was fine, not a problem, we put a bedrail on.
Chloe was about 1 when we moved and in the process her cot got broken. She slept on the floor on her mattress for a while and after that didn't want to go back into a cot so she didn't. She has been more difficult though, we've struggled getting her to go to sleep in there but before we used to rock her to sleep and put her in the bed, she always slept fine, again with a bedrail. I also use to short-sheet their beds so they coudn't get lost down the bed!!
I think I will try for a couple of months - and have both set up. And try the day sleeps first.
He seems to be able to sleep anywhere. At my parents and his occassional care centre - he sleeps in a porta cot. He co-sleeps with us sometimes. And he has fallen asleep on the floor surrounded by toys a couple of times!
I'm a bit nervous about him getting out of bed throughout the night... but I guess we will have to see how he goes.
thanks again!
Any more stories and advice will be helpful... particularly children less then 18 months.
Emma went into her big bed at 18 months, also to prepare in advance for this bub coming. I won't say it's been easy. She does get out some nights, but on the other hand, I find 'difficult' nights easier than a cot because you can just climb into bed with them & have a cuddle & go back to sleep whereas when they are in a cot you can't really do that.
Also, when we first moved Em, it took her a few weeks to work out she could get out - so we thought we were SO clever because she never got out - boy, were we mistaken PMSL!!!
Jodie, I'm with Linda, being in a bed, esp. with you being pg makes difficult nights a little easier. I do remember Benji used to wake heaps and I couldn't have him in bed with us as he would kick my belly so I used to be up and down all night but it meant I could lay with him until he fell asleep again and then I could sneak back to my bed! Much easier than bending over the cot etc.
yeah... that's a good point. I was thinking about buying a trundle bed for that reason. But then I realised that Shaun & I could both lie down together in a single bed if necessary.
At the moment I have a seat beside the cot and I lie him on his side, patting his back and holding his hand until he goes back to sleep. But the seat is starting to get uncomfortable - and I'm only 15 weeks!
hehehe Linda - about Em taking a few weeks to realise she could get out!
Tallon has had a big bed for about 2 months, so he was 12/13 months when we got it. He's coslept with us for a long time now, so there was no problems with him being daunted by the size of the bed or anything. As soon as we knew he could safely climb off the bed, we got his big bed.
We haven't had problems with him getting himself up at night.. when he wakes he cries out for me.. he doesn't climb off. If it's morning, he just gets up and comes in to us. However, he's cosleeping with us again at the moment coz I feel sorry for him alone in his cold room LOL. But I'm starting to get tired of the kicks in the back these days.. so will start putting him in his own bed again.
I too wanted him to have a big bed because that way I could lie down with him, since he's used to cosleeping. But like Jo, I still feed him to sleep at night most nights, so there's been no problems putting him to bed.
What age to go into a bed??
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whereas when they are in a cot you can't really do that.
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