Janine, I put DD in a toddler bed (took the sides off the cot) at just over 16 mths. She loved it and so did I (no more getting out of bed in the middle of a cold winter's night)! First night I left no night lights on, doors open and she came running through our rabbit warren of a house straight to me in bed. She's never fallen out (although we did use a safety rail for a few weeks) and loves the freedom. In the morning, if she isn't already in bed with us, she can play and move around as she likes.

Thing is, while I am allowing infant-led weaning, I believe there is room to make this work on your terms. I don't think I personally need to be demand feeding overnight. Which is why we have the 'no bbs before 5:30am' rule now. At first, I just tried to hold her out until 4am, 4:30am, 5am, you get the idea (in summer time it can be until the sun is up, but that's harder now!). I gradually brought her timing into line with what allowed me to get a proper night's sleep.