Another BBB question.....

[*Liz*]

J has a cot bed that converts into a toddler bed - so all I would have to do is take the sides of it.

Not sure whether to try this yet or not - just thinking  .

What do I do then? Do I put cot sides on? Do they fit a cot bed?

And how likely is it that he will start getting out in the middle of the night to do something or other? He currently wakes, sits up and cries. This happens maybe once or twice a night. When we go to him he is VERY sleepy and disorientated - not even properly awake.

Obviously we all worry about them falling out......

[clazzat]

We just took the sides off M's and left it at that.  She never got out of bed - even now she is more likely to call me to do something like pick her daggy off the floor than get out of bed to do it herself!

I didn't worry so much about M falling out as her cot bed was about 6 inches off the floor.

[*Liz*]

When did you shift Milena, Clare? Any reason why you did?

[clazzat]

I was just trying to remember that!  I'm pretty sure it was after E was born, but before Christmas so she would have been 2ish.  I don't think there was any reason for it - it just seemed like a good idea!

We moved E ages ago - she must have been 17/18 months - and it really helped her sleep.

[*Liz*]

It did help then? Has it stopped your 5.30am call outs?

I just can't decide what to do at all. I don't know if he is ready or not. He certainly isn't playing in the cot after waking - he is just gathering all his toys and yelling 'down down down'.

[clazzat]

The thing that really stopped the 5.30 starts was giving her a light on a timer.  It comes on at 6.30 and we don't hear a squeak from her before that (and often not even then - she just hangs out in bed these days).  It took her 3 days to fully understand what the light was for, and now she points to it every morning when I go to get her up.

[~inbalance~]

We just have T on his mattress on the floor at them moment until we get his toddler bed set up.  It was a good way to see what he would do with the freedom to get up.  I don't have a video monitor, so I can't see him, but I don't hear him banging about and when we go in in the morning his room is still in order so he's not having any late night parties or anything like that.    It's working out pretty well so far.  This weekend we will properly assemble is toddler bed, but I think this is it.  *sniff*  I was hoping to hold out longer but it just happened this way.  Anyways, our plan is to get a bed rail for now, when I've checked on him since he's been on the mattress he's been hanging off it so I suspect he will fall out of bed.  If he does well we'll take it off soon.

He's actually been sleeping quite well this way.  It's not a battle to get him into his bed, I think he likes the freedom since he's just getting into that striving for more independence stage.

[*Liz*]

It's not a battle to get him into his bed, I think he likes the freedom since he's just getting into that striving for more independence stage.

Good point.

I think I will talk to DH again tonight. He will tell me to do whatever!!

[clazzat]

I'd say give it a go - if it's a disaster then you can put the sides back on, and you might find that he is happier staying in bed in the morning if he doesn't feel confined.

[Mrs Coops]

Hey Liz I've just seen this. We needed to get S out of the cot as it wasn't coping as a trampoline! I was dreading it as she is really active in bed, takes ages to settle to sleep and generally spirited! So I posted here about it too, oh and as you know, asked on the birth club!
 We got an inflatable ready bed that she LOVED, but the three nights we used it she rolled out a few times so I popped her back in her cot.
 Anyhow last Sunday DH built her toddler bed and we went for it! She was unsettled initially but went to sleep quickly. The bed has built in guards at the head end but she flipped ends and rolled out the first night! I put her cot mattress on the floor to cushion the blow! Since then I've had a rolled up towel covering the gap. I tried her without it last night and she rolled out again She's getting used to the pillow so hopefully she'll 'get it' soon!

I worried most about her escaping and running wild during the night, but no, she doesn't get out of bed unless we're in there! Maybe it's two years of conditioning making her wait for us or she just hasn't figured out she's free, but so far so good!
 Most nights she has settled quicker than normal, tonight it took 90 minutes, but she never got up once, even to rescue Piglet who was just the other side of the bed!
 I think she was suffering 'cage' issues and now enjoying the freedom!

I'd say give it a try, just stick his mattress on the floor, if it all goes wrong you can pop it back in the cot! At least while you're up half the night with M you can keep an eye on him!