I'm taking the big bed plunge

[esthere]

i'm thinking a cot bed is a cot that can have the sides removed so it looks like a small bed, wish we had one of those, would have been great and a toddler bed is just a smalll bed, correct me if i am wrong

Thats it and they are longer and wider than a standard cot.

[mari]

Thank you for all the support here.  Some of you will remember the awful sleep issues that I had with Alex and I worked so hard with her sleep training.  She sleeps like a dream now, the only problems that we get are when she is teething or unwell, she has even started to drop the nap from time to time but it doesn't affect her as long as we have an early bedtime, so that is why I am so apprehensive about this.  I will be posting for advice I am sure. (pessimistic or what!!  )
Alex is 28 months, I might get a roller gate for the bedroom (have you seen them, fantastic I am changing my stair gate for one too.

http://www.babysecurity.co.uk/pp/Baby_Safety_Stair_Gates/Lascal_KiddyGuard_Stair_Gate.html

A bit pricey, but I like it!!
I don't remember being this nervous with Nathan, although he was textbook and Alex is Spirited. (with a capital S)

I will keep you all posted.

[Colin Macs Mom]

Mari, I have absolutely NO idea how you could have ended up with such a spirited one... 

[mari]

Mari, I have absolutely NO idea how you could have ended up with such a spirited one... 

She takes after her daddy! 

[jennyh]

those gates are great :)they use one at the playgroup we go to.there is loads of extra room when they are rolled up....jenny

[imsmum]

Hey Mari--Margot's big girl bed was delivered yesterday, it's sitting unassembled in our living room.  I think I've deliberately been dragging my heels at getting all the requisite bedding so that  I have an excuse not to put it up yet!  We're going with a twin bed with a temporary rail--I'm hoping that will be enough to keep her in it.  She's always slept with the door closed to keep out noise (and the cat!)--and she can't open it yet, so if she falls asleep on the floor at least it will be the floor of her room.  I'm going to try a slightly earlier bedtime for the first few nights to factor in "monkey time" to get her settled.  Good luck and sending "stay in bed" vibes to Alex!

Caroline

[mari]

Well, the bed arrived and we assembled it and she is in there sleeping at the moment!!! 

She was very excited and wanted to go there for her nap, but she played    so she had not nap today.  When it came for bedtime we did the usual routine except we changed her story from having it on the sofa to having it in her bed, I sat next to her whilst I read to her.  I had to read it 3 times before she would let me leave (this is normal!) and then I kissed her and she lay down.......................................... for about a minute,then she called that she's wee'd.  This too is normal as we are potty training so she is now aware of it and wants her nappy off if she does it, so we changed her and she went bck to bed.  Then she wee'd again!!! (costing me a fortune!!)  So again we changed her nappy and I firmly told her that if she doesn't go to sleep then I would have to put her in the cot (It's still assemled in her room) and that was that, she went to sleep and is still there now.
So, all in all I think bedtime was a success, I will let you knwo how the rest of the night goes.

Mari

PS Caroline, how is Margot doing??

[swiper]

Well done you and Im crossing my fingers for you.

I keep thinking of taking the sides off Aimee- lou's cot as she keeps bashing into them ( mainly cause she sleeps odd) but havent yet.   I'm too scared that she will attack me while I'm sleeping.

[Colin Macs Mom]

Wow Mari that's great!!

[swiper]

How did it go Mari?

[mari]

She came running in to our room at 4.30am, so I took her back to bed and she wanted to come in to my bed, so I said that if she kept getting out of bed then she would have to go in her cot and she didn't want to do that so she went to sleep until 6am and she stayed there but called for me.  i went in and told he she was a good girl staying in her big bed and lay down next to her to give her a cuddle and we woke at 7.30am!!

Tonight, she went to bed, played as usual for half an hour or so and went to sleep at 8pm.  Successful so far.  Fingers, toes and everything crossed!

Thanks for asking everyone, will keep you posted.

[Layla]

Mari, sounds like she's taking a liking to the bed.

[mari]

She's still going you know.  Still going to sleep without a problem and staying put. (well a few early wakings but I think that's something to do with the early morning sun and the bloody Wood Pigeon that's homed in the tree outside her window, anyone have a nice Pigeon Pie recipe! )

[jennyh]

no but i am thinking of a pellet gun

[mari]

Well, this is very strange.  Alex has taken well to her big bed so we thought about taking the cot down and putting it away (at the moment it's in her room still incase we had problems)
Now, after two weeks of sleeping soundly in her big bed she suddenly wants to go back in her cot??
So, I let her.  Did I do the right thing?  Is she not ready yet now that the novelty has worn off.  I really don't mind, we only did it because we wanted to get her bedroom decorated, it's done and keeping the cot in the bedroom is fine.

Her naps have gone haywire too since her big bed, she will only nap on a car journey.