Just a question about transitioning a child from cot to bed - my son is almost 18 months old and I'm pregnant with our second. I just need help on how to get him to sleep in a big boys bed? He thinks it's just a game and laughs and mucks around as soon as I put him in the bed, and I believe in bedtime being peaceful so I don't want to leave him there until he screams himself asleep on the floor. Any advice on how to make it easier? He currently has the side off his cot and just a small safety rail up and has slept like that for a good three months now. I've still got 15 weeks until the next baby arrives, so I'm happy to utilise the full three (almost 4) months to get him used to it and sleeping there, and I'm not expecting any overnight miracles or anything :) But any advice anyone has is welcomed gratefully. Thanks in advance!
4 Replies
I moved my boy into a bed around the same time for the same reason although I also gave him a new room so baby could have his old room. At first he wouldn't sleep just jump around and get out of bed. So I started lying down with him at night until he was almost asleep then I would give him a kiss and leave the room. If he cried I would go back in and say ur a big boy and this is ur special bed, if needed I would lie back down. It only took a few nights and he would go to sleep by himself. Day sleeps were a lot different I ended up putting him back in the cot for most day sleep for a few months and would move him when asleep to his bed.
Have reposted on the facebook site too and I hope it helps! x
https://www.facebook.com/Theimperfectmum/posts/647358378664129?stream_re...
We put our daughter in the toddler bed for day sleeps for two weeks before attempting a night sleep. She was fine. We had more patience during the day to put her back in when she hopped out. you wanna get the cot out of his room at least 6 weeks before bub comes so he doesn't recognize it as his. Maybe u need to go cold turkey, would be a tough few days but then it would be done.
Thanks for your responses, I had given my son a new bedroom also so I think that was the problem. So I moved his cot in there two days ago and he's been sleeping in that fine. But guess what, today when I told him it was time for a nap he hopped up into the big boy bed!!! So I laid down with him and we read a story, next minute - silence!!! Yay!!! I know it's only the first time but I'm feeling really positive about this now. So I guess the next step is to keep going how we are, and hopefully in another couple of weeks I can take the cot back out of his room and hope for the best!! Cheers so much for your advice, I guess patience really is the key when it comes to toddlers :)