We have always let our children take the lead a bit when it comes to the transition from cot to bed. When they have got to the stage where they have been able to climb up and out of the cot, then we have moved them to a bed, more for their own safety than anything else. Gemma was about 20 months when she made the move, and Jacob a bit earlier at 18 months. At 17 months, Max has been the earliest of all, and this week he made the leap from the baby safe zone of the cot to the very grown up bottom bunk. It was not a decision we took lightly. We know he is very young, and that a lot of people probably think he is too small to be in a bed. But when you have a child who can get their leg over the top rail of the cot, safety becomes an issue, and I would rather he fell from the low bottom bunk than the height of the cot rail. We set the bed up with new sheets and a bed guard, and popped his zebra comforter and Grobag in place ready for bedtime. We made sure he was nicely tired and ready for sleep, in order to make the transition more likely to work.
Max was fascinated. He has shared a room with Jacob for months now, but the bottom bunk has never been made up before – it has always just been a mattress, often covered in Jacob’s random collection of Skylanders, books and odd socks. The fact that it was now a bed definitely called for some exploration, and Max knew just what to do.
The fact that his zebra comforter was already in there obviously made Max associate it with sleep time, and he lay down and said ‘night night’ to us all. A positive start! We popped him into his Grobag, read a story and did goodnight kisses and cuddles, before placing Max into bed and leaving the room as usual. There was a confused silence, followed by a few whimpers and bumps as he moved around. I was fully expecting him to get out, but after a few minutes it went very quiet, so I popped my head around the door to see this: 
The little dude was fast asleep! Again, I expected him to be up a few times in the night, but after checking in on him before I went to bed, I didn’t hear him again until 6.50am when there was a shout of ‘Mummeeeee’ from next door. He spent the whole night in bed. I wondered if nap times would be the time that he struggled, but again I have just been popping him into bed and leaving the room and within minutes he is asleep. We are now on night 3, and Max is again fast asleep in his big boy bed. While I am super proud of him and astounded at how well he has taken to it, I am also so, so sad. He really isn’t a baby any more, is he?
He looks so settled 🙂 we had to move our youngest into the bottom bunk really early as we had no space from about 10 months I hated feeling that I pushed her into growing up but it worked our great. Hope he loves it 🙂 X x
Sadie recently posted…Disgraceful, disgraceful
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He really has setlled well. I don’t think you should feel like you pushed her – if she hadn’t been ready she just wouldn’t have done it!
aww he looks so grown up in there!
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I know, he really does. It’s scary how quickly they grow up!
Oh my God you are truly blessed. What a smooth and easy transition. That must be such a weight off your mind. We’ve had a bunk bed here a month that we need to build. You’ve encouraged me. I need to paint the room first which I had planned to do tomorrow, but this positive experience has certainly spurred me on. xx
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We are ever so lucky, all 3 children have made the transition smoothly. I am so glad our positive experience has inspired you – you hear so many negative posts from people who have struggled sometimes that it can put you off trying things yourself. It’s not always a headache lol 😉
Oh, this is brilliant – clever, Max! We’re moving Little Man into a bed next week, at 25 months, and I can only hope we do half as well!
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He has been so amazing, I really didn’t think he would take to it so well. Good luck with your big move next week, I look forward to hearing how it goes!
Aww he looks lovely and settled in there! My son is almost 23 months and we moved him into a cotbed a few weeks ago. He’s fine once he’s asleep and we won’t hear a peep out of him until morning but he’s a little bugger to get to sleep! He thinks its a big game and the quicker we put him down the quicker he jumps out! xx
Elaine recently posted…Mum Annoyances – Number One!
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Lol little monkey!
Awww, well done Max! We moved Georgie at a similar age because I was put on strict pelvic rest and wasn’t allowed to lift her in and out of her cot for naps anymore – we had some comments but she did really well too.
We need to move Lydia ASAP as she has climbed out of her cot about half a dozen times in the last fortnight – removing her sleeping bag first and often her sleep suit too. Little Houdini – I put her down for a nap last week and she didn’t agree, so she took off her bag, climbed out the cot and climbed up a shelf to open the bedroom door.
At the moment I think we are going to remove the drop side from our cot and bodge the cot to fix it securely as she has loads of space, it’s just a safety issue. I don’t know if we’ll bother with a guard at this point as her hammock style mattress means she sleeps right in the middle. Fingers crossed it goes as well for us as it has for you & Max!
Zoe Corkhill (Mama Geek) recently posted…#ShoesieTuesday with Hotter
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It’s hard to know when the ‘right’ time is, but I think we just have to go with our instincts. Hope the move goes well for Lydia too – let me know!
Ah bless him, he looks so settled. Our baby girl will end up in a bunk bed early too(perhaps 8 months is a bit early though lol). We will move our little boy into the nursery and the two girls can share.
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8 months might be a bit early lol. Bunk beds are cool – the bottom bed tends to be low to the floor so work well for little ones.
aaaaw he loves it and looks so grown up 🙂 He definielty looks ready for a big bed 🙂
Gemma recently posted…M&S Collection – Striped Padded Non-Wired Full Cup DD-G Bra review
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It’s scary how grown up he looks!
So glad the transition was smooth for you. He looks so happy to have a grown up bed!
Laura x x x
My Life As A Mummy recently posted…Tea Time Routine with Birds Eye
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He really loves it – he is definitely not a baby any more!
Bless him. LittleOwl didn’t self settle until I took the side off of her cot
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It’s funny isn’t it – some babies just don’t seem to like being in a cot!
It’s too soon!!!!! How cute does he look?! So glad it went well lovely x
Donna recently posted…Review: The Basket Company Children’s Basket and Competition!
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He does look so cute, and teeny in a bed!
Awww, this is so adorable, he looks so happy to be in his big bed!
Baby Chaos recently posted…Review – Cherub Chews – Breastfeeding Necklace
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Thank you – he does love it!
Aw fantastic – well done little man!
How little does he look in the big boys bed!! 🙂
Lianne | TheBrunetteSays…
Lianne | TheBrunetteSays… recently posted…Beauty/Home | Orla Kiely Bergamot Hand Lotion review
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He does look tiny bless him 🙂
So glad it has been an easy transition, well done little one 🙂
Mama Owl | Jooleroo recently posted…Encouraging Creativity #theGallery
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Thank you, he’s a clever boy 🙂
He looks adorable, and he certainly seems to like his new bed too.
Lucy Blossom recently posted…Lucy’s Lovelies 5 – Paper People
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Thank you – he loves it!
Aww that’s fab and sounds like he took to the transition really well!! I think it varies from child to child and certainly seems like he was ready for it! Xx #mmwbh
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) recently posted…Monkey’s Musings at 28 mths
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Yes it definitely depends on the individual child, Max was definitely ready but others won’t be.
Oh bless him, he looks so very cosy in there and so glad to hear the transition from cot to bed has gone well. We’ve yet to take the sides down on Jessica’s cot even though she has turned 3 now – she’s never made any attempt to try and climb out so we’ve not felt the need to move her into a bed although I think we will be doing so in the next few weeks.
Louise recently posted…Sharing smiles for October
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No need to rush if you’re both happy!
That’s brilliant – love that he even said night night! He was obviously ready for it. Bittersweet seeing them develop, but that’s what we’re here for, to help them on their way 🙂 #SSAA
Stephs Two Girls recently posted…We love Nintendo Tomodachi Life! (Review)
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It is bittersweet. I love that he said night night too, bless him.
Wow, Well done Max, my daughter is 20 months and still in her cot, I’m actually dreading the ‘cot to bed’ transition as she has an habit of rolling round in her sleep.
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Max rolls around quite a bit, but he is in a Grobag at night, and we have popped a bed guard up too so he shouldn’t fall out 🙂
Can’t believe how big he is now! He took to the move so well, I totally agree that you moved him at the right time. It’s never a good thing when they can climb out of the cot.
Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
x
Jane recently posted…Little E – 12 Weeks Old
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He has grown so fast!