Moving to a big boy bed – again!
Little Man proved to us earlier in the week that not only can he climb out of the cot, he can climb into it. That’s no small feat I might add, because it’s a large cot bed.
Charlie and I were forced to admit that it was time to try again with the move from cot to bed. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you might know that we tried this a few months back and were very successful with it…for a few nights. Then Little Man started sleep-walking – due to bad dreams I think. He was standing up in bed in the middle of the night, completely unaware, and just walking around the bed. We were worried that the danger of him sleep-walking out of bed was much greater than the chances of him climbing out of the cot. So back on went the sides of the cot, and we just watched him until he fell asleep in the cot, ensuring he didn’t climb out. He actually seemed to forget about trying to climb out until recently.
So that’s how we find ourselves back where we were a few months ago, once again trying to make the transition from cot to bed.
Last night was the first night of it and it did not go well. Little Man was very excited when we explained what we were doing and seemed delighted at the idea of a big boy bed. Until bedtime came that it, when suddenly all the change seemed to be too much, and the tears started.
Also we discovered that the cot bed quilt we purchased at great expense from Mamas and Papas (back when I was pregnant and we hadn’t a clue!) is not even close to being warm enough for Little Man if he’s not in a GroBag as well. After all, this is one area where he takes after me rather than his father. He likes to be roasty-toasty in bed. (Shame we didn’t discover that sooner – we might have had a lot more sleep that first year. )
That being said, once he eventually went to sleep last night, he slept fairly okay – that is if you don’t count the fact that I was up to him five times between midnight and 3am! Obviously we needed to do something, so first thing this morning we headed into town to do some shopping.
I wanted a duck down or feather cot bed sized duvet, and a matching toddler-sized pillow. (Why feather? Well we have a selection of pillows and blankets on the double bed in Little Man’s room and we know from experience that that’s his favourite. ) Who knew it would be so difficult to get bedclothes sized to fit cot beds? After all, cot beds are readily available to buy! In the end, Mothercare was the only place I found them for sale – and they were hollowfibre filling and cost €40! For a duvet half the size of a single bed duvet! No thank you!
So we made out way over to Dunnes Stores where we found reasonably priced feather duvets and pillows, and lovely kids print covers.
Obviously the single bed duvet is too large for a cot bed though. So we decided to put half of the duvet under the mattress on the inside of the bed beside the wall. It worked brilliantly. Despite his best efforts, Little Man can’t pull it out from under the mattress, which means he can’t get tangled up in it during the night. We’re hoping it will also help stop him rolling into the wall while he’s asleep.
The feather pillow was another matter though. The thinnest one we could find is still far too big and fluffy for a toddler. So I slit a hole in it and pulled half the feathers out, before sewing it back up! Messy work! But it seems to have done the job.
Little Man certainly seemed delighted with his finished bed. All afternoon he kept asking to go to bed. We allowed him to play in the bed thinking it would help dispel some of the excitement. No joy. In the end, bedtime tonight took 90 minutes because he refused to stay lying down in bed.
Please tell me this will pass quickly!! How long before we can get back to our normal routine?!!
Snug as a bug!
It will pass! We went through this a few weeks ago with our then 22 month old. The first week was horrendous with bedtime taking from 45-90 mins to get her to stay in her bed long enough to fall asleep. For us, the key was consistency (always putting her back to bed, not engaging with her after we’ve put her back the first time and not letting her stay up) and bribery (allowing her to keep her ‘special’ book and sippy cup in bed with her). Now, four weeks later, she just has to be put back to bed a couple of times before she stays there.
Thanks for the reassurance Sarah. Today’s nap actually went very well. It only took about 10 minutes and lying him back down twice before he went to sleep. And he slept very well last night – not waking until 7.15 this morning – a real lie-in for us! Hopefully bedtime tonight will go as well.
It will pass! We went through this a few weeks ago with our then 22 month old. The first week was horrendous with bedtime taking from 45-90 mins to get her to stay in her bed long enough to fall asleep. For us, the key was consistency (always putting her back to bed, not engaging with her after we’ve put her back the first time and not letting her stay up) and bribery (allowing her to keep her ‘special’ book and sippy cup in bed with her). Now, four weeks later, she just has to be put back to bed a couple of times before she stays there.
Thanks for the reassurance Sarah. Today’s nap actually went very well. It only took about 10 minutes and lying him back down twice before he went to sleep. And he slept very well last night – not waking until 7.15 this morning – a real lie-in for us! Hopefully bedtime tonight will go as well.
we’re in the middle of it as well Lisa. Ellie seems to think its great fun to get out of bed and have mammy put her back in. Last night I did supernanny on it and stayed in the room and didn’t acknowledge her. I had my head down but She proceeded to put her sun hat on me and then look into my face and say hello, I got hugs, kisses, teddy bears and when she finally settled down Daddy ruined it all by coming in and I had to start all over. Will keep persevering tho.
Stick with it MaryB. I’ve been taking a similar approach with Little Man, and last night he only took 30 minutes to settle, and I just had to lie him back down 4 times. That was a HUGE improvement on the previous two nights! Hopefully tonight will be the same.
we’re in the middle of it as well Lisa. Ellie seems to think its great fun to get out of bed and have mammy put her back in. Last night I did supernanny on it and stayed in the room and didn’t acknowledge her. I had my head down but She proceeded to put her sun hat on me and then look into my face and say hello, I got hugs, kisses, teddy bears and when she finally settled down Daddy ruined it all by coming in and I had to start all over. Will keep persevering tho.
Stick with it MaryB. I’ve been taking a similar approach with Little Man, and last night he only took 30 minutes to settle, and I just had to lie him back down 4 times. That was a HUGE improvement on the previous two nights! Hopefully tonight will be the same.