From cot to bed any tips

[1becomes3]

I want to take the bar's of DD's cot she is 19 months and i am 27 weeks pg with DT's. Picking her up is a big strain.

I have the bumper to keep her from falling out, the things I am stuck on and would love some tips on are:

How do I keep her escaping?
What do I do when she does escape?
When do they need pillows?
And she moves around in her cot alot how do I get her to sleep up one end of the bed?

Any help would be greatly appreiciated.

[Chattyhan]

I haven't done this with my ds2 yet but am preparing to start!

Pillows can be used from 12m i think but most people i know didn't do that. I started using a pillow when ds had a bad cold and he's had one since (about 3 months) and loves it. I don't think it matters much at this age.

Escaping - is she an esape artist some kids don't even try to get out by themselves just call you but others scale the cot bars.
My god daughter stayed in her toddler bed without trying to get out until 3 years!

Incase they do escape i would ensure things are safe eg. stairgates closed maybe bathroom door shut and when you discover her just return her and firmly tell her to stay until she does!

As for moving around i think she'll gradually adjust mind you my sister slept horizontally until she was too tall for the width of the bed!!

Hope this helps xx

[Eddas]

My dd went into a bed about the same age, think you've said that you've got a bed guard if not get one. Think it made dd feel like it was still like her cot so she stayed in it. When we moved i thought i'd try her without the bed guard and that's when she started to get out! Had a few nights going up and down the stairs putting her back in.

If they do that the best thing is take her back no talking or eye contact and just tuck her in then leave straight away. No fuss. The gaps between getting up did get further apart!

I would say that they always will escape at some stage even if not at first. I just closed her door as I always have and have a gate at the top of the stairs to stop her coming down/falling down!!!

I gave dd a pillow as soon as she had a bed. Just one of the starter sets so it is very thin but good for a start. If they're being big girls i think they need something new to make them feel like it's different iyswim!!

DD also moves a lot but with the bed guard she hasn't fallen out ( only when I took it away for a few nights LOL )

Sorry for long post hth and isn't too long and waffley!!

[flumppootle]

Totally agree with edas.
A bedguard, a stairgate and maybe a new duvet cover (chosen by dd)

I really worried about this transition aswell but it was alot easier than I anticipated.

Good luck 1B3