22 month age gap approx anyone??

Hi there, we have a 22 month gap between out girls but the bed thing was sorted as Paris went into a big bed at 11 months.

I would say, try and do the change thing now, so that hopefully any monkey-business she tries will be over by the time baby arrives.. you want to do it before you get too big and tired, and doing it after baby is here, when you are already coping with sleepless nights - you'll be less than patient beleive me! lol

Paris did have a point where she actually learnt to get out of her bed, prob when i was about this point in the pregnancy, she would hop out and sit in the hallway, we would ignore her for a few mins, sometimes she would start going back and forth and getting toys to sit with her, after about 5 mins we'd put them all back, pick her up say "it's time for sleep, we love you, good night" and back into bed she went. after that point each time she got out would be met with being put back to bed, told we love her, and goodnight.

You might find she surprises you though, do the same bedtime routine you always do, remind her she's a big girl and big girls don't get out of bed. We have just taken the side off Ayja's cot, and the first few nights we left the other side in her room, she was told if she got up and was silly we'd put it back on and that would be shame because shes a big girl etc. and she's been fine. try either taking the side off her cot, so she's got that familiar surrounding with just 1 thing changed, (if you can do that with your cot safely), of you could do the special duvet ritual where you go and let her choose a special duvet cover for her new bed. There's lots of ways to ease the trasition, but definately i'd say try it now, start with day sleeps and go from there.

I have a 20 month gap. I had Jake in the cot still When Charly arrived, the big bed was in his room all the time anyhow. I tried getting him into it for daytime sleeps, but he wasn't keen, but we used to play on it and read stories in it. I wasn't in too much of a hurry anyhow. I went out and bought him a special duvet cover and pillow case that I knew he woudl like and popped it on the bed, hoping that might make him a bit more interested, but again, I wasn't worried and didn't want to push it. After that was on for about a week, (and during that week I made a big fuss about the nice blanket with the cars on it) one night he had a MASSIVE tantrum and I couldn't get him in the cot, turned out he wanted in the big bed, he was about 23 months and has been in it ever since. No real problems, he has fallen out a couple of times (pushed out by the cat sneaking on his bed) But no dramas with gettign up, etc. He knows tht when he is in bed, he has to stay there, and he is really good about it. I say, don't push it, let it be a little bit led by her if you can.

Thanks for asking the question Lottiesmum . I will have pretty much the same gap between my two and was wondering whether it was better to put Ollie into a big bed before or after bubs arrive. I'll definietly look to do it before hand now.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Have decided to take the plunge. We are picking up the bed from Mum and DAds this weekend and will get it set up in her room so she gets used to it being there and then have decided in about 4weeks time we will give it a go!!
GandT I think you are right that it is probably worrying me more than it will worry her just like everything I guess, weaning, taking off the safety sleep, dropping to 1 sleep etc. She couldn't have cared less about any of that stuff it was me that was apprehensive about how it could all go badly!!!!

Will let you all know how we get on. Have washed all the sheets and new duvet cover and am looking forward to seeing it all put together in her room. Oh how our babies grow up way too fast!!!

Thanks heaps again and mummy_dee glad to be of help!! Thats why I am finding this forum so fantastic, so many experienced mums out there to ask for advice!!