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   mummymonster  
   
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     Topic: How to get a toddler into a big bed?     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 12:56pm | 
 
 
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   Help please!
 
 My DS1 sleeps in his cot, he's got a big bed but doesn't sleep in it.  We ask him at bed time if he'd like to sleep in the big bed, on the odd occasion he says yes.  Then gets on it, lies down, we turn the lights out and he howls for his cot.
 
 DS2 is bigger than DS1 I thought I'd have another 3ish months to sort it out, but DS2 is too big for the bassinet even now.  I need that cot!
 
 How can I get DS1 into his big bed?
 
 Also, I've been told portacots aren't good to be used as a full time bed.  Any idea why?
 Putting DS2 into the portacot is our only real backup plan.
    
   
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   MissAngel  
   
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     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 1:03pm | 
 
 
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   Honestly? Just take the cot away from him and give it to the new baby. Tell him he's such an awesome big boy and that he's earned a special new bed for being an awesome big brother! I did that with my Thomas and it worked a treat! Make his bed a fun place, make a little fort with a sheet and stuff. I dunno lol.. treats are good too? 
 Its a case of keeping at it :D They hate change, dont they? ;)
    
   
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   kebakat  
   
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     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 1:32pm | 
 
 
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   Daniel did the same. But really why would he wanna sleep in a big bed when the cot is right there? We took it down. Take it down and hide it in a wardrobe or something so its out of sight if he sees it and wants it
    
   
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   AandCsmum  
   
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     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 1:38pm | 
 
 
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   Have you taken the side off the cot? Maybe he likes the security of the enclosure?
 
    
   
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     Kel
  
A = 01.02.04   &   C = 16.01.09   &   G = 30.03.12 
      
   
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   mummymonster  
   
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     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 2:27pm | 
 
 
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   It's an old fashioned cot, so can't take the side off.
 Maybe we should just take it away..... hmmm...
 I thought (when pregnant) that by now we'd be able to talk to DS1 about it, but I was delusional about that.
    
   
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   JessDub  
   
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     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 2:50pm | 
 
 
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   Yes, take away the cot and make a big deal about the big boy bed. When he had the choice DS wanted his cot. When it wasn't there, after helping his Dad dismantle the cot, he thought his bed was very cool.
    
   
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   catisla  
   
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     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 5:32pm | 
 
 
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   can you take him out shopping to chose some new bed covers? I did this with DD1 and it helped make the big girl bed more exciting - lots of designs appealing to kids out there
    
   
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   AandCsmum  
   
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     Posted: 07 June 2011 at 11:19pm | 
 
 
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   Yeah I'd take it away. Explain what & why you are doing it though, they do understand far more than we realise.
 
    
   
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     Kel
  
A = 01.02.04   &   C = 16.01.09   &   G = 30.03.12 
      
   
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   kathamill  
   
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     Posted: 08 June 2011 at 9:54am | 
 
 
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   Maybe when you do take the cot away, make a huge deal over the fact that he's getting new stuff, wait a couple of weeks, then put baby in the cot. It will hopefully then not seem as if the baby is getting 'his' stuff and save on jealousy. Maybe even put some new decals on the cot so it doesn't really look the same. 
    
   
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   EmDee  
   
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     Posted: 08 June 2011 at 2:36pm | 
 
 
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   I agree with take the cot away (talk to him about it) and then wait a few weeks until putting your DS2 into it. We had our DD in a portacot for about 4 months and she was fine.
 
 All the best!
    
   
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     DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2
     
   
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   Kimnthekids  
   
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     Posted: 08 June 2011 at 8:00pm | 
 
 
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   I started by taking the side off the cot, and placing a mattress on the ground (for the times he fell out of bed)
 
 Then once that was done - we went shopping together for duvet, sheets etc - and he picked it himself (which personally i didnt like and didnt go with his room theme lol how sad are we but hey, it was his choice)
 then it was easy!
    
   
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   HuMum  
   
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     Posted: 20 June 2011 at 1:16pm | 
 
 
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   We moved and DS had to camp on the mattress for a week or so as his cot had already been shipped.  When we got to the new place we didn't bother putting it up and he slept on the floor on the mattress.  After a week I decided to buy him a bed, and he loves it.  Shows everyone.  He got to pick his sheets and duvet and he loves telling everyone about the cars and trucks on them!
 
 Actually sleeps better than he was in the cot.
    
   
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   luv2dance  
   
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     Posted: 12 July 2011 at 2:43pm | 
 
 
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   Just wondering then, how do you get them to stay in bed when you put them down for a sleep (either in the day or at night?) I have tried to have DS sleep in the bed  during the day but he is a real wriggler and he just gets up and comes out to the lounge. I don't want to get into the habit of laying on the bed with him until he goes to sleep as he is pretty good at going to sleep in his cot - where he can't get out of.
    
   
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