1 week ago…

I’ve been wanting to change Dex’s cot into a big boy bed for a while now. As he’s currently on the lowest setting, it’s tough getting him in and out with my not-so-insignificant pregnant belly in the way. I’m also really keen for him to take a more grown-up approach to sleeping before his little sister arrives in April. It’s going to be tough enough on me having to cope with night-feeds again, let alone having to chase after a little bedtime absconder. As he’s not reached that mischievous age yet where he’d rather pull all his clothes out of his drawers than go to sleep, now seems the perfect time to give him a bit of extra freedom.

I’ve heard various schools of thought about when is the right time to transition toddlers out of their cot beds. Some mums insist on waiting until their little ones are climbing out of their cot, some wait until they’re talking and able to take instruction, some leave it until the last possible moment… but ultimately I guess parents should just do what feels right.

I know Craig wasn’t keen at first. His response has always been “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, and he has a point. Dexter is an absolutely amazing sleeper and will happily play independently in his cot until he falls asleep (based upon his level of tiredness - anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour). He doesn’t cry out for us or seem unhappy - he’ll just babble away to his teddies or bash his Leapfrog laptop to death. He very rarely wakes in the night, and if he does, it’s because he’s ill, or has banged his head (or an appendage) on the cot sides. In the mornings, he’ll play on his own again until he gets the hump - usually around 8am / 9am. Then he’ll get a little noisier to alert me he’s had enough. It’s a solid, easy, stress-free routine that suits us really well.

But I just want to go for it…

… So I have!

 

*** Helpful Product Spotlight ***

I didn’t take the decision lightly and asked for the advice of some of my blogging buddies on Twitter before taking the plunge. I was inundated with replies and product recommendations to help Dexter with the transition. It seems that most of them experienced the same dilemma as us - they weren’t entirely sure when to go for it, but just did. Most eventually did with the caveat they could always pop the sides back up if their little one couldn’t get the hang of it. Lots of brands inboxed me too to describe their products and how it would help with the ‘falling out of bed’ anxiety that every parent has in the back of their mind. I learned all about wooden rails, fabric and mesh rails, inflatable bumpers, foam bumpers… the list was endless.

I wasn’t keen on using a traditional bed guard rail as I didn’t see the point of adding another barrier to the mix. Dexter doesn’t tend to fidget much so it seemed like overkill. When Purple Daisies got in touch to offer a less cumbersome option, it seems like for the perfect solution for Dex.

They have a foam bed guard that simply creates a soft and gentle wedge to discourage any budding gymnasts from tumbling out of bed. It’s made out of foam so is warm and flexible and simply lives underneath your child’s flat sheet on either side of the bed. It creates a cosy cocoon for your little one to sleep in and I’m very pleased to report that Dexter hasn’t had one fall. To be honest, I don’t really expect him to, but for a parent’s peace of mind, you simply can’t beat it. Priced from just £9.99 (Dexter’s twin pack was £19.99) it’s also amazing value for money.

The real advantage of this bed guard for me, is that it’s so portable. We can take it on weekends away or round a night-sitter’s house and pop it on either side of a traditional single or double bed. A rail bed guard can’t compete with this as they need to be locked into position with screws and can leave marks or require a person of the male persuasion to put them up safely (< Feminist I am not!). It’s simply an easy, safe, and great value product and 100% right for my little guy.

If you’d like any advice on transitioning your little one to a big bed from a cot, head on over to Purple Daisies on Facebook and Twitter.

 

So how did we get on?

So on my birthday a week ago, we lost one side of his cot. The other side is against the wall so the fact that it’s not down is a moot point. I guess we just wanted to gage his response before we committed to the new plan. As daddy whipped his tools out and set to work, Dexter was excited beyond belief. He was exploring daddy’s toolbox, rushing about the room like a cornered fly, and chatting away to us. The moment one side came down, it was met with the same exhilaration as that when the Berlin Wall came down. He must have practiced getting in and out of bed about a thousand times.

When it was time for his first nap in his new-style bed, he was amazing. He slept soundly and didn’t even attempt to get out. Similarly at night, he got into bed with no fuss. That night we did hear him tiptoe across the landing (no doubt to see what he could get away with) but he must’ve felt pretty guilty as we heard him run back to bed thirty-seconds later!

One week in and story-times are a little wilder as he can’t accept that he has to lie down, and he might have the odd tantrum on the landing, but it’s all short-lived. We’ve shut all the other doors upstairs and locked the stair gate so there’s nowhere for him to do any damage. We don’t mind if he gets out of bed for a quick play with his toys in his room as Craig and I feel it’s giving him a degree a responsibility he can cope with, and so far he hasn’t let us down.

The thing that has taken the most getting used to, is having him walk into our bedroom in the mornings. When we go to bed we deliberately leave our door open so he can find us. It’s something we both feel strongly about as we don’t want him to feel cast out. So in he creeps…

It’s here we’ve had the odd accident. If we’ve left a glass on our bedside tables, it’ll be tipped all over the bib of his pajamas before we know it. If I’ve been up late reading on the Nexus, this will be liberated from my drawer in a way that Fagin would have approved of, and my iPhone has come perilously close to meeting a grim end down our en suite toilet. If he’s not abusing our belongings, he’ll scare us instead. He’ll perch at the side of our bed with his head on our pillows and eyeball us until we wake. On Monday I nearly died of fright when I discovered my little guy’s face inches away from my own!

All in all, I’m proud of him. I’m really pleased that he’s embraced his new bed and still sleeps so brilliantly. I’m pleased that any protests are short-lived and he’ll get back into bed without flinging all his possessions down the stairs. I’m pleased that his room is always spotless in the mornings like he’s tidied up himself (no small feat at 20 months!) after a night-time of exploration. And I’m REALLY pleased that he’s showing his mischievous side in the mornings. It’s an important milestone and one he’s approached with the same irresistible “Dexterness” that we love him so much for.

Well done little guy!

Disclaimer: I’ve featured the brilliant bed guard from Purple Daisies in this post. I was kindly sent a twin pack to try out and I’m very grateful. I was not asked to write a review, but decided they were too good not to mention.