3
Mar
2010
Cots – a life behind bars?
So here’s a question for all of you far more experienced people than me – what’s with the ‘big boy bed’ business? Two and a half year old son is still in a cot. I know – HORRIFYING. Many people can’t get over the fact and I am sure they are whispering about poor downtrodden son behind my back.
I have stayed in various different locations over the past few months and the question is always the same – is he in a bed yet? The answer is no, he is not.
So tell me, am I running the risk of a child used to gazing upwards at people forever? Will the bars scar him for life and ensure he is well primed for a life of incarceration? Thus far, he seems perfectly content in his cot, and no signs of him whipping off with the family silver just yet. Then again, if you ask English Captain Sensible, most Aussies return to their convict form at some stage anyway.
But seriously – am I causing issues? If we have enough cots to go around, is it ok for him to stay there? He’s a cautious little thing and not likely to scale the dizzy heights of the cot bars to stage a breakout just yet so I’m not worried about that. He’s not toilet trained either so not needing to get up to go to the loo in the night (oh god, I know I’m running late, but can I plead new baby, travel, and house moving? And if not, can I admit to sheer laziness?).
Am I missing something? When he fails to get into medical school, will I be ruing the day I didn’t put him in a cot?
Like
“running the risk of a child used to gazing upwards at people forever” – If he takes after The Captain he will have this issue anyway..
Keep him there as long as he is happy and not catapulting over side of cot. Otherwise horrifying visions of child appearing in lounge room at 10pm just as you are tucking into your second (??) glass of vino. Or child appearing at side of bed at 3 am. Or falling out of bed…shall I continue?
hmm – I reckon it depends a bit. I confess to feeling a bit horrified recently when a friend mentioned her 3 1/2 year old was still in a cot. We moved our first into a bed at age 2 since we needed the cot for the second baby. She was still sleeping in gro-bags, so we didn’t have a problem with her getting out of bed. Our second is now at the same age, or even a little older but we haven’t moved him as yet, and I suspect he’ll be more likely to get out of bed at the going to sleep stage.
On the other hand – we could be expecting trouble when there might be none – he’s been sleeping on a mat on the floor at his day care centre for the last year and often snoozes in beds with no problem!
Our daughter quite enjoyed the transition to her own little bed – we went for one of the smaller beds from IKEA rather than moving her straight away into a grown-up single bed and it still had a barrier and side so I think she felt quite secure.
I agree with Tory – if he’s happy keep him there for a bit longer. But I think by 3 they are looking to be independent, and also it’s really time by then to learn how to get into bed and stay there by themselves.
Keep him in there forever! Our daughter launched herself out of the cot at 18 months old and life has been a nightmare ever since (4 hour bedtime routine with crazy tired child continually getting out of bed). Our greatest wish in life is for a cot with higher sides! And a good nights sleep.
Thanks for the advice – Elly, I will know not to mention he is still in a cot when he is about 16. That would be bad, right?
Virginia – I had a friend with a similar issue – they spotted him on the video monitor and estimated it took 4 minutes from being put down til he catupulted himself over the top. Without even any ropes. Impressive.