Big Beds....

we moved kobe into a big bed at 18mths no problems at all. he didnt even attempt to get out of it and we were planning on slowly putting him in it for day sleeps then nights etc... but the minute it was up he was in there and wouldnt ahve a bar of his cot.
We got him a race car bed and it has the higher sides which have been fantastic. For a start we got a foam mattress cos they are thinner so made the sides higher. Now he has just moved to a innersprung mattress and there is still a bit at the sides to keep him in if needed.

18months
haleigh started climbing out of her cot at 17months and we thought seen as bubs will be here in under 3months we may as well get her in ehr bed now.
so we got one of those slat beds form the warehosue with a foam mattress and she lvoes it, first night slept like a baby, it was also when we changed our clocks and she slept in to which was a bonus for us.
we never had issues with ehr falling out, i have a pillow beside her on the edge tucked in with her sheets and she cuddles it but she usefd to fall asleep on the couch to without falling off the edge.

I was really worried about putting Jake in his big boy bed as he was the WORST sleeper - always ended up with arms and legs flayling about and being at the worng end of the cot, BUT when we put him in the bed, he stayed quite still. he has fallen out a total of twice in a year, and he very very rarely will get out without being told. I was amazed how easy this was....I bet I have jinxed myself for Taine though.

17 and 15mos here. Hannah had to move out so Briona could move in lol... and Briona had to move out before she climbed! With both of them we put a mattress on the floor next to the bed but neither of them fell out. It was quite helpful as a step up though.

We put Arna in a bed when she was about 18 months old too, we went out one Saturday and brought her a duvet cover of her choice (pick a few out and put them on the floor or bottom shelf and get them to choose one of those)
When you get home make a big deal of it (get them to pass you the pillow so you can put the new pillow case on etc) and because they are so excited they want to sleep in it! (she didnt look at her cot from that day on!)
Just put the cot mattress or something beside the bed just in case - but Arna never fell out of bed or anything

I personally wouldn't bother buying another cot (unless you want to buy ours!) - would only use it for a month or so before it is time for the big bed.

Good Luck

I am thinking about putting Joey straight into a big bed when we move into our new house (cross fingers - should be some time this century). Do you ladies think it would be too much new house and new bed or best to get it all over at once?? Thanks for any comments or suggestions...

Jack will be 17 months when our new bub comes but it will go in a bassinet so we will have a few extra months and then prob go into a bed. We have been offered another cot for $50 and its almost brand new so we have decided to just wait and see with Jack. If we weren't getting that cot it would of been straight into a bed.

Theresa - Yeah I wondered about that too. The thing is that he has been sleeping in a porta cot at my mums for the past 2 months anyway so might need time to ge used to his cot again too - if that makes sense? (His ot is in storage)

That's a good idea
We don't actually have a new bed yet, hehehehe, must get that sorted soon!!