Our cot-to-bed transition has gone wrong, she's up 10 times a night. What now?

Hi Fiona, It sounds like the new freedom has been a lot more exciting than anyone hoped! At nearly three, this does not necessarily mean you moved her too soon. She may simply need some help understanding the new boundary now that the cot sides are gone. A colour-changing light can be really useful at this age. I use the simple traffic-light message: **“Red means bed, green means go, go, go!”** It gives her a clear visual cue for when she needs to stay in bed and when morning has begun. It can also make the boundary feel a little fairer because the visual cue is backing you up. Be really clear and consistent: “When the light is red, we lie down, close our eyes and stay in bed until the light goes green.” If she gets up, calmly guide her back with as little conversation or negotiation as possible. You may need to do this many times initially, but repetition will help the new boundary start to stick. I would also look at her daytime sleep. If she is now regularly staying awake until 10pm, particularly if bedtime has become later alongside nap resistance, it may be worth considering whether the transition out of naps is starting to be on the cards, or whether her nap needs to be earlier or a little shorter. If the cot is still completely safe and she is not climbing out, returning to it for a little longer is also an option. You can even ask her whether she would prefer her cot back, as she may well say yes! But if you would prefer to continue with the bed, I would give these new boundaries some consistent practice before assuming the transition has failed. I hope that helps!