Collaborative Post
As a parent, we all recognise that there will be a point when our babies, are no longer going to sleep in a cot and will need to move from cot to bed. But when is it necessary to make that transition and what are the signs to look out for if any? What tips do I think work when are trying to move from cot to bed. Well in this post I’m going to look at all of these points. I’ve got two girls, and they’ve both made this transition, and both had a few hiccups along the way, some I remember very well, others I’m trying to forget! So when is the right time to move from cot to bed?
The average toddler will say goodbye to a cot at two years one month old.
A survey of parents and grandparents, conducted by UK-based furniture manufacturer and online retailer Happy Beds, has revealed the average age a child transitions from cot to a toddler bed is just over two years.
I think for us, we became aware that both of our girls needed to change beds fairly early on, just under two years. They were both very tall (they were in 3-4 aged clothing by this point) so we felt that they were getting too long for the cot. They’d also begun to climb, so we were worried they might do themselves harm in the night.
Another indication is if your child is toilet/potty training and it’s easier if they can get themselves up to the toilet. You may also need the cot for another baby, so that may accelerate the decision.
When is the right time to move from cot to bed?
Tips to an easy transition from cot to bed :
- My main and most important tip is to keep to the routine. Our routine was a set amount of quiet time in the evening, a bath, a book and then bedtime so this is what we stuck to.
- Let your child choose the bed (if possible) and the bedding. It might be that you are completely changing the design of your child’s bedroom, or even moving rooms. Even if you are just tweaking the room, the important thing is to get your child involved. There’s no need to give them completely free rein though. Did I ever tell you the story where my 5-year-old wanted a dark brown mud coloured bedroom? I’d suggest giving them three choices white, purple or green bedding for example.
- Make their room a place they want to be in, and where they feel safe and secure. So make sure you have the things they need, that might be a nightlight, blackout blinds or their favourite soft toy.
- We found bed rails useful, just in case they roll in the night. Some beds even come with them attached.
- We swore by sleeping bags whilst they were in a cot. It’s definitely a good idea to not use these once they are in a toddler bed. If you are worried about them getting cold, you can also buy clips for the duvet, so they don’t slip about so much in the night.
- Some children find change scary. So think about doing this process slowly over a few days or weeks. Also, consider keeping some items, maybe a favourite blanket so that they have something familiar and they can use to self soothe.
- Be consistent. Say goodnight and that you will see them in the morning. If they do wake and come to your room, just quietly explain that it’s still night time, and again reiterate that you will see you in the morning. This can take a while for them to get used to, keep going through as it will work out eventually.
- Get a ‘sleep’ clock, there are few brands that do them. We used one of these, and they are excellent. They allow in a pictorial form, for the child to see if its night time or morning time.
Finally here is what Happy Beds said.
“At Happy Beds, we believe such a milestone of changing bed should be celebrated and not feared, and we try and make this as exciting as possible for children with our range of bright themed beds that are both safe and affordable.
I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any tips, please do share them.
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