Moving from Cot to Bed

When you are awoken by the sound of your child hitting the sides of the cot when they roll over in the middle of the night, or your child is able to climb over the sides – it’s bed time.
Follow our easy steps to make the move from a cot to a bed as smooth as possible for you and your child.

1. The right time

• The move from a cot to a bed can occur anywhere between 18 months and 3 years - it’s entirely up to you and your child. Sometimes the decision to start toilet training or the arrival of a new sibling triggers the move
• If you are putting your child into a bed to make room for a new baby, you should do so a few months before baby arrives. This avoids your child feeling displaced by his or her tiny sibling and therefore becoming resentful

2. How to make the move

• It is worth leaving the cot in the room for a while, to allow your child to get used to the move
• To ease the transition, some parents encourage their children to have daytime sleeps on the bed at first
• As they move into the bed, you can transfer their cot blanket or pillow as an added comfort
• Most children are very receptive to being told that they now need a bed because they are 'big', 'grown up' or 'not a baby anymore'
• Add blankets, pillows and/or soft toys to make the bed seem a little less daunting
• You may prefer a junior bed at first, or have a cot that converts to a bed, but remember your child may outgrow it in only a year and will then need a single bed

3. Safety first

• Young children are restless sleepers so place the bed against a wall and install a guard rail on the other side to prevent them from falling out of bed
• At first, you may also want to place a few pillows on the floor just in case!
• Keep furniture near the bed low in height to prevent your adventurous toddler from trying to climb onto it
• Flat surfaces near the bed are useful for a night light, bedtime books and drinks
• Your child may find it easier to get into bed by using a small stool, if the bed is quite high
• Now that your child can get up at any time and even leave the room, make sure the bedroom and other rooms are free of hazards at all times. Double check that doors to the outside world are locked securely each night

The transition from cot to bed is often more dramatic for mum and dad, and is often regarded as a milestone. With this simple advice from Freckles, you can at least ensure that the transition is smooth.