Moving From Cot to Bed

- Laura Thompson | 28th May 2021 -

Is it time for your toddler to transition from their cot to a bed? It’s a big milestone but when is the right time and how should you approach this change?

When?

I recommend that toddler stay in a cot until as close to 3 years of age as possible! This may surprise you – many families move their toddler much sooner for many reasons and we’ll talk all about that. Cognitively children are not ready to understand the concept of staying in their bed until at least 2.5 years old so making the move much sooner could open a whole new can of worms for you!

Moving sooner than 2.5 years old?

There are many reasons parents make the move to a bed earlier than 2.5 and for some it works just fine, it really is dependent on each child’s temperament and personality! Easy going, laid back children may well accept the change and continue to stay in their bed all night long. Whereas a more alert, curious child may find it much more difficult!

I think it’s time because …

Let’s talk about some of the reasons you may be starting to think about moving your child out of a cot.

‘All my friends are doing it with their toddlers’

I did this! All my NCT friends were moving their toddlers into beds. I was heavily pregnant and thought I’d better make the move now before baby comes along and we have that to deal with too! We did it, he stayed in bed for a week and we were patting ourselves on the back thinking what a great job we’d done! Until I started waking up at 2am with a toddler staring me in the face. We put the sides back on the cot! I was in no state to be walking a toddler back to his bed multiple times a night! Several months after his little sister was born and Jack had turned 3 we tried again and … it was so much easier!

‘They don’t like the cot!’

I would really encourage you to dig a little deeper here. Do they not like to cot or is there more to it? Maybe they don’t like going to sleep by themselves and need some support with that or maybe the timing is a little off and they are either under or over tired.

 ‘They are trying to climb out of the cot!’

Ok, this is a valid reason, we need our toddler to be safe! If your child is trying to climb out of the cot there are some things I would encourage you to do to stop this before jumping straight to a bed.

1. Make sure the mattress is at the lowest setting

2.    Make sure there is nothing in or around the cot to aid climbing, giving them a step up to climb!

3.   Put your child in a sleep sack which prevents them from getting their leg up and over the cot sides. There are plenty on the market with clever fastenings. (top tip: find one that zips down the front and put it on backwards!) You can even buy sleep suits or pyjamas with a dropped crotch if your little one isn’t keen on a sleeping bag.

4. Pad the floor – maybe your toddler looks like they are going to climb out but will they really do it? If you’re not sure just pop a mattress on the floor beside them and clear any other hazards.

5.   Address the underlying cause of the escape artistry! If they are just trying to practice a new skill give them plenty of climbing opportunities in other environments. If they just don’t seem to want to be in the cot go back and read my section on ‘They don’t like the cot!’

So … if you child is old enough to make the transition here are my top tips!

 #1 – Get them involved

Toddlers love to feel in control so give your child some involvement in the process. They could help you build the bed or choose new bedding. You know your toddler best but on the whole I would suggest this isn’t the time for surprises – it may all be a little too much and they would benefit more from being prepared for the change.

#2 – Choose your timing

Think about what else is going on in your child’s life before you add another change. If they have just started nursery or have a brand new sibling it may be worth waiting until things are a little more settled.

#3 – Keep some things the same

Try keeping as many other things about your child’s room the same. For example place the new bed in the same position as the cot was and don’t change anything else in the environment just yet. It is also really key to keep the bedtime routine the same, this will help your child feel more secure and comfortable with the transition.

#4 – Make it safe

Now that your toddler doesn’t have the sides of the cot to keep them contained consider adding a bed rail or bumper to prevent any bumps in the night!

#5 – Be prepared for some disruption

Just because your child is now old enough to understand the concept of staying in bed doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to! This is still new and your toddler is likely to test to boundaries once they discover their new found freedom (which could be a few weeks in!). If your child starts getting out of bed meet this with a calm and consistent approach. Guide them back to their bed and whisper goodnight. Try to remain neutral, much as you may feel frustrated (especially at 3am!) but try to keep it a calm interaction.

# 6 – Offer lots of praise!

Tell your child often how proud you are of them and how clever they are for sleeping in their bed. Let your child know that you believe in them and have confidence that they can do this!

#7– Use a visual wake/sleep aid

Your children cannot read the time so give them a visual queue to let them know when it is OK to wake up and when they should be sleeping. There are many toddler clocks on the market, try to find one that does not have bright blue or white lights. You could also have a light set to a timer to show when they are able to wake up.

Want a little more guidance with this transition?

A toddler troubleshoot call is the perfect option for transitions like this - check it our here!