At some point between the ages of two and three, most children transition from a cot to a ‘real’ bed. Some children are ready sooner, and some later, but there are ways to make it easier for everyone.
Chances are, your child is very attached to his or her cot, and because this big step often coincides with other big steps, like starting preschool, and potty training, it can be a scary time for your child, who is suddenly very involved in becoming more ‘grown up.’
Often, transitioning from cot to bed can be made more difficult if there’s a new baby on the way, and your child does not want to ‘give up’ this piece of being your baby. On the other hand, children with older siblings often cannot wait, as they want to be just like their older brothers and sisters. Not reacting too strongly – even when your child climbs out of the cot for the first time – can help to make this transition a little easier and more gradual.
Deciding when the time is right to make the change is a big factor. You will need to start making the choice when your child is too big to sleep in his or her cot anymore, or when he or she starts potty training, and needs to have access to the toilet at night. If your child is very active, then it’s also probably time to switch to a ‘big bed.’
If you are making the switch between cot and bed primarily because you have another baby on the way, then it’s best to allow at least a month and a half to two months before your new baby arrives – so that your child does not have a negative association with your new baby – and to give your child time to adjust before the baby arrives and you don’t have as much time. Alternatively, depending how big your older child is, you could delay this move for a few months – at least as long as your new baby is sleeping in his or her bassinet.
Smaller children can benefit from sleeping in a toddler bed first – these are lower, and smaller (about the same size as a cot, but without the bars.) Adding bars, similar to those on a cot, can help to prevent your child from rolling off the bed, or you could use your child’s cot mattress on the floor, made up as a bed, before you graduate to a ‘real’ bed.
Try to avoid using ‘grown up’ sheets and blankets at first – keeping his or her old cot bedding for a while can help to make the transition a little easier for your child.
Another good idea is to make a big fuss about what a big boy or girl your child is – tell your child how grown up he or she is, and let your child be involved in choosing sheets and other bedding with favourite characters or colours on them. You could even have a party to celebrate!
