Making the transition to the ‘big bed’ can seem like such a huge step, not only for your toddler, but also for you. Saying goodbye to the cot, where you toddler has slept since they were a tiny baby is an exciting, but daunting thought – your baby is growing up! Whether you are here because you have an 18-month-old who is climbing out their cot, because you have a new arrival on the way, or simply because your little one has outgrown their cot, I am here to discuss the best ways to make this transition as comfortable and as easy as possible.
The main thing to consider is ‘are they ready’? By waiting until your child is around 3 years old is the optimum time to transition from cot to bed as it is around this age that they tend to stay more in one place when sleeping as well as developing impulse control and an understanding of consequence therefore making them less likely to get out of bed once they you have said goodnight. There are of course reasons why you may decide to move your child earlier than 3 but if they are happy going into their cot at night, and not climbing out, my advice would be to stick with the cot a little longer until they start showing signs of being ready to move. Remember, the closer they are to 3, the easier the transition will be.
Top Tips to ensure the transition is tackled with ease:
Make sure your toddler is ready
Routine: by having a consistent routine in place before the transition can really help your toddler settle more easily. If you don’t already have one, I suggest you establish one a few weeks prior to making the transition. When the time comes, maintain the usual bedtime pattern. You may have to start slightly earlier during the first nights so that you’ll have enough time to help your little one settle into the ‘big bed.’ You don’t want them to feel rushed.
Bed location: if possible, put the bed in the same location as the cot where they have been used to sleeping.
Pillow & duvet: introduce a pillow and duvet whilst they are still in their cot. I suggest doing this approximately 6 weeks before the transition to give them plenty of time to get used to it. When they get into bed at night, make them pull the duvet up themselves as this is great practise should their duvet fall off in the middle of the night.
Talk to your toddler and get them excited: moving to a bed is a big deal for toddlers, so talk to your them and explain the ‘big move’ before it happens. Keep the excitement going by getting them involved in the transition and allow them to choose their new bedding. This will result in them feeling excited but also relaxed about sleeping in a new ‘big bed’
Toddler proof the bedroom: now your toddler has the potential to escape their bed, one of the first things we need to ensure is that their room is safe should they start wandering.
o Remove anything small that could be put in their mouth
o Ensure any cords from curtains/blinds are well out of reach
o Secure the windows
o Ensure stair gates are in place at the top and bottom of stairs and even potentially add one to their bedroom door should you wish
Praise: all toddlers love a bit of praise. Setting up a reward chart for staying in bed once you have said goodnight is always a winner; who doesn’t love a sticker?!!
Bed guard: if your toddler is still very active in bed, these can be a godsend and prevent you from being woken in the night if they were to fall out of bed
Sleep clock: toddlers are too young to understand a normal clock, however, a sleep clock, which uses colours and pictures to understand when it is time to sleep and when it is time to wake up, can be a great option to stop those early wanderings out of their bedrooms. I highly recommend the GroClock if you are thinking of using a sleep clock.
Toddler on the loose? Once your child realises that they can get in and out of bed much easier than they could when they were in their cot, you might find they wander to come and search for you. If this is the case, stay calm, consistent and respond by returning them to their bed, simplifying your response each time you do so. They will quickly realise that nothing happens at night when they try and get up, other than being taken back to bed
Like most areas of parenting, CONSISTENCY IS KEY, when it comes to making changes. It is so important that once you put a plan in place, you stick with it. This transition may take time, but by staying consistent, positive and calm (even if it means returning them to bed each time they decide to go on a little excursion) will only help ease the transition.
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