Belinda Joyce
Deciding when and how to move your toddler from their cot into a bed can be a confusing time. On one hand it is exciting to see them progress into a ‘big kid’s bed’ but on the other hand you may feel like you are losing your baby!
When to move them:
- Often between 18 months – 3 years of age.
- If they have started climbing out of the cot or trying to, even if younger, move them immediately before they sustain a broken bone from a fall.
- Toilet training and need to get to the toilet themselves.
- Outgrown the cot.
- New baby on the way. It is best to move your toddler at least 8 weeks before your due date so that you can get them settled before the new baby is born.
How to move them:
- Put the bed in the same position in their bedroom if possible.
- You can give your toddler the same blanket if this is special.
- Involve your toddler in the process, choosing the bed, sheets, setting it up.
- Continue a similar bedtime routine if working well.
- Encourage your toddler by letting them get into bed themselves.
- Praise them for being so grown up now.
- Do not use a sleeping bag as this increases the injury risk due to falls from the bed.
- A pillow can be introduced from 2 years of age when they have moved into a bed. There is no need before this age and it can be dangerous.
- Limit to 1 soft toy in bed from 2 years of age to avoid excess soft bedding.
What sort of bed:
- Toddler beds are smaller and lower to the ground. Some cots convert into a toddler bed by removing the sides.
- You can move your baby straight into a full-sized single bed.
- Bunk beds are not suitable until 9 years of age.
- Mattress must be firm
- Some families choose to use a cot or single mattress on the floor, there is no risk of falling out. Don’t put it against a wall as your toddler could fall into the small gap.
- You can use a bed rail to stop your toddler falling out of the bed, make sure this is attached safely and not creating a gap that your toddler could roll into and risk suffocation.
- Make sure there is no gap between the mattress and the rail or bed and wall that your toddler could roll into or get stuck in.
- Some families put soft flooring or bedding on the floor surrounding the bed to cushion a possible fall.
Safety around the house:
Now that your toddler can get out of bed easily make sure that the house is as safe as possible.
- Particularly their bedroom, items such as baby lotions, medications, vapouriser solution (poisonous) are sometimes stored under a change table or elsewhere in the room. These items need to be moved to a safe place where your toddler can’t reach them.
- Remove any heaters.
- All medications and cleaning products/chemicals in a high or locked cupboard.
- Child proof cupboard locks.
- Knives and sharp items up high out of reach.
- Electrical appliances out of reach.
- Bracket heavy furniture such as bookshelves and TV’s to the wall.
- Safety plugs in unused power outlets.
- Curtain and blind cords attached to the wall.
- Consider child safe gates to some areas such as stairs or kitchen.
- Lock external doors so that your toddler can’t let themselves out.
Some toddlers will get out of bed many times before they settle. Some will not seem to realise that they can get out at first. Keep putting them back into bed and stay with them for a short time, perhaps read a book and wait for them to start to get drowsy.
If they get up through the night take them back to their bed and give them a cuddle, again stay with them for a short time as this is a new situation for them to get used to.
Enjoy this new milestone with your toddler and praise them in the morning for sleeping in their bed.
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