Making the move Cot to Toddler bed

When do you make the big transition from a Cot to a Toddler bed?

There is no set time that you should move your child from a cot to a toddler bed, most parents start thinking about it at 18 months but as parents you're the only on who knows when your child is ready for such a big transition. In fact it could be that your child makes hints about moving into a 'big boy bed'.   
  
        

Charlie is 27 months and moving into a big boy bed has never interested him so we never felt it was necesary to force him to do so, however the last week or so Charlie has been asking about a 'big boy bed' and has been so excited and at 31 weeks pregnant we feels it's a good time to move him into a toddler bed.

       

We let him pick his own bed to make the experience more exciting, we took him to toys r us and we bought a Thomas toddler bed. My husband put it all together and the idea of sleeping in his own bed excited him. He has been having a few off nights where he'd wake up for once 15 minutes or so and want to just snuggle up with me so we're hoping by having the sense of freedom being in his own bed he will get out of this routine.

Last night was the first night he slept in it and he slept through the night, though my paranoid self still laid cushions on the floor incase he fell out. He hasn't stopped telling his nanny and cousins about his 'big boy bed' im so glad we decided to make the change sooner rather then later because he enjoys it so much better than being in a cot and makes him feel so much more grown up.

Tips on making the move from a cot to a bed:

• don't encourage it until you feel your child is ready or when they make hints about having a 'big boy bed'

• let them join in when it comes to choosing a new bed 

There's lots of points to consider when buying a new bed, one that's close to the floor and has safety rails but as a parent you know what's right for your child.

•make a big deal out of it, let your child know how grown up they are and how impressed you are (without sounding to obvious)

•take your child to pick new bedding 

•stick to the same routine don't change routine because your toddler is now in a bed.

•always be postitive about it and offer your child lots of praise for the big step they have taken 

•make sure your childs room is safe, with a bed they are more chances your toddler will want to wonder so take the correct precautions.

•if you are expecting make the change months in advance (if they're resdy of course) so they don't feel pushed out or in the sense they are making room for the baby because this could lead to resentment, make sure your child knows they are getting a new bed because they are grown up and how proud you are.