Choosing your child’s first bed can be a real milestone in their development and yours as a parent.
There is no set age when you should move your child from a cot to a new bed, but generally speaking it is between 18 months and three and a half years that you will start to move them to their own bed.
What prompts most parents to move their child into a new bed is a feeling that their child has simply outgrown their cot; this is especially the case if they have learned to climb out of it.
The moment that your child can climb out of his or her cot it is important to get them into a new bed quickly so that they don’t injure themselves. Some parents also decide to put their toddler in a new bed when a new baby is on the way but if this is the case it is a good idea to get your toddler used to the bed six to eight weeks before the baby is born, so there are no feelings of resentment. Some parents also find it easier to have their child in a bed is if they are potty training them as it is easier to get up in the night to go to the loo
Whatever reason you decide to move your child into their first bed there are certain things you can do to make the transition period easier.
First of all it helps to place the bed in the same place as the cot so that your child is used to sleeping in the same place. If they want to use their old cot blanket at first let them do so as this breeds familiarity even if it is a bit small for the new bed. It is also really important to take your child along when you are choosing a new bed so that they are fully involved in the process and the whole thing will feel a little less daunting.
It is also an idea to keep their cot until they are completely settled in their new bed just in case. Keeping the door ajar slightly and setting up a nightlight will also make their bedroom seem a little less scary which can help the transition period. And finally why not mark the milestone by celebrating the fact that they are in a new grown up bed and then they won’t be able to wait to go to sleep. Look at the great range of beds online at dreams.co.uk today.