Moving your little one to a big bed is a big deal and can be a big event in all your lives. I find that when it comes to making the transition from a cot to a ‘big bed’, there are two questions that parents tend to ask: the first is ‘when?’, and the second is ‘how?’.
If, however, your little one does not have great sleep skills and your primary concern is teaching them the skills they need to sleep through the night independently, then my response may surprise you because my answer to the question of ‘when’ is likely to be ‘not now!’ My strong advice would be to focus on mastering good sleep skills first.
There’s absolutely no rush to get your toddler out of their cot and into a bed. I’ve seen many 3-year olds sleeping happily in a cot and none of my clients have ever said, “I wish we’d moved them to a big bed earlier” (in fact most would say the exact opposite!).
At this point you might be thinking ‘but I’ve heard the longer a child is in a cot, the more attached they grow to it, and the tougher it is for them to make the transition when they finally do.’ Despite being a commonly held belief, experience shows me that this is rarely the case.
If you’re starting to teach your toddler good sleeping skills, there will naturally be a period of adjustment as they learn to fall asleep independently, and that’s going to take a little getting used to. During this period of adjustment, it’s comforting for your little one to have a familiar place to sleep. Their bedroom, their sheets, their favourite sleeping toy…and their cot: everything that can stay the same should stay the same until they’ve mastered the skills they need to fall asleep on their own.
The transition to a big bed is going to be much easier if your little one is already sleeping through the night. A toddler who is well rested and able to fall asleep independently at bedtime is far less likely to leave their room (or even bed) at night, which is the biggest issue parents find when they move their little ones out of the cot. When I work with children over the age of 2 I always recommend the use of a sleep clock which will become your new best friend if used correctly and help ease the transition when the time comes to move your child into a big bed. (Check out my favourite sleep training clocks over on my recommended products page)
… So if your little one is already falling asleep on their own and sleeping through the night, or (for whatever reason) you need to get your toddler out of their cot and into a bed, what is the best way make this move?
The first step is preparation. It’s important to let your little one know what’s happening. Explain that they’re going to be making the move into their new bed, set a date, and let them know when the move is going to happen. When you explain what’s happening to your toddler, make sure you do so in a positive way.
There’s definitely a bit of a balancing act here though as on the one hand, you want to prepare your toddler for the move, but on the other hand, you don’t want to make a huge production out of it. Turning the transition into a ‘big deal’ puts a whole lot of pressure on your child and can cause undue stress. You know your child best so you will best placed to know how to handle it but do make sure it is a positive thing. If your little one has already got into the role of being a big brother or sister, play on the big boy or girl role. Ensure it is surrounded with positive reinforcement and make sure you are confident and calm about the change so that your little one does not pick up on any anxiety and start to worry.
When it’s time to shop for the new bed, I’m a big fan of letting your toddler have some input into which bed and bedding they get. Asking which bed they prefer, which colour sheets they like, or which pillows feel the most comfortable, will not only ensure you buy something they like – it will also help them feel a sense of ownership over their new bed, which can work wonders in easing the transition.
Avoid unnecessary changes Once the new bed is home and the sheets are on, try to keep the bed in the same place the cot used to be. In fact, it’s best to keep as much as you can exactly the same in your toddler’s room except for the new bed. This transition is a big change for your child, so try to keep any additional changes to a minimum.
This is particularly important when it comes to bedtime routine on that first night. When getting your little one ready for bed, don’t alter their routine, change their bedtime or try to give them a new food for dinner. Keep everything as predictable and mundane as possible.
Dealing with their reactions Once you’ve settled your little one into their new bed for the first time, they’re likely to react in one of three ways.
1. They adapt immediately to their new bed and don’t test the rules at all. If this is the case, you can count yourself among the very lucky minority. 2. They appear to adapt immediately but, after a week or two, start leaving their room, playing with their toys, or calling for you to come back in several times a night. 3. Your toddler starts doing all of the things mentioned in point 2 – but on the very first night.
The solution to the last two reactions is the same. When your toddler first demonstrates the unwanted behaviour, tell them what the consequence will be if they do it again, and make sure you follow through on that consequence if and when they do.
You may well have already discovered a consequence that works for your toddler, and if so, I strongly suggest you keep that in place. Remember, it’s best not to change anything except for the bed, so when it comes to managing behaviour, just keep doing whatever you’ve been doing until now.
If, by any chance, you haven’t discovered an effective consequence yet, you could try removing their favourite sleeping toy or ‘lovey’ for a short period of time, say a couple of minutes or so). This can be very effective without causing too much upset. If your little one keeps repeating the unwanted behaviour, try increasing the length of time their favourite sleeping toy stays out of the bed. This may seem mean but I am afraid the consequence needs to be something they are ‘bothered’ about or it just won’t be effective, removing the green frog from the toy box that has not been played with for over a year won’t have the same impact.
Making a change like this isn’t always going to be easy, but if you follow this advice, it can be quite straightforward. Remember: manage expectations, keep things low-key, maintain a consistent routine and follow through with all consequences – Before you know it your little one will be happily sleeping in their big girl or big boy bed.
If you’re having trouble with the transition from cot to bed, or if you want to discuss any other sleep related issues, please do get in touch.
Sweet Dreams!
Sally x