Staying with our safety theme for the month, we are looking at moving to a big bed safety. Now some will do the transition easy while others will f*#king hard.
Here my tips to help make it as easy as possible.
The best age to move to a bed is 2.5-3 years
The reason for this is because children under 2.5 years a toddler lacks impulse control. This means if they want to get out of bed they will. It is difficult to teach them not to because without impulse control they can’t stop themselves. Keep temptations to a minimum. Try to keep toys out of their room, removing the temptation away from wanting to get out of bed. If they can’t see the temptation they won’t have the desire to get out of bed. I have more information on how to set up Your Child’s Room. It that has great information about setting up your child’s sleep space to set them up for great sleep.
Safety Reasons to Move to a Bed
If your child is climbing out of their cot then is time to move them to a big bed for safety reasons. You may be able to lower the cot try this first. If you already have the cot as low as it can go and they are still climbing out it is time for a bed.
But if your child isn’t climbing out of their cot then it is best to wait until 2.5-3 years.
Bed Options
Once you have made the decision to move to a bed you have a couple of options to choose from. Your first option is change the cot into a toddler bed. Most cots can be converted into a toddler bed. Check out your cots manual or instructions.
The next option is to not have a bed instead have mattress on the floor. Rednose recommend you have the mattress away from walls. The reason being children can get stuck between the wall and the mattress.
The third option is go to an adult height bed. If you are using an adult height bed it is important to make sure there are no spaces between bars or panels wider them 95 cm. Keep the fall floor space around the bed clear of furniture and toys. You could also put a soft fall mat or mattress where the child may fall. You also have the option of using a portable bed rail. If you use a portable bed rail make sure it fits properly and is tight against the mattress. Ensure you don’t have pillows or other object against the rail also. Choose the option that best suits you and your family.
Safety Consideration
Once your child is in a bed this means they have greater access to all living areas. It is a great idea before your toddler moves to a bed you check the safety around your home. Something you may want to check is access to heater or wood fires, power points, is heavy furniture secure. You may also like to check windows, lose cords and door locks. I know this all sounds overwhelming but it worth checking out.
Rednose Australia has great information also, the link is here.
Helping them stay in the bed
If you move to a bed and you are having trouble getting them to stay in it, it could be happening for a few different reasons. Are they having trouble with the change? Are they pushing the boundaries to see what they can get away with? do they need help to wind down? When you know the why, you will be able to work on it. I would love to help you lets book a 15 minute free call.
Flick me an email and tell me are you getting ready to move your little one to a bed?
Maryann xx