• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
  • Family Festivals
  • Islington with Kids

Babes About Town

Love. Play. Eat. London.

  • London
    • What’s On
    • Weekend
    • Visitor’s Guides
  • Kids
    • Cool Stuff
  • Life
  • Food
  • Travel

Moving from Cot to Big Bed

October 21, 2013 by Uju 1 Comment

Featured Post

When is your child ready to move into their own bed?

I remember the transition from baby hammock to cot like it was only yesterday.

The first night I left Jed in a cot alone, he was quiet for a few minutes after I stepped out the room. Next, I heard him calling my name. When that didn’t work, he started crying ‘Help!’

The memory of him clinging to the cot bars like a little jailbird in his stripy sleepsuit, shouting for help, still makes me smile to this day.

Before you know it, your baby outgrows his sleeping bag and starts to look like a giant in his cot. And if you find him risking his neck by trying to pull a Houdini out of his cot, then you know it’s time to bust a move!

Make that Move, Right Now Baby

Moving your child to a single bed might seem daunting for new parents as well as their bubbas. But with a little preparation, it can be fairly straightforward and even become a bonding experience.

First, get them used to the idea by letting them spend time on the ‘big bed’ even if they still feel safer nodding off in their cot. Make a big deal about how they’re growing up (this works especially well if they have an older sibling that they want to copy).

Enjoy slightly longer bedtime hours, reading a story and snuggling up before lights off.

If you’re worried about your child falling out of bed, put some soft pillows/cushions or blankets on the floor beside them. You could also try special ‘bumper sheets’ or even sliding a rolled up towel under a fitted sheet can be helpful.

I wind up using my old maternity pillow as a ‘bumper’ for Jed who still tumbles onto the carpet in his sleep, age 4! Some parents go as far as buying side rails for the bed, but in my opinion this only prolongs the transition.

A Dream Bedroom

The fun part about making the move to a big bed is choosing their new ‘nest’. Get your kids involved in picking out their new bed along with sheets and duvet covers.

When shopping for children’s beds, your main considerations should be safety, practicality, comfort and style.

Nowadays you can find beds shaped like cars or boats, beds with guest beds that slot underneath and of course, bunk beds are a firm favourite with kids.

Ezra and Jed have loved sleeping in a bunk bed for the past two years and it certainly freed up a lot of space in their bedroom.

Even if you’ve got an only child, he or she could still have the ‘bunk bed’ experience with a model like the Roma bed (pictured) that features built-in shelves, a pull-out desk on castors and a space saving ladder.

How cool is that?

Frankly, I’m tempted to move Jed into the top bunk with Ezra so that we can get that extra storage!

So, now that your child is safely settled in their own bed, how do you keep them from climbing out at all hours and disturbing your sleep?

That’s a whole other post!

Related Posts

  • The Closet Monster… and how to put it to bed!The Closet Monster… and how to put it to bed!
  • Summer Babes love Caramel (Trendy Toddler)Summer Babes love Caramel (Trendy Toddler)
  • Chicken Pox Season: Dos and Don’ts for ParentsChicken Pox Season: Dos and Don’ts for Parents
  • Win a Flexibath Baby and Toddler Bath! (Top Travel Product)Win a Flexibath Baby and Toddler Bath! (Top Travel Product)
  • Is this the ‘It Bag’ of Nappy Sacks?Is this the ‘It Bag’ of Nappy Sacks?
  • Bye Bye BabyBye Bye Baby
+1
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
0 Shares

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: baby, Life, parenting, shopping, toddlers

« Minced Beef and Dumplings with Heston Blumenthal (Featured Video)
Half-Term: 30 Things to do in London with Kids (October 2013) »

Comments

  1. LovelyNursery says

    November 15, 2013 at 9:45 am

    Hi there, thanks for sharing your story, it was really cute. :) That is a big moment in their life’s. As you said – a new nest. :) Sometimes its a bit too hard for them. So convertible cot beds are very handy, cause they give more time. A little one stays in the same bed, 30min of work from daddy and problem solved without even noticing it. It saves a lot of money as well. :)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I'm Uju, blogger, screenwriter, curator of cool finds and experiences for city families. Read more...

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search Babes about Town

As Featured On

Launch Your blog workshop button
Follow on Bloglovin

Archives

Categories

Topics

accessories activities baby causes central London Christmas competitions dads east London eating eat London with kids events family family festivals family fun family theatre fashion freebies gadgets gifts health holiday holidays kids Life London-wide moms mums music north London offers parenting parties restaurant shopping shows social south London sport things to do in London with kids toddlers toys travel weekend scoop west London

Welcome

Babes about Town is a London-based city guide for hip, smart parents raising kids aged 0-12. Learn More

Popular Posts

Jed at Pitanga
WWT puddle jumping 2019
Aurora Orchestra Far Far Away
20 Questions for Ezra at 13
Chinese New Year Museum of London Docklands
Royal Opera House Family Sundays Mad Hatters

Copyright © 2019 · Blog Design by Shauna Callaghan