Which bed is best for my child
Which bed should I buy when my child moves out of his baby cot?
Should I put my toddler straight into a Single bed or use a Cot Bed/junior Bed?
It is huge decision as a parent when you choose to move your child into a bed and out of the Cot they have been in for so long. This decision is made harder by the variety of beds available for their first bed.
There are several options for the child’s first bed and several factors will motivate you in the choice you make, should you opt for a standard single, a Cot Bed, a Junior Bed, a Mid Sleeper...... etc... This decision is never taken lightly and can make the transition from a Cot to a bed either smooth and fun or full of turmoil and angst.
Each child is different and so this need to be taken into account, does your child fall asleep quickly and stay in one position most of the night? Do they move and wriggle all night making it likely they will fall out of a bed? Do they often get up in the night? Are you going to try and get them toilet trained over night so they will need to get in and out freely? If they need to get up in the night or move a lot a low bed would be best, but then there is the cost of a bed they may only use for a few years.
If you already have a Cot bed then the best thing is to convert it to the Bed state and try it out. A Cot Bed or Junior bed is usually the best option as they are lower to the floor so any bumps in the night are never too bad. You can also put a bed rail on for extra safety, but when they are toilet trained in the night and you may need to remove the rail. If you opt for a single bed you need to ensure you have a secure bed rail in place as the drop is larger and a nasty bump might put them off their bed. I would not recommend a Mid sleeper until they are at least 5 and then only with a rail.
The most important issue is that you don’t rush the child, make sure they are ready for the transition. You should consider if they have out grown the Cot or if you are trying to move too quickly for them, children can remain in their cots until they are 3 years old. However many of my friends have children who are very good climbers before this age and made the decision to move into a bed on the grounds of safety, the little monkeys were more likely to cause themselves an injury falling if they remained in the cot.
If you think it is the right time to move into a bed then make sure you have discussed this at length with your child, a good way of making it fun is by purchasing some bedding which appeals to the child and makes the bed feel special. There is a good range of toddler and junior bedding out there at the moment but Cotton duvet sets are best for young children but remember a child can’t have a duvet until it is over 12 months of age. Once you have committed yourself to the bed stick with it. The child will get up several times and it will take a while for them to settle as they have lost the comfort and security of the Cot. Make sure you are ready for at least a week of spending you evenings up and down the stairs. Be patient but be strong, it might be that you need to sit outside their room for a while to make sure they stay in bed and to offer the comfort of your proximity.
The most important issues are that the child is safe and feels safe, they feel happy and comfortable with the change and that it is shown as fun progression to getting bigger and growing older. I hope it all goes smoothly for you.
