The transition from cot to bed is an unforgettable milestone in your child’s development, and can be a tumultuous one to navigate, despite the wonderful memories associated with it.
Your little one might be hesitant for the change, or simply really excited to feel grown up. Wherever they sit on the scale, Here are just five tips to work through the cot to bed transition as a family.
Choose Your Bed Carefully
Choosing a bed for your child is based entirely on their safety, and where they will sleep best.
For this reason, consider choosing a bed with guards like novelty beds from Archers Sleep Centre. These beds are shaped like a car, princess carriage, and a tractor to name just a few.
These beds also contain guards that will prevent your child sustaining an injury by falling off the bed while they get used to their new sleeping environment.
Invest in New Bedding
With a change from cot to bed comes new bedding! By this age, your child will most likely need to begin using a duvet rather than the anti-suffocation blankets used for small babies.
You might want to invest in a soft but airy duvet to prevent overheating, and cotton sheets to promote breathability.
This will help your child to settle comfortably in their new bed faster, and will encourage self-settling.
Re-Decorate the Room
Re-decorating the room can help the transition feel less daunting for a child, if you allow them to get involved with the process. They could pick their own colour scheme, choose some new furniture, or some new curtains to brighten up the room.
To do this, you could either take a trip to a shop with tester pots of paint, or visit Dulux’s online colour palette to choose a shade together.
Establish a Routine
Establishing a routine is a great way to ensure success with the transition period. Whether you put your child to sleep at the same time every evening, or have bath time followed by reading a story, the predictability of a routine will put any uneasy child at ease.
A routine will also help you to establish essential boundaries and will help your child to wind down in the evening.
Pre-bedtime rituals like bath time, storytime, and quiet, low-energy activities will help your child to wind down, and therefore lead to a better night’s sleep.
Consider Blackout Blinds
Blackout blinds are a fantastic way to encourage longer sleeping, particularly if your child is a light sleeper, or sensitive to light.
A successful blackout blind is great for reducing the amount of daylight in a room, especially during the summer months when daylight hours are earlier, later and longer.
You can use companies like Hillary’s Blinds to find the perfect blackout blinds for your child’s room in various colours.
You could even double up the coverage by using blackout blinds with curtains to ensure a complete blackout.
Do you have any ideas for helping children transition from cot to bed? Leave your answer in the comments below!
