Moving your child from a cot into a bed

So the time has arrived. Your mischievous little toddler seems to have outgrown their cot.

Are there any issues you need to think about when transferring your tot to their first "grown-up" bed? First of all, says Dr Martin Ward Platt, a consultant paediatrician with 20 years' experience, there is no specific age at which to make the change.

Common sense

Parents should use their common sense and judge when they think the time is right.

"It may depend on whether your child is in nappies or not," suggests Martin. "A potty-trained child is more likely to stay dry at night. Obviously, it's easier to wash the small amount of bedding in a cot than the sheets and blankets you get in a bed."

Upwardly mobile

The other main factor when considering the transfer is your child's mobility.

"If your child is pretty good on their feet and is maybe indicating they might want to climb out of their cot then it's probably sensible to move them into a bed," says Martin. "A bed is much closer to the ground than the top of a cot rail."

Bedded in

Parents may worry that their child might roll out of bed. In fact, Martin says, this doesn't tend to happen but there are some measures you can take for your own peace of mind.

"Make sure the bed you choose for your child is low-slung so there's not a long way to fall," says Martin. You must also never allow a young child to sleep on the top of a bunk bed.

Martin adds that you may want to make sure your child is tucked beneath sheets and blankets, rather than a duvet, to make it less likely they will fall out of bed.

Other measures

If you are concerned about your child getting out of bed and wandering in the night, Martin suggests other measures such as stair gates.

"A lot of these measures are just common sense stuff about noticing what your child is able to do," Martin says.

If your child likes to get up in the night, there is a chance they may want to snuggle up with mum and dad. "This is something most parents just put up with," laughs Martin.

Don't allow your child to share your bed if you have been smoking or drinking heavily or if you are a heavy sleeper.

Don't fall asleep on a chair or sofa with a young child or baby.

Follow these guidelines and your child should be in for a good night's sleep – whether that's in their bed, or yours!

Options to consider

Beds

The Saplings Junior Bed range, available on the nursery section of Boots.com is designed to be the perfect height for your toddler. The beds, available in natural, antique and white, come with two removable safety rails for parental peace of mind.

Guards and Gates

You can browse Boots' range of guards and gates on the baby safety section of our site.

Gates such as the Lindam Easy Fit Plus and the Extending Metal Safety Gate are extendable to fit a range of different openings.

Find out more at BootsWebMD:
Sleep Disorders Guide
Nine Mistakes Parents Make With Toddlers

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Nursery