by Keri Withington

Created on: October 15, 2009   Last Updated: November 23, 2010

Moving your child from a crib (cot) to a big bed is a big step in their life. It shows that your baby is now a toddler. Here is some advice on how to tell if your child is ready to move up to a big bed, and then tips to make it a smooth transition.  My kids loved getting to move into a "big kid bed".

Wait Until Your Child Is Ready, But Not Longer

How can you tell if your child is ready to move from a crib to a real bed? Most children are ready to switch sometime between twelve and eighteen months old, but it could be earlier or later depending on the child and their needs. In general, a child that is ready to move up will be walking, or at least confidently toddling with the help of furniture, walls, etc. They should be able to get in and out of their new bed alone. A common sign that your child is ready to move out of a cot and into a big bed is if they are trying to climb out of their bed. If they are able to start climbing out of their crib, then it is time to move them. Falling out of a crib is dangerous, and so once your child is at risk of climbing out, they need to be moved to a bed.

So how do you switch them?

Consider Transitioning

If your child is young and/or particularly likes feeling snug and secure, then one option to consider is to transition them. On some cribs (especially ones with a drop side) you can remove just one side of it, leaving a cot sized bed that is enclosed on three sides. If you can safely alter your child's crib this way, then it can help them to still feel familiar and safe, but to learn to sleep in a real bed too. If you do this, it's a good idea to put a pillow or rolled up towel or blanket under the outside edge of the mattress. This will give it a slight slope so that in order to roll out of bed, your child would have to roll uphill. Also put soft cushions or pillows on the floor by the bed, just in case. After getting used to sleeping this way, you can move them to a real bed.

Consider A Toddler Bed

Another option is to get a toddler or cot-sized bed. These beds are smaller than single beds, and are suitable for use until about five years old (depending on the size of the child). These are smaller and normally have a built-on safety rail to prevent your child rolling out. The advantage to these is that they are smaller, and so your child may feel more secure in them, and they take up less space in their bedroom. The downside is that they are only suitable for use for a few years, and then your child will need a bigger bed.

When To Get a Single Bed

The final choice is to go ahead and move your child to a normal single bed. Although they will seem tiny in it at first, they will adjust to the bigger bed, and then they can keep that bed for a long time. There's also plenty of room for wriggly sleepers like my toddler.  If you move them to a single bed, they will need a bed rail or another deterrent from rolling out of bed.

Keep Their Bed Familiar

You can help to make the transition from a crib to a bed smooth. Although the bed will be different, move familiar items from their crib, so that they are still sleeping with the same pillow and toy. If they have a bedtime routine, keep using it, or consider introducing one. This makes bedtime seem familiar even if they are in a different bed.

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