I think if you can give her the option for just a week or two, that might help.

I will need to deal with this soon too.

When a friend was transitioning her daughters from cot to bed, she kept the cot in the room. It was a reminder for the kids that if they get out of bed and get up to shenanigans that they can go back to the cot. If they’re going to act like a baby, they can sleep like a baby.

However, if you don’t have the room, I think get your child involved in picking a bed and some sheets and prepare them by talking about it. Maybe visit a little friend who is already in a big bed?

Good luck!

I had the same problem, lack of room, so the cot had to go. I then made the bed up to only halfway down, making a smaller, more cot like space. I placed pool noodles on the edges, under the sheets, instead of a safety rail to help keep them in bed. Now they can get out on their own, have fun trying to keep them in there…

It all depends on your child. If she likes the edges of the cot then buy sides for beds to help her feel more secure. The biggest tip i can give tho is do not allow her to sleep in your bed just because she doesn’t like her bed

might pay 2 sleep next to them for a while

let her pick out her big bed she might like it more that way

there are some good comments here

I found this extremely interesting as my LO is 2 and 1/2 and have been worried about putting him in a bed because he rolls around in his cot. It seems he cant stay still when he is sleeping also. I know I didn’t ask this question but it has come in handy to me

My son went into a Single bed at 16 months. We just took his cot away and put on a roll guard and he had no issues at all. He just turned 2 and we bought him a double bed, he was thrilled.

Our son at 14 months went into a double bed in the spare room while we were getting blinds put up in his room.
He never went back to the cot.

We got rid of the cot, but before doing so we took our son out to pick a new quilt cover, sheets etc for his big boy bed. Then when we did the swap a day later he was very excited to sleep in his new bed

Get rid of the cot as then it is easier as the big bed is the only option then.

I agree get rid of the cot. I would have her taken out to the playground or somewhere while you do the big transformation. Have a cute doona cover on the bed and new little toy or favorite teddy and put a noodle under the side of the bed that isn’t against the wall (this will stop them falling out) Also a little night light is good too. I think you will find they will be super excited about growing up. Although be prepard for them not to stay there! As they can now come and go now they aren’t confined to the cot.

Definitely ditch the cot and make it a wonderful experience of helping to choose sheets, doonas etc. if there is a favourite blanket that is currently used in the cot – this may also help with the transition.

We shopped for big beds, sheets and a bed spread she liked. Took down the cot. Bed was delivered and setup, bed made and we had a lie down straight away. My girls loved to read and draw and play with their dolls in their
bed and played happily in their rooms. No transition period needed. Just do it.

first of all I’d remove the cot all together otherwise it will be a crouch. I would make a really big thing of going to her “big girl” bed. decorate her room let her choose some new sheets and quilt covers. buy a special night light or a pillow pet that lights the ceiling with stars and also buy a guard rail so she wont fall out of the bed. Positive reinforcment all the way. It may take a few nights but after a while she will get used to it and love having her own bed. good luck.

Moving the cot out together with her so she understands and knows the changes she will be experiencing. She might not get used to it in the beginning but give it some time All the best!

Take the cot out of the room redecorate using your childs favourite things to make it a ‘big kids’ room, explain that big kids sleep in big beds, develop a solid bedtime rôutine – bat, teeth, toilet, story, bed….it takes time and perserverance.

My son moved for a cot to a bed recently aged nearly 2.5. We had a king single bed base that was his older brothers and had just ordered him a mattress when he decided it would be fun to climb out of his cot so the decision to “just do it” was made for us.

For us, I think using a BedSok really helped (fitted sheet with a zip up sheet on top – kind of like a sheet-weight sleeping bag that is fitted to the bed – see photo) It kept him in the bed feeling snug and secure (and he has never fallen out). With the older two, we had the beds against the wall and used a bed guard on the other side.

I think leaving the cot in the room would be confusing (we hid the cot in the garage so he couldn’t ask for it back should he not like the big bed)

Good luck!

If you don’t already have the bed what about letting her choose one, that way it will be very exctiing for her to sleep in it, if you do then let her choose, the covers. Really suggest that you have a rail at first so she doesn’t fall out.