Moving your little one from a cot to a toddler bed it a big step for both the child and the parents. From the your baby looking like he or she is getting too big for the cot to looking teeny tiny in a big toddler bed. It’s a step to your baby getting that big bigger and another step of independence. But, it’s an exciting step.
Preparing for the move
Aria loved her cot and her room and when we added the HelloHomeStarBright Toddler Bed and removed her cot she was so excited. “My big girl smoothie bed” she kept saying. She still calls her duvet a smoothie. How did we do it? A few weeks before we got the bed we asked Aria if she’d like a big girl bed and explained what it would be like. We let her try out the boys beds and she picked out her own duvet cover. She picked a Frozen one. Her own “Frozen smoothie”. She was looking forward to it and couldn’t wait for it to be built.
Assembly of the Bed
I decided I would assemble the HelloHomeStarBright Toddler Bed myself, men don’t follow instructions do they? And I wanted this done right, shhhh hopefully my husband doesn’t read this! I took out the instructions and began to follow. It didn’t take long, one mistake was made, but quickly fixed. An hour later and it’s ready. The HelloHomeStarBright Toddler Bed doesn’t come with a mattress, but it takes a standard size cotbed mattress (140cm x 69cm) so it’s easy to purchase and the same with the sheets and duvet.
Moving In
Aria couldn’t wait to sleep in her new bed. We set it up with her duvet, books, favourite soft toys and Euan the dreamsheep. The built-in side table is fantastic for her books, drink or to sit on while reading. We put her two favourite books and she jumped straight in. I think the preparation and explanation was key to her having a smooth transition from cot to toddler bed. She never looked back and was settled from the first night.
What we love
The toddler bed is a great size for getting in and out of when you are little. Don’t try it as an adult, it’s comfortable and difficult to get out. The bed looks great. It’s sleek, white, shiny and the cloud shaped headboard makes it look cute and a little different. I love the nightlight that is built in, it gives off a wonderful, comforting glow and the stars look beautiful. Plus it’s on a fifteen minute timer, so you don’t have to worry about switching it off. The side panels are great for the transition from cot to toddler bed, it gives some reassurance and comfort, but still give that bit of independence. Aria has only ever fallen out this bed once and it was because she fell asleep at the wrong end. The table is a great idea, you can put on another light, books, teddies and it’s even designed for an adult to sit on. Yes it’s strong enough. The bed itself is very sturdy, there is no flimsiness about it. It really is a well made and designed bed.
Final Thoughts
Aria slept every night since in her HelloHomeStarBright Toddler Bed and never once asked to go back into her cot. We have had a few issues with her sleeping due to illness, etc but that had nothing to do with the bed. Toddlers being toddlers. She loves the fact she can lie in it, it’s her big girl bed and she loves the light. Her brother loves it too and likes to sneak in and read a book or two with her. The StarBright Todder Bed is priced at £149.99 and is available online, in several large retailers and Argos. I think the price is excellent for how well it’s made, looks and the little extras. I am very impressed with this bed.
Giveaway
I have given me the change to give one of my readers a chance to win their very own HelloHomeStarBright Toddler Bed (please note there is no mattress included) Enter via the rafflecopter below and it ends on Friday 24th July 2015. Good luck to you all.
Disclaimer:- I was given a bed to review for my honest opinion.
More competitions at ThePrizeFinder – See more at: http://www.theprizefinder.com/content/toddler-bed-built-nightlight#sthash.Gdij2FRc.dpuf
We had to get a side barrier for bed as our son kept moving around too much and fell out in his sleep
Try just letting your little one have naps in their new bed for a while, before you give night-times a whirl!
Introduce it gradually and try to make it a fun experience
keep prasing them that they are now going into a big girls/boys bed x
Allow them to choose their duvet cover and other options so they feel involved
Lots of there fav teddys
We dropped down the side of the cot the week before. also character bedding
Definitely let them choose their own duvet!
Tell them they’ll have more room for their toys on a big girls/boys bed x
make the bed weeks or even months before you expect them to sleep in it and have it in the bedroom alongside the cot, so they get used to it – they can use it for day naps or just playing during the day, before they use it for the night
Lots of ‘Big boy/girl’ talk & praise.
Let them do it slowly at their own pace.
Don’t rush it, we did it at 20 months and felt it was too early.
do it slowly at their own pace
Don’t feel pressured to do it too soon by other people – take it at your child’s pace and make it as relaxed and as fun as possible for them 🙂
Do it when everyone is ready!
Make it fun and do it at their pace, patience may be required
This is such a cute bed!
Make it a fun and exciting new experience with their favourite things aroung them.x
Put familiar things on their new bed such as a favourite blanket and teddy bear.
Lots of praise and take it slow
Don’t rush them, keep to the your usual bedtime routine
Make it cosy and make it exciting for them x
Make it an adventure but stick to usual bedtime routine and have some familiar items such as cuddly toys so its not too strange.
Go for it, you might be surprised how ready they are for it, even though they might not seem ready for a big bed.x
Get them involved in choosing their own bedding x
Introduce the idea gradually so they have time to adjust.
I put my daughter’s cot bed in the other room where her big girl bed was. I let her sleep in the cot bed with the side off for a few nights and I let her get into her big girl bed, but with no pressure. Then after a few nights I asked her if she wanted to sleep in her big girl bed and she got in no problem and slept in it.
Buy a nice new duvet set, with one of their favorite characters, ours was Peppa Pig x
Just do it.
Don’t rush them
We put the cot by the side of the toddler bed for a couple of weeks, and he ended up choosing the bed on his own 🙂
I bought fresh new bedding and made sure we stayed on the bed together playing for a little while before bed and that all her favourite teddies were around her. Funnily enough, my little girl preferred a bed anyway so think I got lucky there!
let them pick a duvet cover themselves
let them pick some new bedding
None yet – but going to try soon!
Let them choose their own bed and bedding.
I put our little ones cotbed right next to our bed & took the side touching our bed down, that way should she want to she climbs into our bed, this hasn’t happened very often. My little ones loves sleeping in her own cotbed now that we’ve given her the option to climb into our bed, she quite happily falls asleep in her cotbed
You can use a little reverse psychology as in put the toddler bed by the cot a while before you transfer little’un over so he or she gets used to it being there and tell them they aren’t to sleep in it as it’s for their teddies. Move the teddies into it a couple at a time and by the end of the week your tot will be screaming to join them 😉
defrinately involve them in buying stuff for the bed, also explain that its a big boys bed, kids normally want to feel all grown up to want to move to a proper bed
Explain it a big boys bed and big boys can choose their own covers
make it exciting by involving them, let them help pick the bed, bedding and make them feel proud to be making the big move 🙂
Have patience, I lost count of the number of times I put my daughter back in bed after she got out and ran around the house, she gave up after a while
Let them chose their new bedding and make it exctiting, they will feel more settled.
Spend plenty of time letting them play in it to get comfortable before sleeping and talk about it when they sleep in it to help get rid of any worries before moving into it
Get them involved and let them pick the bedding
Make it a fun thing, don’t stress!
Never make bedtime stressful read stories and cuddles
Bedding they love, make them feel secure with everything they want from there cot.
Let them help choose the bed and/or bedding
Make it familiar by including their fave teddies
Children pick up on your anxiety the best advice I can give is to relax and make it the fun adventure it is.
I tired my out for the first night so they didn’t really notice!
Just act like normal and they won’t make a big deal of it
Just relax!
Such a wonderful prize! Thanks for adding your competition to this weeks #Competitionlinky
stories hugs teddies
I haven’t got any tips yet… we’re just gearing up for the move!
Don’t make a big deal of the move, act like it’s just another day
do it on a quiet day so they are not too overwhelmed. Make sure the favourite blanket and teddy/dolly are in the bed too.
sit with them till they get used to being in there, gradually move out of the room when they settle themselves
Wonderful prize . Thanks for the chance 😊. Slowly introduce with “big” bed to them, start with naps then full nights 🙂
Try and make it a painfree as possible. Keep up with your normal routine. Bring the bed in and leve it in the room and allow the little one to explore before their expected to sleep in it
My little girl Skyla just turned two and I havn’t moved her yet.
I am about to move my youngest into her big girl bed and I have taken her to the shops and let her pick her own Duvet set and she is now getting excited about moving in with her big sister!
just do it -put a gate on the door and ignore them if they create! you can always put them in bed if they fall asleep by the door!
Let them start having their naps in the bed so they get used to it.
We didn’t move her too early so when we showed her the bed she was more than ready and bounded over to it – she was so excited to try it out she wanted to go to bed there and then! I don’t think there’s a right age, more that they’re ready. Agree that picking nice bedding is a good idea if they’re a little bit unsure x
Dont just do it because you want them to make sure they are ready for it and show the signs.
wait till there ready 100% and remember some are ready sooner then others dont compare x
None yet, it’s still ahead of us!
Don’t rush the transition and let them become involved, let them pick the bed covers or a special teddy to go on the bed for example to make them feel involved and make fed feel special! x
Be consistent
Ask them and make it their choice.
Let them choose the decorations and sit with them until they fall asleep.
Put a safety gate on their door to avoid any stair accidents
Let them play in their bed first so that they can get used to it.
take it a day at a time xx
Let them choose their own bedding 🙂
Make the move as soon as you can
let them tell you when their ready, if they want to sleep in their new bed they’re more likely to stay there
Don’t expect the transition to happen instantly, it takes a lot of effort and patience, make their bed one that they want so that they will want to stay in it and make sure you have a safety gate on their room, once they realise they can’t go far they will give up and stay in bed.
Becci Cleary
lots of towys and a nice blanky
I remember telling my daughter that she was a big girl and needed a newc, big girls bed. We went shopping together and got some nice winnie the pooh bedding, curtains and accessories. She was brilliant and took to it straightaway.
They’re choice of bedding, and have the bed in their room for a few days before the big change – if there’s room that is!
Talk about it, let them see the bed, choose bedding etc
I had a single bed in the room for a while with the cot was in the room and i chose fun bedding.
Make it an adventure talk about it show them and tell them their mummy and daddys big girl/boy, and choose bright or fun bedding that they like
Let them pick their bedding, and talk about how exiting it is that are a big boy/girl now
We’ve not hit that stage yet, but will be very soon; so its great reading everyone else’s comments; thanks 🙂
Get them involved include some favourite bedding and make it look cosy and explain this helps them be a big girl/boy 🙂
New bedding – make it exciting (@MummyFever)
Let them pick their own bedding, and only do it when they’re ready!
wait till they are ready and avoid a time where any other change is happening in the house
We are thinking of doing this soon with our lb, been good to read the comments!
Do it gradually, start by removing one side of the cot.
Don’t rush it
Let them do it when they feel ready to
Build the bed up around a week before you want the little one to stay in it Spend nights before going to the cot reading and relaxing with them in the bed so they get used to it.
We put the bed up in our sons room for a couple of weeks before he moved into it properly. He helped daddy put it together and for the first few days we put him for his nap in his cot then moved him so he woke up in his bed, then when we thought he was ready we just took the cot out and he was fine.
Do not pressurise them and only introduce a bed when you feel they are ready 🙂
Don’t rush it
Be patient x
Get them excited to try the new bed and treat it like a reward for being a big girl/boy.
when you think their ready
We are looking at doing it soon. Most people said it is good if they are in there own room as soon as possible
Don’t rush the process, let the toddler do it in there own time and make it as stress free as possible!
Do it at a time when there is not much else going on, no other changes, to minimise them feeling unsettled as much as possible.
Do it when they are ready, rushing a child can lead to a lot of resistance.
Make it a fun experience for your child and let them help with picking out new duvet covers and even a new teddy for their new bed
Make it as fun as possible, letting them choose their own bedding helps x
I let my girls pick their own bedding and put their soft toys on the bed, we had no problems, they were really excited.
we bought our little boy some new big boy pyjamas and let him choose them we also let him choose is own duvet set and bought him a new bedtime story 🙂
make it fun and involve them in picking the bed and accessories
Put the bed in their room for a few days before and make moving seem like an adventure
We moved my son when we felt he was big enough. Trust your instincts you know your child x
I personally don’t have any tips as I don’t have kids but I know this would be very handy for my niece as she struggles staying in her bed all night but this one with the light is cool
Its has to be exciting for the child – so cool bedding is a must
Leave it until you think they are ready and let them choose their own beddihg.
perfect for my grandaughter Willow.set the bed up a week before so toddler is used to seeing it in their room maybe with a favourite teddy in then introduce the idea slowly
Try to make a routine with lots of cuddles and a story.
Allow the child to take ownership, let them choose when they want to do it and what bedding they like. Nice long story the first time and make sure they are tired out the first day.
Let them choose their own bed and bedding and where they want the bed in their room
When they’re escaping the cot with ease, it’s time to move to a toddler bed!
Make sure everything around them is calming & clean. Tell them a story each night about their fav things like I do with my daughter 🙂 x
I don’t have any tips. Parents will know when their child is ready and what they need.
Argh we are just looking at doing this soon so reading the tips with eagerness! From experience of talking to friends who have done it, I would suggest patience as a popular one!
Make sure their Special toy and they have it has an adventure together
let them choose there there own bedding
Bedding of their choice.
Start by removing half if the cot and let them choose there own bedding making it fun for them.
keep them in their grobag/sleeping bag so they still feel nice and cosy
Just wait until they are ready, there’s no rush 🙂
Don’t panic, there isn’t a set time – do it when bubs is ready and not before
Let them “help” you put the bed together so they feel involved in the transition.
take them the park, swimming , ride there bike wear them out lol x
prepare them for it by getting them a doll with a bed and moving the doll into it
There’s no rush, you will know when they are ready x
get a toddler rail to prevent them falling out of bed x x
Wait until the child is ready to move and don’t move too early. I don’t have any other tips as I am just thinking of moving my nearly 2 yo soon. I’m reading through the comments and definitely some great tips, thanks everyone.
Every child is different, I would say go with your instincts, you will know when your child is ready 🙂
My little girl has yet to move so i have found some other tips on here from mms with experience.
Have some patience, it is a big step. Try and make it as fun and happy for them as possible
Batman bedding of course!
I wait till it gets darker in the evening as they are less likely to get out
Story time!
let her choose the new bed and duvet
completely involve them in the prep work so it feels fun and special to convert!
I would like some tips because I am having a nightmare with it at present!
Just be very patience this is a big step for a little person.
make it as fun as possible & grown up
We are about to do move my son into his toddler bed so I don’t have any tips as yet. However this blog has given me some great ideas!
patience and stick with it, we are about to go through it for the 4th time
keep your normal routine so its not so much of a change xx
Parents should move a baby from a cot to a bed before they are able to climb out of it on their own and possibly hurt themselves.
Make sure all their teddies make the transition with them
We are just thinking of moving my 17 month old out of her cot and into a bed so I haven’t got any tips, this blog is very helpful.
Make sure they are ready and they feel comfortable with being on their own.
a lot of patience. spend time with them playing on the bed, reading and talking get them used to being on there
Read a story.
We did it slowly, reading her bedtimes stories in the new room and let her decide when she wanted to sleep in it. She fell out a lot in the first week but is fine now –
persevere with putting them back to bed if they keep getting out. it worked amazingly for us although it took many many weeks my twins now just get in bed and give cuddles and go straight to sleep.
Try to make it an adventure to make the transition easier
We have always gone with the old read them a story and help them get to sleep. Haven’t had any problems.
Try to make it fun and try to use the same blankets, covers etc so it still smells the same
I got Melody to choose her bedding a teeny new toy for going to bed with
Let them help choose their new bedding, it helps them be involved and get excited about the change!
We made sure to keep to his usual routine with the added excited of his new bedding
We weren’t entirely successful with our first child, but hopefully we will be better at it with my youngest daughter, she’s currently 17 months so not quite ready yet.
I read that picking new bedding the toddler enjoys is crucial. My daughter is too young but in a few months she should be ready to move!
let them help choose the bed !
Don’t do it too soon! and get them involved in the choice of bed and covers etc and make it an exciting event, it worked for my boy
Make there bed cozy with favorite bedding, soft toys, cushions and night light. Read to them till they fall asleep.Lots of praises and a reward the first morning so they know they have achieved a milestone.
wait until they’re ready and keep them involved.
Stick to a normal routine and try not to make it a Big Thing.
make sure they cant fall out
Don’t make it out to be a big thing and keep their routine as stable as possible.
Get them nice bedding that they have helped choose, they will then love getting in bed
make sure you have a good bed rail to stop them falling out
Let them help choose their new bedding
Lots of patience and a cosy looking bedroom.
(Sam Fernley)
Set a routine while they are in the cot. ie bath then, cuddles downstairs, then a story in bed. Follow that exact same routine once they are in the bed xx
all about routine and lost of patience
I’ve not had to do it, yet, but i’m thankful to be able to read the tips on here. Don’t have many myself. Reward bravery would be my tactic.
Stunning prize.
Let them help choose their new bedding.
Talk to them about the whole process.
Something that worked perfectly with my eldest daughter, was leaving her cot and her toddler bed in her bedroom at the same time for a little while, and when she went up for her afternoon naps, we let her choose whether she wanted to nap in her cot or her little bed! She would always choose her little bed, and so, when we eventually made the full transition to her bed, she felt comfortable and secure in doing so.
small nightlight and stories in bed
Oh dear, I’m not there yet, my little boy, Thomas, is only 10 months old so I will be reading some of these tips. It’s all about slow transitions though isn’t it? Like getting my baby into his cot, I put his Moses basket in his cot for a few weeks first. I would love this ready for his room when he is old enough!
Tell them about their ‘big bed’ just like mummy and daddy’s or big brother’s/sister’s before you move them. Once the big bed has arrived and is made up, get them to move all their toys and nightwear onto it. Finally, say ‘bye bye’ to the baby cot and have it dismantled or removed while they are watching.
We’ve done this twice and it has happened as soon as our child has been able to climb out of their cot beds, bed rail and a gate at the door and don’t change any other routines
I haven’t got any tips because I haven’t done it yet! Its our next step – I think i’ll stick to our night time routine exactly how it is, but read him a story whilst he’s in bed instead of on his bedroom floor like we normally do 🙂 Exciting!
I am hoping that we will do the transition smoothly. We are planning on picking out the bedding together and fingers crossed it works!
let them pick their new bedding and let them know how grown up they are with lots of praise
involve them in all the choosing of bed and bedding if it needs assembled let them help with that too.
Don’t make too big an event of it, just put them to bed as normal & don’t hype it up. My son barely noticed & never got out!
talk about how grown up they are , make a bit of a fuss about getting their new bed ready and putting away their old one.
Trust your instincts you know when they are ready, my daughter was 2 and son 14 months, all children are different 🙂
bed times stories and quiet time
Make it as fun as possible!!
Don’t rush the process and try and make it as relaxed as possible. Don’t stress yourself out or your little one will be stressed.
Keep to your routine & stick to it.
Always stick to routine but to make it fun too 🙂
wait till they are ready and let them choose a special teddy to take with them.
let them have their say on things and get involved in their l move this usually get them looking forward to the move with little stress
Keep them in a grow bag for the first few nights x
Make it fun and let them choose their own bed covers.
Use a bed side to begin with.
let them choose there bedding and a cuddly friend
Put up the bed a week before moving and let them play on the bed every day. On the day that your child is moving into the bed remove the cot. Only do this if there are no other changes in their lives.
give them chance to get used to the bed, i snugged up with my eldest child (half in half out) and read stories etc and be patient it took some getting used to the novalty of being able to get up and out whenever they wanted
We haven’t made the transition yet but there are some great tips here!
We haven’t made the transition yet but there are some great ideas here!
wait until they ask for it – we put a bed into her room very early when she was still sleeping in a cot, and after few months she started asking to lie her in big bed , after maybe 2 weeks of going between cot and bed she refused to go to cot altogether
let them see the move as step to bigger things now beconibg big grl/boys
Get them involved in choice making
Make it as fun and let them be as involved as possible
let them choose their own duvet, set to make it more appealing 🙂
Make it exciting and stress how grown up it is 🙂
Make it fun, lie with them for a bit until they settle and a night light pillow to make it more comfortable x