Moving into a HelloHomeStarBright Toddler Bed Review & Giveaway

26th June 2015 By Susan Mann 220 Comments

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 24^th July 2015. Good luck to you all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

kim neville

We had to get a side barrier for bed as our son kept moving around too much and fell out in his sleep
Tracy K Nixon

Try just letting your little one have naps in their new bed for a while, before you give night-times a whirl!
Kaci Soderstrom

Introduce it gradually and try to make it a fun experience
kim plant

keep prasing them that they are now going into a big girls/boys bed x
Natalie Russell

Allow them to choose their duvet cover and other options so they feel involved
Tracy Hanley

Lots of there fav teddys
Nickles83

We dropped down the side of the cot the week before. also character bedding
Mrs Smith

Definitely let them choose their own duvet!
susan thornton

Tell them they’ll have more room for their toys on a big girls/boys bed x
Martina Pichova

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
Paula Readings

Lots of ‘Big boy/girl’ talk & praise.
Claire Woods

Let them do it slowly at their own pace.
Katrina Chambers

Don’t rush it, we did it at 20 months and felt it was too early.
leanne williams

do it slowly at their own pace
Elizabeth Hinds

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 🙂
Samantha Wheeler

Do it when everyone is ready!
Andrew Stockton

Make it fun and do it at their pace, patience may be required
Kahanka

This is such a cute bed!
caroline walliss

Make it a fun and exciting new experience with their favourite things aroung them.x
melanie stirling

Put familiar things on their new bed such as a favourite blanket and teddy bear.
lori

Lots of praise and take it slow
lisa evans

Don’t rush them, keep to the your usual bedtime routine
Siobhan Davis

Make it cosy and make it exciting for them x
Laura K

Make it an adventure but stick to usual bedtime routine and have some familiar items such as cuddly toys so its not too strange.
Alana Walker

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
Justine Meyer

Get them involved in choosing their own bedding x
DAWN TOTTON

Introduce the idea gradually so they have time to adjust.
Lorraine Tinsley

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.
TracyJo

Buy a nice new duvet set, with one of their favorite characters, ours was Peppa Pig x
Emma Gibson

Just do it.
✰★ღ Kayleigh ✰★ღ

Don’t rush them
Kat Glynn

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 🙂
Jenny Brady

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!
Gemma Brown

let them pick a duvet cover themselves
Chestnut

let them pick some new bedding
Marie

None yet – but going to try soon!
fluffypinkmarshmallow

Let them choose their own bed and bedding.
Pm Liu

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
Jo Carroll

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 😉
Lee Gardner

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
Isabell Whitenstall

Explain it a big boys bed and big boys can choose their own covers
Tammy Tudor

make it exciting by involving them, let them help pick the bed, bedding and make them feel proud to be making the big move 🙂
Samantha Ripley

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
Eva Trelfa

Let them chose their new bedding and make it exctiting, they will feel more settled.
Kat Lucas

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
Natalie Crossan

Get them involved and let them pick the bedding
MrRichTea

Make it a fun thing, don’t stress!
Samantha Loughlin

Never make bedtime stressful read stories and cuddles
Leanne Lunn

Bedding they love, make them feel secure with everything they want from there cot.
Gemma Surtees

Let them help choose the bed and/or bedding
Laura Asplin

Make it familiar by including their fave teddies
Janet

Children pick up on your anxiety the best advice I can give is to relax and make it the fun adventure it is.
Kerry bennett

I tired my out for the first night so they didn’t really notice!
Aaron Broad

Just act like normal and they won’t make a big deal of it
Gemma Clark

Just relax!
Rachel Hirst

Such a wonderful prize! Thanks for adding your competition to this weeks #Competitionlinky
Karl Borowy

stories hugs teddies
Mamavsteacher

I haven’t got any tips yet… we’re just gearing up for the move!
lynn savage

Don’t make a big deal of the move, act like it’s just another day
Gillian Hutchison

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.
donna hale

sit with them till they get used to being in there, gradually move out of the room when they settle themselves
laura

Wonderful prize . Thanks for the chance
Cat Rockandrollpussycat Blog

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
kristina trick

My little girl Skyla just turned two and I havn’t moved her yet.
lynn heath

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!
jbsguapa

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!
Sam Jane Aldworth

Let them start having their naps in the bed so they get used to it.
Laura Kevlin

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
Hannah Wood

Dont just do it because you want them to make sure they are ready for it and show the signs.
Leigh Marea Boyle

wait till there ready 100% and remember some are ready sooner then others dont compare x
Plastig Ffantastig

None yet, it’s still ahead of us!
Jess Howliston

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
kayleigh bates

Be consistent
Laura-jane Raddy

Ask them and make it their choice.
Annaloa Hilmarsdottir

Let them choose the decorations and sit with them until they fall asleep.
Michaela Hannah

Put a safety gate on their door to avoid any stair accidents
Emma Fox

Let them play in their bed first so that they can get used to it.
laura stewart

take it a day at a time xx
Sarah Parkin

Let them choose their own bedding 🙂
Tara Davies

Make the move as soon as you can
Barbara Clarke

let them tell you when their ready, if they want to sleep in their new bed they’re more likely to stay there
Rebecca Cleary

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
Ruth Robinson

lots of towys and a nice blanky
Yolanda Davis

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.
Helen Booth

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!
Laura Linsey

Talk about it, let them see the bed, choose bedding etc
Laura Anne Farnworth

I had a single bed in the room for a while with the cot was in the room and i chose fun bedding.
Teresa Sheldon

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
Sara Janeg

Let them pick their bedding, and talk about how exiting it is that are a big boy/girl now
Jamie

We’ve not hit that stage yet, but will be very soon; so its great reading everyone else’s comments; thanks 🙂
Jessica Woods

Get them involved include some favourite bedding and make it look cosy and explain this helps them be a big girl/boy 🙂
Charlotte Pearson

New bedding – make it exciting (@MummyFever)
Rebecca Lis

Let them pick their own bedding, and only do it when they’re ready!
esme mccrubb

wait till they are ready and avoid a time where any other change is happening in the house
Jadene

We are thinking of doing this soon with our lb, been good to read the comments!
Rachel Butterworth

Do it gradually, start by removing one side of the cot.
Corinne Peat

Don’t rush it
Rich Moore

Let them do it when they feel ready to
sarah james

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.
tammy

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.
Amanda

Do not pressurise them and only introduce a bed when you feel they are ready 🙂
Jayne K

Don’t rush it
Caroline Blaza

Be patient x
Sophie D

Get them excited to try the new bed and treat it like a reward for being a big girl/boy.
John Hannigan

when you think their ready
Diane Radford

We are looking at doing it soon. Most people said it is good if they are in there own room as soon as possible
Beckie Dufton

Don’t rush the process, let the toddler do it in there own time and make it as stress free as possible!
Laura S

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.
Melanie Edjourian

Do it when they are ready, rushing a child can lead to a lot of resistance.
Lisa King

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
Harley Richardson

Make it as fun as possible, letting them choose their own bedding helps x
Laura Whittle

I let my girls pick their own bedding and put their soft toys on the bed, we had no problems, they were really excited.
Emily Mayo

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 🙂
fiona mcbride

make it fun and involve them in picking the bed and accessories
Wendy Smith

Put the bed in their room for a few days before and make moving seem like an adventure
Louise Overington

We moved my son when we felt he was big enough. Trust your instincts you know your child x
Kirsty John

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
amyjbeckett

Its has to be exciting for the child – so cool bedding is a must
superscot

Leave it until you think they are ready and let them choose their own beddihg.
karen

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
Sheila Sloan

Try to make a routine with lots of cuddles and a story.
Gemma Nisbet

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.
Jennie Jackson Mse

Let them choose their own bed and bedding and where they want the bed in their room
Mrs Broomfield

When they’re escaping the cot with ease, it’s time to move to a toddler bed!
Samantha Ordway

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
Susan Trubey

I don’t have any tips. Parents will know when their child is ready and what they need.
Liam Bishop

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!
castleton

Make sure their Special toy and they have it has an adventure together
Donna Large

let them choose there there own bedding
Andy Grange

Bedding of their choice.
Laura Nice

Start by removing half if the cot and let them choose there own bedding making it fun for them.
heathersimpson

keep them in their grobag/sleeping bag so they still feel nice and cosy
Diana

Just wait until they are ready, there’s no rush 🙂
Kristy Leanne Brown

Don’t panic, there isn’t a set time – do it when bubs is ready and not before
Monica Gilbert

Let them “help” you put the bed together so they feel involved in the transition.
Kal Wellman

take them the park, swimming , ride there bike wear them out lol x
Ellie Spider

prepare them for it by getting them a doll with a bed and moving the doll into it
Louise Walsh

There’s no rush, you will know when they are ready x
vicki hennie

get a toddler rail to prevent them falling out of bed x x
Jennifer Ingram

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.
Tricia Cowell

Every child is different, I would say go with your instincts, you will know when your child is ready 🙂
Sallyanne Gooch

My little girl has yet to move so i have found some other tips on here from mms with experience.
Heather

Have some patience, it is a big step. Try and make it as fun and happy for them as possible
Josh

Batman bedding of course!
Rachel Heap

I wait till it gets darker in the evening as they are less likely to get out
Elaine B

Story time!
Maria P

let her choose the new bed and duvet
Emma Wolski

completely involve them in the prep work so it feels fun and special to convert!
Anthea Holloway

I would like some tips because I am having a nightmare with it at present!
Wendy Guy

Just be very patience this is a big step for a little person.
emma walters

make it as fun as possible & grown up
Caroline Buckley

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!
stephanie lovatt

patience and stick with it, we are about to go through it for the 4th time
Lara Davis

keep your normal routine so its not so much of a change xx
Barbara Handley

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.
Clare Hubbard

Make sure all their teddies make the transition with them
Beccy Rowley

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.
Cecilia Martin

Make sure they are ready and they feel comfortable with being on their own.
Lisa Houston

a lot of patience. spend time with them playing on the bed, reading and talking get them used to being on there
Allan Fullarton

Read a story.
AbbyP

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 –
Vicky Dunn

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.
Lucky Dan

Try to make it an adventure to make the transition easier
Nancy Bradford

We have always gone with the old read them a story and help them get to sleep. Haven’t had any problems.
Jo Wakefield

Try to make it fun and try to use the same blankets, covers etc so it still smells the same
Olivia Kirby

I got Melody to choose her bedding a teeny new toy for going to bed with
Sammy

Let them help choose their new bedding, it helps them be involved and get excited about the change!
Laura Craggs

We made sure to keep to his usual routine with the added excited of his new bedding
Kat Allinson

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.
Em S

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!
Rachael Jones Mann

let them help choose the bed !
Jessica Newman

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
Eva Appleby-Gill

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.
Claire Thomson Little

wait until they’re ready and keep them involved.
Katie

Stick to a normal routine and try not to make it a Big Thing.
Karen Howden

make sure they cant fall out
Kelly Donald – Pattullo

Don’t make it out to be a big thing and keep their routine as stable as possible.
Caroline Signey

Get them nice bedding that they have helped choose, they will then love getting in bed
Dale

make sure you have a good bed rail to stop them falling out
Sarah Lee

Let them help choose their new bedding
Happy Homebird

Lots of patience and a cosy looking bedroom.
(Sam Fernley)
Jessica Hutton

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
Jemma Louise Dwyer

all about routine and lost of patience
Jamie Millard

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.
Solange

Let them help choose their new bedding.
Leanne Hansell

Talk to them about the whole process.
Hayley Todd

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.
yasmine041

small nightlight and stories in bed
Josie Uden

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!
GCforever

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.
Pia Stephens

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
embabes

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!
Tracey

I am hoping that we will do the transition smoothly. We are planning on picking out the bedding together and fingers crossed it works!
DanielleGraves

let them pick their new bedding and let them know how grown up they are with lots of praise
sarahfleck

involve them in all the choosing of bed and bedding if it needs assembled let them help with that too.
Laura Pritchard

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!
christine westlake

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.
Claire Scott

Trust your instincts you know when they are ready, my daughter was 2 and son 14 months, all children are different 🙂
Victoria Thurgood

bed times stories and quiet time
Matt Brasier

Make it as fun as possible!!
Gemma Chantler

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.
Lee Hardy

Keep to your routine & stick to it.
Vickie Jackson

Always stick to routine but to make it fun too 🙂
stef wills

wait till they are ready and let them choose a special teddy to take with them.
alice lightning

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
Erica Field

Keep them in a grow bag for the first few nights x
Janice Mackin

Make it fun and let them choose their own bed covers.
Paddy Dennison

Use a bed side to begin with.
Sharon

let them choose there bedding and a cuddly friend
Angela Williams

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.
Jenny Jones

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
Hazel Hazel Rush

We haven’t made the transition yet but there are some great tips here!
Hazel Hazel Rush

We haven’t made the transition yet but there are some great ideas here!
Monika Suchonska

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
daniel pol

let them see the move as step to bigger things now beconibg big grl/boys
alisa moore

Get them involved in choice making
Denielle Nicol

Make it as fun and let them be as involved as possible
Natalie Gillham

let them choose their own duvet, set to make it more appealing 🙂
Suzanne Brown

Make it exciting and stress how grown up it is 🙂
supastar1501

Make it fun, lie with them for a bit until they settle and a night light pillow to make it more comfortable x