Moving from a cot to a first proper bed – your questions answered

Everything you need to know about choosing your child’s first proper bed, once they’ve outgrown the cot…

It may not be on quite the same scale as the first moon landing but when your little one moves from a cot to their first bed, it certainly does feel like a giant step. 

As a parent, you want to make sure that it’s the right bed at the right time, and that this milestone transition goes smoothly. You’ll have plenty of questions! For example, what should you look for in a first bed? Should you go for a toddler bed or a full-size single bed? How can you be sure that a bed is safe and comfortable but tough enough to cope with the most boisterous of children? How do you help your child get used to their first bed? And what do you do if they find it hard to adjust at first? We’ve put together some advice, information, and suggestions that should help.

When should my child move from a cot to a bed?

Just like adults, all children are different so it’s not an exact science – it’s more a question of stage, rather than age. But how do you know when your child is ready for that first bed? Sleep experts seem to agree that there’s no point in rushing the move; it’s better to wait until your child understands what it means when you tell them to stay in bed! This could be any time between two and a half and three years old, or older.

When it comes to moving from a cot to a bed, later is better than sooner, in terms of age, and it’s a good idea to wait until your child has an established bedtime routine and is sleeping well. And you could involve them in choosing the bed too (see our checklist below). That way, the move is likely to be much easier. But, we’d recommend hanging on to that cot for a while, just in case it turns out to be a bumpier ride than anticipated. Take things slowly, don’t allow yourself to become stressed about it and, remember, it’s fine for your child to go back to their cot for a while if they don’t settle in their new bed at first. 

What’s the best type of first bed for a child – toddler bed or full size?

A toddler bed is often seen as a halfway stage between cot and proper bed; it’s designed for one year-olds and upwards, is smaller than a full-size bed, lower on the ground, and comes with guard rails. So, if you’re worried about tumbling toddlers, you might find it reassuring, especially if your child is a poor sleeper or very restless at night. But is it worth investing in a toddler bed? If you follow the sleep experts’ advice and delay your child’s move from a cot, there is less likelihood of accidental falls when they eventually move to a full-size bed. 

What’s more, children grow rapidly – and they need space to grow. By the time your child is aged five, and certainly by the time they reach seven, they’ll have outgrown a toddler bed. But even before then, they’ll have turned their bed into their own personal version of Toy Story.  Toys have an extraordinary way of multiplying and, before you know it, there’s barely room for their owner. A child’s bed is so much more than a bed; it’s the ultimate children’s playground and theatre and will be called upon to perform many roles during its lifetime.

So, unless your child has particular needs that might make a toddler bed advisable, our advice is to wait until the time is right to move from cot to bed and then go for a full-size children’s bed. This will give them room to grow and room for toys, books, and all the other stuff of 21st century childhood; their first bed should see them into and even through their teenage years.  

What type of children’s beds are there – and how do you choose?

The children’s beds of today offer plenty of choice in terms of type and style. Here at The Children’s Furniture Company, our range includes single beds, bunk beds, mid sleeper and high sleeper beds, trundle beds (for sleepovers), day beds, four-poster beds, beds with storage solutions and beds fit for an ocean-going liner (or a pirate ship!) 

Deciding on the best type for your child will, inevitably, depend on practical considerations such as room size, layout, and shape, and whether they have a room to themselves or are likely to be sharing with a sibling, if not now, then in the future. If bunk beds are on the agenda, you’ll need to factor in ceiling height too.

At the same time, it’s worth thinking about your child’s personality and preferences, especially if they are having a say about what sort of bed they would like! They might prefer something sweetly reassuring, like the Holly Bed, with its distinctive heart design, while the Scribble Captain’s Bed is perfect for a budding artist or a scatterbrain who needs BIG reminders. If they’re showing signs of being book lovers, the Butterworth Storage Bed, which has handy shelves above the headboard, as well as artfully concealed storage, would be ideal.

(For more details, take a look at our guides to cabin beds, mid sleepers and high sleepers and bunk beds.)

The top 3 questions you need to ask about children’s beds 

Before you make your final choice, there are three key questions you need to ask – is this bed safe, is it sturdy, and is it comfortable?

Is it safe? 

This might be the last thing on a youngster’s mind but it’s definitely a top priority for every parent when they are choosing that all-important first bed. Check that the bed you plan to buy has been tested to the British Safety Standard or is covered by a guarantee.  At The Children’s Furniture Company, all our beds – our entire range, in fact – comes with a two-year Kid Tough product guarantee.

If you are thinking about buying bunk beds, make sure that the top bunk is fitted with guard rails and that the mattress is the correct depth. We recommend that you keep the top bunk for children aged six and over so, if your child is younger than this, start them off in the bottom bunk. 

(You’ll find everything you need to know about bunk bed safety in our guide.)

Is it sturdy?

Even if your child is the soundest of sleepers, their bed is going to have plenty of wear and tear over the years, from play dates to teenage sleepovers. It’s going to be loaded with toys and books; it may have to double as an indoors trampoline; stickers and felt-tip pens will end up on the paintwork, and, the family dog or cat might think it’s a perfect billet, however hard you try to persuade them that beds are off limits. And we guarantee that treating their bed with loving care probably won’t be uppermost in any child’s mind.

At The Children’s Furniture Company, we make our beds from solid hardwood and high quality composite wood and the wooden slats are thicker than in an adult single bed. Every bed has three coats of special paint that protects against knocks, scuffs and sticky fingers.

Is it comfortable?

A good night’s sleep is absolutely essential for healthy minds and bodies and but particularly for children, who are growing, and who have so much going on during the day. Choosing the right mattress is as important as choosing the right bed and can make all the difference to sound sleep. Does your child suffer from asthma or allergies? Are they a restless sleeper or do they need extra support in bed at night? The mattress range at The Children’s Furniture Company includes open coil sprung, hypo-allergenic, memory foam, and pocket sprung and one of these will be perfect for your child. And once you’ve bought the mattress, don’t forget that other essential for a child’s bed – a mattress protector.

(To help you make the right choice, do read our complete guide to children’s mattresses here.) 

What can help your child with the move from cot to bed?

Here’s our cot-to-bed checklist, which hinges on familiarity and encouragement:

1) Involve your child in choosing their bed; it’s fun for them and can help with the transition. 

2) Put the bed in the same position as the cot. 

3) Stick to bedtime routines. If you have a bedtime routine that works – bath, pyjamas, cot, story, sleep, for example – do keep to it.

4) Use familiar bedding. If your child has a special blanket, make sure it goes with them to the new bed. 

5) Encourage them to climb into bed and snuggle under their duvet on their own.

6) Give them plenty of praise for moving into the new bed.

Finally…we think you find this blog post helpful too – Kids’ beds: the 10 essential things you need to know when buying a children’s bed for the first time.

At The Children’s Furniture Company we make our beds from robust materials including solid hardwood (rubberwood), pine and, in some cases, additional high-quality composite wood. We also make sure they’re fully bounce-proof and ‘kid tough’, allowing for maximum fun and durability. ou can view all our childrens’ beds here.