Put a cot mattress or a single bed mattress on the floor rather than moving your child straight into a bed.
Moving baby from cot to toddler bed.
If you re pregnant it s usually best to move your toddler out of the crib a few months before the new baby arrives assuming your first child is.
Corbis toddler napping 4.
Widome by getting your older child comfortably situated.
Toddler beds are usually the same size as cots and some cots even convert to toddler beds.
Start with a toddler bed.
Nobody wants to feel turfed out of their normal sleep spot 5.
If the move to a bed is being partially driven by the fact you ve got another baby on the way you should transfer your toddler into a bed before the birth.
Generally speaking if your toddler seems like she s plotting her first crib escape or you ve caught her vaulting commando style over the railing it s probably time for her to move her to a bed.
A cot bed is a good investment as it can be used from birth up to about 5 or 6 years depending on the size of the child.
However there s no hard and fast rule for when it has to be it s different for every family.
The move to sleeping in a bed is just one of many changes at this stage in a toddler s life it may coincide with toilet training starting preschool and other pressures to grow up if a new baby s on the way your child may feel possessive of his baby things including his crib.
Ideally aim to keep your toddler in a cot for as long as possible though generally by the age of three most children have moved to a bed.
You may need to do this even earlier if your child is tall for example or you need the cot for a younger sibling.
This reduces the risk of your child falling out of bed and being injured.
A cot bed which converts from a cot to a junior bed as your child grows can help ease the transition from a cot to a bed as the same piece of furniture is used but the sides are removed and a new bed end is attached.
Your little one will then have a chance to get used to the big bed before their new baby brother or sister needs to move into his cot.
Think about timing if the reason for the move is that you re having another baby and need the baby cot make the switch at least three months before the new sibling is due to arrive says parenting expert and author fi star stone.