Strangely I wasn’t one of those toddlers who took much persuasion when it came to the transition from cot to bed. Actually, it wasn’t that strange. It shouldn’t be possible, but I can still remember the ‘event’ that prompted my desire to sleep in the wide open ranges of a bed of my own. During my brief toddler-hood, in the seventies, accepted parenting wisdom was not, as it is now, very comprehensive. My mother worked on the age old principle of “put the baby down for the night and allow it to cry for at least twenty minutes before checking on it”. While staying at her own mother’s for the weekend she took advantage of the ‘collapsible’ cot on offer and put me down for the night. After half an hour of wailing, during which my grandmother refused to let her “over-sensitive” daughter check on the baby, they popped up to check on me. They discovered the word ‘collapsible’ is both a verb and a noun. I refused to sleep in any cot after that, regardless of its grammatical persuasion. But not all youngsters are as keen as I was, so how do you smooth the transition from cot to bed?
Small scale adults
Toddlers have brains, just like us, so don’t make the mistake of trying to put yourself in their mind. Think about your own experiences; try thinking how good it feels to get back to your own bed after a holiday. It doesn’t matter how long, how exotic or life-changing the holiday has been, there’s nothing like your own bed. The association is pretty deep rooted and it starts young. Many parents find that their firstborn children are the hardest ones to persuade out of the cot and into a bed of their own. Later children are keen to be like their older siblings and want to make the transition – competitiveness is also deep rooted. However, for firstborns the transition is not easy. To combat the unfamiliarity, try putting the bed in the same position as the cot and to make minimal changes to the surroundings. Nobody likes change very much, even small people.
Stress factor
One of the biggest causes of stress for people of any size, or in any circumstance, is lack of control. When we feel that decisions are being taken out of our hands we become frustrated and unhappy. Keeping kids in ‘the loop’ is incredibly important at all stages in their development and this first major change in lifestyle is no exception. When shopping for, and choosing, beds take the future occupant along with you and involve them in the choice. Make it an adventure, an expedition. There’s no need to make a drama out of a crisis, but it is important to make a positive fuss over this first right of passage. Once the choice is made and the bed delivered and installed then a party to inaugurate the new bed is a good idea.
Environment matters
Choosing the right bed is possibly the most important factor. A good quality bed, with a good quality mattress, will create an environment that is appealing, comfortable and makes the transition easier. Modern mattresses are designed to maximise comfort and aid good, healthy sleep. This in itself is crucial to the development of children and remains important throughout our lives. The right bed, presented in the right way will help to make the first major change in your child’s life a positive experience. Hopefully these tips will help but, if all else fails; you can try my mother’s inadvertent approach and find a truly collapsible cot. Just be prepared to pay the therapy bills later in life.
The transition from cot to bed is often the first right of passage for toddlers. It’s not always an easy one and finding the right bed, mattress and creating the right environment are all crucial. A TEMPUR bed offers a range of comfortable, modern and well-designed beds that can make the prospect more attractive and help to smooth the way.
