If your child has grown to an age where they are ready to move from their cot then it is time to start thinking about choosing a real bed. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to work out what’s right for your needs. With children of such a young age it is vital to make your choice carefully. After all, everyone wants to make sure that their child can enjoy a peaceful and restful night’s sleep.
Firstly, it is important to understand that there is no right or wrong time for a child to move from a cot to a bed; it is a personal thing for them. Forcing a child to give up their cot is never a good idea. The process should occur naturally. Usually, children are ready to move from being about a year and a half to three years old.
A small starter bed is best for child of this age. These are usually the same size as a cot, with dimensions of 1400 x 700mm. This size of bed can be used with most children until they are around eight years of age. It is also useful to have a mattress with a wipe clean body. This means that the bed can be easily cleaned if the child experiences any problems with wetting the bed.
It also pays to choose a bed which is as hard wearing as possible. Hard wood construction with a firm frame is best. After all, your child will treat their bed as a den, a castle or a space ship at various times. That is why it is also a good idea to give any potential choice of bed a good rocking and shaking before you buy, just to make sure that it is strong enough to cope with all of its likely demands.
