When should we move children out of cots and into beds?
Babies and toddlers have been injured when falling out of cots and beds. So it is important to know when the right time to move is.
Recommendations from our Safer Sleep Experts
When you see a young child trying to climb out of a cot and looking like they might succeed, it is time to move them to a new sleeping space.
This usually occurs when the child is between 2 and 3 ½ years of age but could be as early as 18 months.
Options for beds
Floor mattress
If you choose to put a mattress on the floor, make sure it is placed away from the wall. Young children can become trapped between the mattress and a wall. Keep the area around the mattress clear of soft toys, bean bags, plastic bags or similar objects that a young child can roll onto.
Soft objects can mould around a young child’s face, causing them to suffocate. It is best to try keep the area as clear as possible.
Toddler beds
A safer step before a full-size bed is a Toddler Bed. These are designed to be closer to the floor. The lower height reduces the risk of injury if a child falsl out of bed. They are reasonably cost-effective, as the cot mattress and bedding can generally be used on the toddler bed when the cot is no longer used.
Adult Height Bed
If you use an adult-height bed, it is important to know that young children are at high risk of injury from falling out of the bed. If the bed is next to a wall, the are also at risk of becoming trapped between the bed and the wall.
Keep the fall distance to a minimum and use soft flooring materials or a mattress around the bed to minimise injury in case your child does fall. Ensure that you keep the area into which a child could fall free of furniture, toys and any other hard objects.
Portable Bed Rails
You can attach a portable bed rail to adult height bed to prevent the child from falling. Make sure there are no spaces between bars or panels bigger than 95mm. Bigger gaps can cause a young child to become trapped. Check that the portable bed rails fit tightly against the side of the mattress and that there are no gaps between the mattress and the bed rail.
Sleep Spaces to Avoid
Young children are at a higher risk of sleep accidents if they sleep in the following types of spaces:
- bean bags,
- sofas,
- large cushions,
- and air mattresses.
Bunk beds are not recommended for children under nine years of age.
Did you find this helpful?
Good job! Please give your positive feedback
How could we improve this post? Please Help us.
