Moving a child from a crib to a big bed is a big topic for many parents. When is the right time? What bed to choose, what mattress and what bedding will be most suitable? Always rely on the fact that quality materials are the key to healthy sleep and long product life.
In the previous article, we looked in more detail at the topic of how to choose a mattress for a child in a crib. In this article, we will focus on older children and everything they need for a good night’s sleep.
Many parents ponder the question of when and how to move their offspring to a classic bed so that it is not unnecessarily stressful for him. The question of timing is contentious. Usually, a time around 2. to 3 years, but it is not a requirement. It depends on a number of factors. So let your own intuition guide you. If you are hesitant, answer a few key questions:
If you answer yes to all the questions, don’t hesitate to move. However, there are a few rules.
Most children love the big bed because they are free to leave it at any time. But some find the change harder to cope with. If you’re expecting a second child and plan to use the cot for him or her, start gradually moving your older child into his or her own bed as soon as possible. He should have plenty of time to get used to the bed. The younger sibling may become jealous and feel left out if the baby “takes” his cot.
If you already know that you won’t be able to make the move to the cot before you bring your baby home from the hospital, you’d better wait a while until the whole family is settled. The newborn can sleep in the crib for now. For the older one, you can add a large bed to the cot and give him the choice. If you don’t have enough space, put the bed where the cot used to be and try to entice the baby with nice bedding or soft stuffed animals.
When choosing a bed, you have two options. You can either go for a special bed for toddlers, which is smaller than a regular bed, or you can get a bed like an adult bed. Either way, the bed must be safe and healthy. Check with the manufacturer to make sure it is safe. Initially, the bed should have side barriers to prevent the child from falling. Also make sure that the bed does not have sharp edges and that screws do not protrude from the bed.
Beds for children should be made of a material that is easy to maintain. Most often you will come across beds made of:
Metal beds, which are cold, are not suitable for children’s rooms, nor are upholstered beds, which are high maintenance and unsuitable for allergy sufferers.
Although the appearance of the bed will be what catches your eye when you choose it, the mattress and the grid will be much more important. The mattress can be wooden, slatted or adjustable. It is important that it distributes the pressure on the mattress well and ensures good ventilation.
When choosing a mattress, don’t be fooled into thinking you’re choosing one for an adult bed, as it will be slept on by a child whose support system is still developing. So don’t invest in a mattress with zoning, but go for a single firmness mattress. Medium to higher firmness mattresses made from breathable foams are best.
Think about the maintenance of your mattress. It may happen that the child wets the mattress or vomits during the night. It is therefore advisable to reach for a mattress with a removable and washable cover or to buy a mattress protector. The mattress cover should be washable at least at 60 °C.
Once you’ve chosen a bed, a mattress and a suitable mattress, all that’s left is bedding and beautiful bedding. A pillow is only put in the bed for children from about 3 years of age. They don’t belong in bed until then. The spine develops better when it is flat. As soon as you move your child into bed and plan to get him a pillow, reach for a baby pillow. Traditional adult pillows are too high, which is not suitable for the development of a child’s spine. So reach for a lower pillow or one with adjustable filling. Choose the size of the blanket according to the size of the bed.
Bedding differs not only in the material of the cover, but also in the type of filling and its weight.
If you have an allergy sufferer at home, make sure that your bedding can be washed at least at 60 °C. Do not make the bed immediately after waking up, but let the duvet air out well. This will prevent the growth of mites and micro-organisms.
To make your child love the big bed, get him bedding with motifs from his favourite fairy tale. You can’t go wrong with pictures of animals or favourite toys. The appearance will be of particular interest to your little one, you as parents should focus on quality material. Above all, it should be as absorbent and breathable as possible.
It is best to reach for natural materials. In most cases, you will come across linen and classic cotton. The latter is pleasant to children’s skin, does not cause allergic reactions and can be washed even at higher temperatures.
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