How to Keep Kids in their Own Bed
Ah, an uninterrupted night’s sleep… If that’s a distant (but fond) memory for you, you’ll no doubt be searching high and low for ways to keep your kids in their own bed. When little ones outgrow their cot, it’s incredibly common for them to clamber out and ask to join you.
When it happens now and again, it’s easy to look the other way and snuggle with your kids until the morning. However, if those wake up calls are becoming more of a regular occurrence, it’s important to nip the issue in the bud.
While those days are thankfully long gone for me, I’ve got plenty of tips to help your kiddies stay in bed all night long.
Here’s how you and your little ones can enjoy a restful night’s sleep without the drama:
Make their bedroom fun
When your kids love their bedroom, they’ll be less inclined to run into yours at every opportunity. Allowing your kiddos to help pick out their furniture can make bedtime seem like an adventure, not a chore. Whether you have a wannabe race driver or a perfect little princess, we have plenty of themed and novelty beds to choose from.
Not only are themed beds super safe and supportive, but they’ll make staying in bed feel like fun. Kids learn through play, so it makes sense to opt for a bed that helps stimulate their active imagination. And with any luck, they’ll love their bed enough to stay there all night…
Build them up to a big bed
It’s natural for kids to wake up in the night. Whether it was nature calling or a bad dream, it’d be unusual if they didn’t. When it happens, though, it’s important that your kids feel comfortable with familiar surroundings.
Once your child outgrows their cot, they might feel unsettled by waking up in a strange new bed. To make the transition easier for everyone involved, you could consider a cot that extends into a toddler bed.
Take a peek at the Leander Linea Baby Cot (pictured below). As soon as your little one gets brave enough to attempt climbing over the rails, you can easily remove one side to create a toddler bed. As you’re only slightly tweaking their sleeping quarters, they won’t feel as daunted if they wake up in the night.
Avoid any bumps in the night
Your kids can wake in the night for any number of reasons. From wet sheets to scary noises, I’ve seen it all – and, trust me, there’s often little you can do to prevent it from happening.
However, there is one reason kids wake in the night which you can avoid. When little ones roll out of bed, they could wake with a fright and run into your room in floods of tears. To avoid any nasty bumps, it’s worth attaching a bed rail or guard to help your little ones stay firmly in bed.
Alternatively, you could consider a bed with pre-attached guards or barriers. The lovely Lifetime Children’s Beach House (pictured below) is designed with safety in mind, as the handy guards will prevent any tumbles in the night.
Be firm but fair
I know, I know. When you say no to your kids hopping in your bed, you feel like a monster. Like many things in life, though, it can be cruel to be kind. Ultimately, it’ll benefit everyone if you firmly walk your kids back to bed.
No excuses, no debating, and no fuss. By walking your kids straight back to bed without saying a word, it’ll set a clear boundary when it comes to bedtime. This might feel tricky at first, but it should hopefully set a precedent. And it doesn’t mean you’re saying no to cuddles in general – you can always squeeze one in before the morning rush!
Stick to a regular (but fun) ritual
When you create a fun nightly ritual, heading to bed won’t feel like a drag for your little ones. Don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be anything too complex – after bathtime, you could enjoy a story together, sing a special song, or talk about the favourite parts of your day.
Whatever their bedtime ritual looks like, it should be something your child can look forward to each day. If they just can’t wait to read the Gruffalo with you, they’ll be wishing bedtime rolled around sooner! When bedtime feels special, there should be less drama when it comes to switching out the lights.
Invest in a night light
For some kids, drifting off to the land of nod doesn’t always come easy. With the help of a night light, your kids can rest safe in the knowledge there aren’t any scary monsters lurking in the shadows. And for any wakeups in the early hours, your little one needn’t be afraid of the dark – which should prevent any tearful arrivals in your room!
Well, no one ever said parenting was easy… but hopefully my tips have at least helped you enjoy a full night’s sleep! For more bedtime hints and tricks, you can contact us on +44 (0) 1305 23123, or send us an email.
