Transitioning a rocked-to-sleep toddler from cot to a bed

Hi Frankee, I would start by working on how she falls asleep, rather than changing her sleep space straight away. At the moment, she is used to falling asleep with quite a lot of movement. Moving her into a bed at the same time could mean asking her to manage two significant changes together, so let’s tackle one thing at a time. Over the next couple of weeks, try gradually reducing the amount of rocking. You might begin by rocking a little more gently, then pausing for short periods while continuing to hold and cuddle her. The first goal is not for her to fall asleep independently. It is simply for her to become comfortable falling asleep in your arms without movement. Once she can manage that, you can begin moving towards a more stationary, horizontal way of settling. For example, you could lie beside her and offer plenty of cuddles while she falls asleep. This could be on a low or floor bed if that works safely for your family and allows you to support her comfortably. From there, you can gradually reduce the amount of physical support. You might move from a full cuddle to holding hands, then sit beside the bed or cot, and eventually begin sitting slightly further away. There is no need to rush through these stages. Some children need several days, or longer, at each point before they are ready for the next step. You may decide to practise some of this in her cot before moving her, or you may feel that a low bed makes it easier to support her while she learns to settle without movement. Neither route is wrong. Gradual methods can work really well at this age, but they often take time. Progress may look like very small reductions in movement rather than an immediate transformation. Think of it as slowly chipping away at the rocking while keeping the reassurance and closeness she is used to. Once she no longer relies on movement to fall asleep, the eventual transition to a bed is likely to feel much more manageable. I hope that helps, and good luck!