Transitioning from bassinet to a cot

When and how to transition from bassinet to a cot

You've just settled into your brand-new life as new parents or parents of more than one child. The fourth trimester is a blur-but blissful, nonetheless. Your new baby may have been sleeping soundly beside you in a bassinet, waking for feeds or poo explosions at any given time #newbornlife.

While this has been a magical yet eye-opening and tiring experience, the time may have come to transition your baby from bassinet to cot. This is an important milestone for families; it's the end of the newborn phase and the start of infancy, and it can be emotional and a learning curve for all involved. Nevertheless, this significant move may be the best course for you, your family, and most importantly your baby because that bassinet suddenly looks very small once your baby starts to grow!

When to transition from bassinet to cot: What are the first signs?

First and foremost, if your baby is showing signs of rolling, it's time to start transferring them into a cot and out of being swaddled.

Bassinets are much more shallow than most cots. Babies can get stuck if they roll onto their stomachs. A baby learning to roll from back to front needs its arms free to help roll back and/or lift its neck and head sideways for clear and unobstructed breathing while face down. For safety reasons alone, you need to make the transit.

The initial signs of rolling can include:

• Attempting to roll body when unswaddled
• Pushing up on hands during tummy time, lifting one hand off the ground
• Fussiness when swaddled/fighting the Swaddle when going on
• Disrupted sleep
• Disappearance of the startle (moro) reflex
• Attempting to have hands free/up around their face when the swaddles is on

Are they too big for the bassinet? Is your baby banging its hands or head at the edges? Are they waking themselves and, ultimately, you up? If you answered yes, it's time to transition your baby into a cot.

How do you transitionto a cot with ease?

Babies don't do well with significant changes; the best approach is slow and steady. Lots of changes all at once can disrupt your baby’s little world.

If your baby is still being swaddled and you notice the signs of rolling, you need to start with the transition to arms out first. Read more about when to stop swaddling and transition to arms-out sleeping.

Once they are sleeping with their arms out, you can begin your journey from bassinet to cot sleeping.

Our tips for transitioning from bassinet to cot

1. Begin the transition in the daytime, and place your baby down for their first-day nap in the cot. This way, you can watch and listen via a monitor. Remember that this is a change for you, too, so don't be so hard on yourself.
2. The following day, put your baby in the cot for their morning and afternoon nap.
3. By the third day, your baby will be ready to sleep each nap in the cot.
4. Your baby will be ready to sleep their first night in the cot the following night, ultimately transiting them out of the bassinet. Deep breath, mums and dads. You got this.

If you would like to start this method at night, begin by placing them into their cot after the first feed. The following night, repeat the process after their second feed. Continue this practice until they are comfortably transitioned into their cot.

Whatever you decide will be the right option for you and your family. As per the guidelines from Red Nose, they suggest room sharing should continue up until one year of age. You can read more about this here.

How do you avoid disrupting sleep during the transition?

If you're struggling with the move, you're not alone. Remember, your baby would choose to sleep with you if they could. Be gentle with yourself; baby steps, ironically.

To help with the big day and avoid any disruptions to their sleep, follow below:

1. Create a solid bedtime routine: If you still need to, get a routine in place. For example: for dinner; bath; put them in a Long Sleeve Layer; story; add a Cocoon Swaddle, Jersey Bag, Sheeting Bag or Sleep Suit Bag; quick snuggle; good night kiss; and place baby back to sleep. Keep it up - babies love routine. You've got this! They will feel more comfortable and aware of the new surroundings.
2. Stay in their room: Consider having a sleepover for a few nights to ease your baby's worries and make the midnight feeds a little easier on you. Hot tip: Keep their ergoPouch on them when you feed overnight; it will help them distinguish between awake time and sleep time and keep them in sleep time mode. Place your hands on their back to calm them if they're stirring. This will help them feel safe and connected to you.
3. Add some creature comforts: Keep your baby in their current sleepwear. Remember: if they're rolling, you should no longer be swaddling your baby. If they’ve been sleeping in our products, they should be sleeping with their arms out in their Cocoon Swaddle Bag, or they should have moved onto a Jersey or Sleeping Bag. Not only are these sleep sacks going to keep baby warm and secure, but they’re also a great sleep cue, which will help baby head off to dreamland.
4. Ensure you have a fitted cot sheet made from a suitable quality fabric. Our Cot Sheets (made from organic cotton) can be used over our Deluxe mattresses. Hot tip: place a t-shirt that smells of you near the cot (not inside). This will help to settle them when you're not in the room.
5. Get them used to their new environment: Have some playtime during the day in the cot. Tummy time is a great way to get baby used to their new surroundings. Place some toys around them, and watch your little one play with delight.
6. Expect a few nights of tears. This is a giant leap for a baby (and you) into their new environment. Your baby may surprise you by seamlessly entering their new space without a hiccup. Always remember to be kind to yourself.

What products do you need?

First, we have everything you need for your mini’s transition to their cot, including the Cot and Mattress (yep, we birthed a cot!).

Meet Lyra, the Convertible Cot & Deluxe Mattress.

For 15 years, we've been dressing your child on their sleep journey. Now it's time to introduce a timeless new product to hold your most treasured love during sleep: the Lyra Convertible Cot. More than just a cot, Lyra is a companion that will grow with your baby from their first sleep to their first steps towards toddler independence.

Lyra's classic design embodies all the hallmarks of ergoPouch's minimalist style, sustainable design, and safety you know and love. Adorned with timeless curved lines and natural timber in a warm, soft tone, our convertible cot will seamlessly blend into any nursery and please any aesthetic.

The adjustable base has two heights for safety: use the higher position for a newborn or infant not yet sitting and the lower position for a sitting infant or standing toddler. The legs come with height extenders for tall parents* and caster wheels for families who may need to move the Cot around the house for convenience.

Once your sweet babe reaches toddlerhood, convert your cot into a toddler bed with the included safety guardrail (from 2Y +) for the next stage of their sleep journey.

Expertly crafted with FSC-certified natural beechwood that is ethically sourced in Croatia, the durable and sustainable timber will withstand the test of time. Lyra is coated in a fine layer of non-toxic lacquer to help preserve the timber for the longevity of use while being perfectly safe for curious little hands and mouths. Curved corners and tapered feet add a timeless appeal to your nursery.

Let us complete your safe sleep set-up and create a peaceful sleeping environment for your baby. Pair Lyra with our Deluxe Cot Mattress (sold separately), and dress your mattress and mini in our organic, natural-fibre bedding and sleepwear.

Shop the Lyra Convertible Cot

Shop the Deluxe Cot Mattress

Cocoon Swaddle Bag

If you want to keep your now rolling baby in a Cocoon Swaddle Bag, that's fine – it’s a transitional swaddle. Use the poppers at the shoulders allow your baby to sleep arms out. We suggest putting them in a 3-6 or 6-12 month Cocoon Swaddle Bag in a TOG suitable for your hemisphere and environment. Follow our What to Wear guide for more information. Remember, if they are rolling, the baby must no longer be swaddled and sleeping with their arms out, which takes us to the next product.

Butterfly Cardi

If your baby has started to roll and is being swaddled (arms in), you must transition them to sleep with their arms out. We suggest you do this for their safety at the first signs of rolling. The Butterfly Cardi is a valuable tool for helping with this next transition. It’s designed to be a transition aid worn over your baby's swaddle to help them transition to arms out with minimal sleep interruptions and maximum sleep comfort.

*Suitable for little ones ready to transition from swaddling into arms out sleeping, ages 2-6 months. Not to be used as an alternative for swaddling.

Cot Sheets

Yes - we have them too! Now that your baby is in the Lyra Cot, they should be sleeping on a firm mattress that is flat and not elevated (like our Deluxe Mattress, made right here in Melbourne). We suggest our Cotton Sheets that are smooth and buttery and made from organic cotton. Firm and secure with so many colour choices, your baby will love going down into their dreamy, soft cot.

Long Sleeve Layers

Our Long Sleeve Layers are a must-have for year-round. Created to be worn underneath our Pouches, we suggest a 0.2 TOG or a 1.0 TOG. We also love it when your baby wears their Layer all day; it's too comfortable and cute to take off!

Jersey Sleeping Bags

Our most popular sleep sack! The Jersey Sleeping Bag is a safe sleeping bag for babies and toddlers designed for arms-out sleepers (usually from around three months of age). Being TOG-rated ensures the bag is insulated for use, and no blankets are required in the cot, making this a safe sleep option for babies.

Sheeting Sleeping Bags

If your baby likes a bit more room in their sleep sack (usually the Kung Fu artists), try putting your baby in our Sheeting Bag. Ideal for three-month-old's, it's a tremendous first sleeping bag to transition to. The Sheeting Bag is great to add into your routine as a sleep cue; once your baby sees it, they will know its sleep time. For extra warmth, put your baby in a Long Sleeve Layer.

Arm Warmers

For added warmth, you can't go past our innovative Arm Warmers, designed as a little bolero-style jacket to be used over the top of any Cocoon Swaddle Bag, Sheeting Bag or Sheet Suit Bag. Adding warmth is an excellent option as the weather cools later in the evening.

And there you have it, our guide to a smooth transition from bassinet to cot. You can always refer to our' What To Wear Guide' for support with dressing them for sleep. For now, good luck, parents. We have been there with you, and we support you.

With love,

eP X