As your little one grows, moving from a cot to a toddler bed is an exciting milestone. Our cot beds are thoughtfully designed to grow alongside your child, making the transition feel familiar, reassuring and simple to manage at home. Keeping the same bed while adapting it for the next stage can help your little one feel more settled, while giving you confidence they're sleeping in a space that's been designed with their changing needs in mind.
In this guide, we’ll take you through how to convert our different cot beds step by step, helping you create a comfortable toddler bed ready for the next stage.
When should a toddler move from a cot to a bed?
Most toddlers are ready to move from a cot to a toddler bed between 18 months and 3 years old. You might consider the transition if your child is attempting to climb out of the cot, has outgrown it, or is showing signs of readiness for more independence during bedtime.
Getting Started
Before you begin, take a few moments to prepare your cot bed for its next stage. A little preparation will help make the conversion as smooth and straightforward as possible.
- Check that your cot bed is in good working order and safe to use before beginning the conversion.
- As cot beds can be heavy to move and adjust, we recommend completing the conversion with two adults.
- Make sure your area is clear of any trip hazards before starting.
- Keep the allen key provided nearby, as this will be needed during the conversion process.
How Our Cot Beds Convert
Every Tutti Bambini cot bed is thoughtfully designed to grow with your child. While each range converts slightly differently, every model has been created to make the move from cot to toddler bed feel as simple and reassuring as possible. Some styles convert by removing both slatted side panels, while others include features such as fixed cot ends, extended headboards or an integrated bed guard for added reassurance.
Below, we’ll guide you through the different conversion approaches across our cot bed ranges, alongside a simple video demonstration to help you follow each step with confidence.
Step by Step Guidance
This is the process to convert the following cot beds; Rio, Alba, Misha, Riley, Tivoli and Como.
Step 1: Use the allen key provided to remove the slatted side panels.
Step 2: Carefully remove the top sections of the cot ends on both sides; these will lift away easily.
Step 3: Remove the mattress base from the bottom part of the cot ends.
Step 4: Take the top sections of the cot ends on both sides and attach them to the mattress base.
Step 5: Place the mattress back into position, add your child's favourite bedding and their new toddler bed is ready for many comfortable nights ahead.
Converting the Kuba Cot Bed
With the Kuba cot bed, conversion is even simpler. Remove one of the slatted side panels and attach the included bed guard using the two bolts provided for added reassurance.
Fixed End Cot Beds
For the Japandi and Malmo cot beds, simply use the allen key to remove both slatted side panels to convert the cot bed into a toddler bed, as the cot ends remain in one piece.
A Note on Extended Headboards
The Verona and Modena cot beds features an extended headboard, so the full cot end - both top and bottom sections should remain in place at the head of the bed.
Quick Videos Demonstrating Easy Conversion
Watch how convenient it is to transform our cot beds for your toddler, you can find the videos here.
Ready for the Next Stage
Every family reaches this milestone in their own time, and with a cot bed designed to grow alongside your child, the transition can feel familiar and reassuring. Whether you're converting a Rio, Kuba, Japandi or any of our cot bed, each one has been thoughtfully designed to make the move as simple as possible, so you can focus on supporting your little one as they settle into this next stage.
