Making a bed ‘cosy’ for toddler

[applegingermint]

My daughter recently transitioned from a cot bed to a Boori double bed aged 3.5. We went straight to a double bed for longevity reasons.

Since moving to the double bed she’s been waking crying or simply coming in to our room saying that she’s scared. It transpires that she misses the “fences” (sides) on her cot bed and her old cot duvet was “cosier”.

Unfortunately the cot bed has been sold and I really don’t want to get another one, and similarly the cot sized duvets are gone.

Any ideas on how I can recreate the “cosy” aspect for her? I was wondering if a u shaped pregnancy pillow might help recreating the cot bed sides.

Could you get rid of the frame for a while? Have it as a mattress on the floor, pushed into a wall. That would be instantly cosier and less scary

What about one of those canopies you suspend from the ceiling? They do a net one in IKEA or there are fancier fabric options online.

Bed guard until she gets used to it?

When my niece was moved to a double bed about the same age she said the same as your daughter. Turned out she didn’t like the white sheets my sister put on and was better with coloured bedding. Good luck.

Rather than get rid of the frame you could put slats on the floor and mattress inside the frame. Wrap a blanket round the frame on either side. I had this set up for my co sleeping twins when they were toddlers. Flannel sheets and duvet cover are super cosy.

It might also help to create on overhead canopy. We had these giant leaves over the beds from IKEA and some soft lighting that could be turned on by pressing it. It really help create that cocoon feeling that kids sometimes crave.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/loeva-bed-canopy-leaf-green-80542126/

Canopy and cishions. I’d find some pictures online with different colours and see whether she likes them.