Moving From Bassinet to Cot: When to Transition and How to Make It Smooth
Moving your baby from a bassinet into a cot can feel like a big milestone. For some families it happens earlier than expected, for others it comes later, but either way it often brings a lot of questions.
Will sleep get worse, will they feel unsettled, what if they still seem so small, and how do you keep things safe?
This guide covers when the transition is usually needed, the most common signs your baby is ready, and simple ways to support a smooth change with confidence.
When should you move from bassinet to cot?
There is no single perfect age, because bassinets vary in size and safety limits. Instead, the best guide is your bassinet’s manufacturer recommendations and your baby’s development.
Many babies move somewhere between 3 and 6 months, but some outgrow the bassinet earlier, especially long babies or those who are more active in their sleep.
If you are unsure, always check:
The maximum weight limit
Any height or length guidance
Whether the bassinet is still considered safe once your baby is pushing up, rolling, or shifting around more
If your baby is approaching the 4 month sleep regression, you may notice them becoming more active in sleep and waking more easily. That doesn’t mean you must delay the cot transition, it just means it may help to be extra consistent with sleep cues and your settling approach during the change.
Signs your baby is ready for the cot
Your baby is usually ready to move when you notice one or more of these:
They are touching the sides or ends of the bassinet regularly
They seem cramped and are waking more due to bumping the sides
They are rolling, attempting to roll, or twisting during sleep
They are pushing up on hands or knees
They have reached the weight limit for the bassinet
They are starting to wake more frequently and can’t resettle due to the lack of space
Sometimes sleep changes here are also linked to catnapping or shifting sleep needs, rather than the bassinet itself. But if your baby is clearly outgrowing the space, the cot often helps sleep improve because they can move more freely.
Is it safe to move to a cot?
Yes. In fact, for many babies, a cot becomes the safer option once they are more active.
A cot provides:
A firm, flat mattress
Stable sides with more space
A long-term safe sleep setup
What matters most is that the cot sleep space follows Safe Sleep Guidelines:
Baby on their back
Firm mattress
Clear sleep space, no pillows, loose blankets, bumpers, or soft toys
Feet to the bottom of the cot if using bedding, although a properly fitted sleep sack is usually the simplest option
If you want to review what should and should not be in the cot, head to Creating a Safe Sleep Environment.
How to transition from bassinet to cot smoothly
Keep everything else the same
When you change where your baby sleeps, try not to change everything else at the same time.
Keep consistent:
Bedtime routine
Sleep sack
Settling approach
Room temperature
White noise if you use it
If you are also thinking about Transitioning Out of the Swaddle, it can help to do one change at a time if possible, unless safety requires both changes at once.
Start with naps, or go straight to nights
Both approaches can work.
Some babies do well starting with naps in the cot for a few days, then moving nights across once they are comfortable.
Other babies do better going straight to nights in the cot, because that is when sleep pressure is highest and they are most likely to settle.
If naps are currently short, it may help to work through catnapping first so day sleep is less unsettled during the transition.
Make the cot feel familiar
A cot can feel bigger and more open, which is why some babies wake more in the first few days.
To help:
Use a fitted sheet that feels similar to what they are used to
Keep the room environment consistent
Maintain the same sleep cues and wind down routine
Common sleep changes after the move
It is normal for the first few days to include:
Shorter naps
Slightly more settling support
More night waking while they adjust
This does not mean the transition has failed. It means your baby is learning that this new space is safe.
If sleep disruption continues beyond two weeks, it is often worth checking:
Whether awake windows need adjusting
Whether your baby is becoming under or overtired
Whether the sleep environment is supporting deeper sleep
If you are noticing frequent night waking beyond the settling period, the 5–24 Month Infant Course can guide you through routines, awake windows, settling, and troubleshooting with clear age-specific support.
What if your baby still sleeps in your room?
Many families move baby to a cot but keep the cot in the parents’ room for a period of time. That can be a really practical middle step if space allows.
Room sharing can still work well with a cot, and for many families, it supports confidence and easier overnight care.
If you are unsure about this stage, you can also explore Room Sharing for guidance on how to make it work without disrupting sleep.
Looking ahead
The move from bassinet to cot is a normal and healthy step as your baby grows, and for many families it actually improves sleep because babies have more space to move and settle comfortably.
If you want support that takes you beyond this transition, the 5–24 Month Infant Course gives you clear routines, settling guidance, and troubleshooting help as sleep changes from newborn stage through infancy and toddlerhood. It also supports the bigger shifts that often happen around the 4 month sleep regression, nap transitions, and night waking.
Eva Beke
Certified Paediatric Sleep Consultant
Founder The Sleepy Little Bubs
I’m Eva Beke, a certified baby and toddler sleep consultant and founder of The Sleepy Little Bubs, supporting families across Australia and the world with evidence based baby and toddler sleep support.
My approach is realistic, supportive, and designed to evolve as your child grows, so you’re not just getting help for today, but confidence moving forward.
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