The Dock A Tot: A Sleep Consultant's Review & The Toddler Bed Transition

February 7, 2018 Lauren Olson

"How do you feel about the Dock-A-Tot?" and "Do you think I should order the Dock-A-Tot for my child?" These are two questions I receive almost weekly in my Inbox, as this Baby "Must Have" is on the top of most Mama's list of "Wants". After some extensive research, a little contemplation and my toddler expressing interest about moving into a toddler bed, I finally decided to try the Dock for myself.

My 3-year old son, who still sleeps in a crib, recently expressed some interest in moving to "big boy bed" (aka toddler bed), which is great, however he is a MOVER AND SHAKER at night, constantly rolling around, and waking up in all different positions and directions at night. When traveling with my son, he sleeps on the floor in the same room as us, and we've found him under the bed, or halfway through the door (completely asleep both times!). I heard about a company called Dock a Tot from a good friend, and as mentioned I have received dozens of curious client emails regarding the Dock. The concept sounded fabulous, and maintaining a consistent sleep environment when moving a child around from room to room (or moving into a new bed or house) is so crucial if you wish to keep healthy sleep habits.

The company has two sizes, the "Deluxe" for ages 0-9 months, and a larger size "The Grand" that fits 9-36 month children. I wanted to order the Toddler-size for my son's transition from the crib to the toddler bed, so I teamed up with Dock-A-Tot and within a week our new Dock was at my front door step. After my kids initially fought over it, lounged in it, and even pretended it was a boat (who doesn't love a game of Hot Lava?!), my toddler son was finally able to attempt sleeping with it for his first big night in his "big boy bed".

GRAND DOCK-A-TOT FAIRYTALE COLLECTION

HE. LOVED. IT. Which means I automatically loved it, right? Well not so fast; my children tend to like something for it's newness and then lose interest later on, sound familiar? But not his DockaTot! *UPDATE*: It's been nearly a year now, and he refuses to sleep without it, yells at his baby Sister when she even thinks about "pretending to sleep in it", and even drags the entire thing down a flight of stairs when I'm not looking to lounge in it while drinking his milk and enjoying his early morning cartoons! Soon he'll be playing tug-of-war with another lady: his baby cousin, Olivia. While on Auntie Duty, I was able to answer client emails, do my dishes, feed my two toddlers AND bake cookies while 18-month old Olivia was safely playing in my son's Dock within eye sight.

Here's why I am in LOVE with the Dock:

PERFECT solution for the crib-to- toddler bed transitioning when your tot is big enough to safely descend on his/her own. A big new bed can be a scary place without the safety of your crib slats surrounding you when you're a young child, and the Dock can help provide some of that lost comfort in a small child's surroundings. This cozy sleep solution can assist children in feeling secure & safe, while serving as a consistent sleeping environment while transitioning to their own room or a toddler bed. Consistency in where a child sleeps is KEY to nap lengthening and uninterrupted sleep at night! Here is the current toddler bed we are using for our baby girl!
(*it's also important to note that the smaller version, the Deluxe for 0-9mos old is not intended for use in cribs or bassinets for safety reasons, only for supervised napping and playtime).
It has big, thick sides to keep children (like mine) from constantly rolling out of their toddler beds.
It's eco-friendly. This is a big one that we don't often think about, but most children's mattresses are made with harsh chemicals and need to be covered with an allergy cover. Unlike a mattress, Dock-a-Tot is hypo-allergenic & Oeko-Tex Certified (meaning free from harmful chemicals and only using fabrics/fibers made without scary pesticides).
It's PORTABLE. Making life & nighttime SO. MUCH. EASIER. when we travel overnight to Grandma's or on a mini vacation to the beach house or mountain. Also the perfect solution if your child needs a safe area to be set down in, or if he or she naps in a separate room. When your toddler is over 36 months, unclip the bottom and bring it for a sleepover! Don’t forget your white noise machine for maximum night sleep lengths.

Dockatot Grand in Vie En Rose/Dockatot Grand in Carrera Marble

It's washable. Yes, even though my children wear Pull-Ups at night, they still leak from time-to-time, or the cover is subjected to markers when my toddlers are playing in them while coloring. Thankfully you just slide the cover right off, and throw it in the washer, and tumble dry. Easy to put back on, nothing like the crazy acrobatics you endure while changing a crib sheet.
It fits a 3-1 Convertible crib. If you own a crib that converts to a toddler bed, you're in luck! We started by first taking off one side of my son's convertible crib (before turning it completely into a toddler bed with a full-size mattress) and the Dock fit the crib perfectly, and was easily put on top of his big mattress with no problem thereafter. He was still able to get in & out of one-sided transitional bed no problem, and had an easy time adjusting to a larger sleeping surface.
They have changeable covers. So if you're handing down a Dock to a younger sibling, you can easily purchase a fun new print. It's all about matching the decor, right?? The inside padding can also be replaced if needed after a few years. Check out these adorable covers to freshen up your Dock!
It can help your Toddler feel safe & battle separation anxiety when sleeping independently. The Dockatot Grand is a wonderful solution for a toddler that bedshares with parent(s) or a sibling(s), and/or whose parents wish to continue bed sharing or transition their toddler into his own room. The feeling of being encased brings an additional level of comfort to a child that a flat mattress lacks- sort of like being back in the womb!