The time has finally come. The big moment has arrived.
A right or passage of sorts, your little one is growing up, and it’s time to consider transitioning out of that baby crib and into a toddler bed.
“You’re a big kid now!”
Can you believe what began as a helpless drooling newborn and a bassinet has now developed into a walking, talking toddler ready for a big-league bed?
It all happens so quickly. But how do you know when to make the switch? And how can you ensure a smooth transition?
Plans and toddlers don’t always vibe, but this is the story of how it all went down for our family, and hopefully, it offers some insights to help you and yours.
What do ya mean Toddler Bed?
When I first purchased the cribs for our children, I chose convertible cribs with options and add-on’s to grow with them. Many cribs on the market are sold like this, helping cribs ‘grow’ with the baby (while also growing the price tag for manufacturers).
Modifying the frame allows kiddos to climb right in and out, rather than being picked up and dumped over the top by mommy and daddy (“Ah, my aching back”).
If yours wasn’t purchased this way, don’t fret. There are other options.
A recent fad of sorts, I have reviewed the top floor resting beds, which I absolutely love and many parents swear by. As the name implies, they do just what they say – rest, right on the floor. No chance of spills or injuries, climbing in and out can be done basically on hands and knees.
Depending on the space you’re working with, I’ve also seen many families use travel cribs in unique ways as more temporary solutions – when the crib is starting to fail but you’re not sure where your next move is just yet.
If neither suits your fancy, many families opt for the transition straight into a big bed. Put up some type of rails or barriers on a spare bed and viola, the spare has become functional again.
I like the first three options best, as the lower height of floor resting cribs, toddler cribs, and travel cribs tends to make them safer for children. Sometimes I find the adult bed a tad more dangerous, as kids could roll off the side mid-sleep.
If you’re planning to go straight from crib to a bed, older children tend to do better. In other words, where possible, wait until they are closer to three years of age before making the change.
The science on this tends to agree, a recent sleep medicine article finds that deferring the crib-to-bed transition until age 3 may benefit toddlers’ sleep.
If however, you happen to have some gates and an unused twin bed, or your child is just really into it, reusing an existing adult bed can work.
When is the Right Time?
There’s really no right answer to this one. Every child is different, and every family situation is different.
I have friends who made the switch to toddler bed with their oldest only because baby two was on the way – they didn’t want to purchase a new crib.
Smart move, but not always doable.
Word of advice if you’re in this camp, make the switch while still pregnant, as yanking a child’s crib might add on to the jealousy that exists once baby two arrives.
“I don’t get mommy’s undivided attention, AND you’re taking my crib away!?”
The medical community typically says that kids are ready anytime between 18 months and three years of age. That big range is precisely because of the varying degrees of readiness and circumstances.
One sign it may be time is that your child is just too big and you’re killing your back transferring them into the crib every day.
Another sign might be the same as our son, who was just climbing out of the crib anyway. Why not just change the frame and let him roam freely, rather than risking him getting injured on the dismount from the top ropes?
For him, the transition to a toddler bed was more of a safety measure than anything else, as he could really hurt himself from the many frog leaps he was taking daily to escape from his baby crib.
Our daughter was a bit more shy and apprehensive. The first attempt at transitioning her out of her crib and into a toddler bed didn’t really take.
After the initial excitement she ended up requesting we put the crib back to its original form.
A few weeks later, she wanted to try again. Over time, she was more comfortable with the set up and the change stuck.
You’ll know when the time is right, IMO, a little earlier than later is never a bad idea. This transition is going to foster a sense of responsibility in your little one – any setback with the new sleeping arrangement is just a bump in the road on their path to independence.
How to do it?
My son didn’t skip a beat. It was like “here’s your new bed” and he immediately went with the change.
Is it because he’s a boy? Is it because he’s the second child?
I don’t know.
If your child is like my son, you’ve got no problems — smooth sailing ahead.
But if your child is a bit more skeptical, like my daughter, you might need to game plan a strategy.
Prep the room
Make it safe for your child to move it around with no one in the room watching them.
Make sure you baby-proof everything: outlets, secure furniture, etc. Now that they have the freedom to explore everywhere and get into trouble, they will eventually explore every square inch of the space and get into trouble.
Anything that could potentially be dangerous needs to be put away, pinned down, or closed off.
One thing I didn’t consider, baby wipes and lotion on the changing station. Harmless, right?
After a few days in his toddler bed, my son decided the lotion needed to be tasted since it looked like yogurt, and I caught him trying to blow his nose with the baby wipes. Little things like this, you might not think of – anything potentially harmful should be moved out of the room or well out of toddler reach.
Another way to prep the room is to reposition the baby monitor. Instead of zoomed in on their crib, you need to position it somewhere to view the whole room.
Day one of the big switch with our daughter, I remember my husband asking “what is she doing now”…..Well, I don’t know since I forgot to move the monitor, all I can see is her empty crib.
Sounds obvious, but easily forgettable in the whirlwind of change.
Pick the Right Time
From my experience, it might take a few nights for your child to get used to this brand-new world of sleepy-time freedom. They’ve got a license to play rather than sleep, and they’re going to use it.
This all equates to not enough rest for your child. Who needs sleep when you can fidget with door handles and open drawers of clothes?
And for those first couple of nights, it could perhaps mean not enough sleep for parents as well. (Say Waa?)
Toddlers may get to ‘actually sleeping’ later than normal – they might be groggier than usual and not wake up in the morning.
My advice would be to pick a long weekend, or holiday break, when both you and your child don’t have to worry about work or school. If you can take the hustle and bustle stress of rushed mornings out of the equation it can help with a bumpy transition.
Prep Talk
Nobody likes being caught off guard, this isn’t the time for surprises. Depending on your child’s age, you should be able to talk to them about what’s going down.
Tell them about the change, encourage them about growing up and listening to directions. “You’re getting so big, I’m so proud of you!” Frame the transition as a positive achievement.
You also want to set some boundaries on how they should behave. Give them clear rules on going to bed and what will be required for this new privilege.
Do they get any rewards for doing a good job and staying in bed?
Positive reinforcement is key. We used a sticker chart to help encourage potty training with our kids. These types of small prizes can really motivate toddlers (plus it doesn’t break the bank).
Other questions might be, what should they do in the morning when they wake up?
Those first couple of nights, actively monitor your child in the room. Go in to remind it’s time to sleep if necessary. Laying a good foundation is critical – these are your expectations for this new milestone.
Creatures of Habit
Try to keep the same bed time routine as you normally would. The freedom of the new bed set up shouldn’t be accompanied by a brand new night time program.
If the norm is bath, brushing teeth and bed, stick to bath, brushing teeth and bed.
Don’t toss out reading stories or whatever your child is accustomed to before turning out the lights, just because of this different sleeping arrangement. The more you can keep the same, the better.
Try Again Later
If the transition is a disaster, don’t feel bad. It could be that your child is just not ready.
I’ve had friends whose children stayed in the crib until 4 years old – it’s perfectly fine.
You can always go back to the crib. Try it again a few months later, or whenever you feel your child wants to give it another shot.
Wrap Up
Well, now you’re a pro. Break out those toddler bed frames and set your toddler free — just as long as they don’t injure themselves (or wake me up in the middle of the night).
Our family has had some of the funniest moments during these first couple of months transitioning from the crib to the toddler bed.
Falling asleep on the floor in the middle of the room.
A child who got into the lotion covered in ointment.
As long as they remain safe, be sure to monitor what they are up to and capture some videos when you enter the room. It’s a milestone that can be scary for some, but always ends up full of more laughs than tears.
