When & How to Transition to a Toddler Bed
Babies may be sweet and snuggly, but there’s something extra special about bedtime with a toddler. As you prepare to transition from a crib to a bed, start looking for the signs that suggest your little one is ready for a toddler bed. There’s no need to rush into this next stage. Every kid follows their own timeline. If you think your child is ready, here’s how to transition to a toddler bed smoothly.
How to Transition to a Toddler Bed: Readiness Signs
Here are three signs that indicate your toddler may be ready to swap their crib for a bed:
- Your child is climbing out of the crib
- Your child has asked for a bed
- Your child has outgrown their crib
If your child hasn’t shown any of the signs above, but you think a bigger bed may help with existing sleep issues, know that a bigger bed comes with its own challenges. If your child is struggling to go to sleep or stay asleep, a toddler bed won’t solve those issues. In fact, a toddler bed can make sleeping even harder if your child refuses to stay in their bed at night.
Let’s look closer at each of the readiness indicators to find out if it’s the right time to switch to a toddler bed.
Climbing out of the crib
Many parents choose to introduce a toddler bed or convert their crib to a bed because of the risk of falling. When a child starts to climb out of their crib, even when the mattress is set to its lowest position, it’s dangerous for kids and stressful for parents.
Before you switch to a bed or convert your crib, see if there’s a way to reposition the crib to prevent your child from climbing out. Some cribs are designed to be taller in the back. Reposition the crib so the shorter barrier, traditionally the front, is against the wall. This small change can prevent your toddler from climbing out of the crib.
If that isn’t possible or doesn’t work, you can try putting your child in a sleep sack at night to limit their mobility.
Lastly, you can try to find out why your toddler is waking up and what they want when they try to escape their crib. Maybe they want milk, maybe they’re potty training and want to use the bathroom, or maybe they fell asleep with you in the room and woke up seeking your presence. Whatever they need, try anticipating that need, be it nighttime feeds, trips to the bathroom, or quick snuggles before putting them back in the crib. If that puts an end to their crib climbing, you may not need a toddler bed after all.
Asking for a big kid bed
If your child has an older sibling, friends, or relatives with big kid beds, they might ask for one themselves. Your child asking doesn’t necessarily mean they are ready for a bed. Unless you feel confident they have the self-control to stay in bed at bedtime, it might not be the right time to upgrade.
If your child is sleeping through the night in a crib and not having issues other than wanting a big kid bed, then you can consider making the move. Just know that the transition will take some getting used to.
Too big for the crib
If your child is taller than 35 inches, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends transitioning to a bed.
When your child stands in the crib and the railing reaches their chest, it’s too easy for them to exit the crib on their own. Outgrowing the crib is the best way to know it’s time to get a big kid bed. Children typically reach this height between two and three years old.
Ideally, you’ll switch to a toddler bed when there are no other big transitions or milestones happening, but sometimes a child outgrows their crib when a new sibling is introduced, they start a new school, or they start potty training. All you can do is your best.
While most pediatricians recommend waiting until your child is closer to three for developmental reasons, sometimes life has other plans. A two-year-old may not have the same impulse control as a three-year-old, but lots of two-year-olds successfully transition to a toddler bed. No matter the age or circumstance, be patient and persistent. Your child will eventually stay in bed all night.
How to Transition to a Toddler Bed: Tips for Parents
Once you’re confident it’s the right time for your child and family to transition to a toddler bed, make sure your sleep routine is as strong as it can be. Check out our blogs on cooperation at bedtime and teaching responsibility to see if LullaBaby dolls can help your child sleep. Then you’ll need to:
- Prepare the room
- Include your child in the change
- Keep bedtime the same
- Be there for your child
Prepare the room
When your little one is in their crib, there’s only so many things they can touch. Once they graduate to a toddler bed, everything in their room is at their disposal. Books can come off shelves and clothes can come out of drawers.
If it’s not already the case, do your best to babyproof the entire room. Secure the furniture, cover the outlets, and make sure there’s nothing too distracting for your child. You want their room to be safe and secure while being inviting and relaxing.
Choose fun sheets they’ll want to snuggle into and place their favorite LullaBaby doll on their new bed. This is also a time to introduce a small firm pillow for them to sleep with.
To make the transition to a toddler bed fun for them, make sure they’re involved every step of the way.
Include your child in the change
Make your toddler bed feel special by involving them in the process. Show them a few sheet options and let them pick their favorite. They can help make the bed themselves, adding excitement and ownership to the process.
Encourage them to choose a LullaBaby doll or stuffed animal to sleep beside. You can even practice tucking in the doll, giving it a goodnight kiss, and leaving the room so your child can see how bedtime will look in their new bed. This role play helps them feel more confident and comforted when it’s their turn to sleep in their toddler bed.
Keep bedtime the same
One of the most important ways to transition to a toddler bed is to keep the bedtime routine consistent. Your child should do all the same things, at the same time as they’re used to. That will make the switch to a toddler bed a little easier.
If you want to make changes to their bedtime routine, or get your child to bed earlier, try to make those changes before switching to a toddler bed, if possible. Keeping everything consistent is key to a smooth transition.
Be there for your child
It’s common for little ones to wake up at night in their new bed. If they call for you, cry for you, or leave their bed, you need to be there for them and calmly bring them back to their bed or help them back to sleep.
Even if your child was sleeping through the night before, sometimes waking up to an open room, without the security of the crib walls, feels scary to a child. If you’re present and comforting, your child will become more comfortable with their new sleeping arrangement.
It’s also very common for little ones to immediately get out of bed after you say goodnight and leave the room. You may need to stay close by, anticipating each escape. While this is a tedious part of transitioning to a toddler bed, it’s important if you want your child to fall asleep on their own.
If you fall asleep with your child or welcome your child into your bed at night, there’s nothing wrong with those extra cuddles. It’s hard to break habits once they start, so choose the sleep patterns that work for you and your child and stay consistent.
As long as you’re there for your child, they’ll go to sleep knowing you’re nearby and they’ll sleep soundly, which is the most important part.
How to Transition to Toddler Bed: Expectations
There are three ways this transition can go:
- Your child sleeps well and loves their new bed
- Your child sleeps well at first, then regresses
- Your child refuses to stay in their bed
No matter how your child reacts to the change, eventually they will sleep through the night.
There are only so many nights your child will call for you at nighttime. Enjoy the extra snuggles and snores while you can. Soon enough your child will sleep through the night, and you’ll miss the extra time you got to spend with your drowsy toddler.
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