Transitioning to a Toddler Bed
Transitioning to a Toddler Bed
Everything You Need to Know
Transitioning from a crib to a toddler bed is a big and exciting milestone for kids, and can be a nerve-wracking one for parents, yet it’s one that, for a variety of reasons, is often rushed. Perhaps there’s a new baby on the way and you don’t want to buy a second crib, your child has suddenly become a little escape artist trying to climb out of their crib, you tried a bed when you were away and your child seemed to like it…
Whatever the reason, it’s important to make sure your little one really is ready for the transition to a toddler bed to make the process easier on all of you.
How do I know if my child is ready to transition to a toddler bed?
The ideal age to move to a toddler bed is around three years old. Young toddlers struggle with the lack of physical boundary the crib provides and can develop the habit of getting out of their bed and leaving their room often, making for sleepless nights for all of you!
There are of course exceptions to this rule; if your child is able to climb out of their crib, they could hurt themselves so you may need to transition earlier than three years of age.
Pro tip: Try using a sleep sack first as this helps restrict them from climbing. Also make sure you drop the crib to the lowest setting. If your little gymnast continues to climb out of their crib then yes, a toddler bed is in your imminent future.
What kind of bed should I get for my toddler?
There are a lot of options, and you really can’t go wrong as long as the bed is safe.
Some cribs convert into toddler beds simply by removing one of their sides, which makes for a great starter bed option.
If you don’t have a convertible crib or your little one has grown too big for it, then you can purchase any size mattress or bed, you just want to make sure that the bed frame is very low to the ground and that you install bedrails so your child can’t fall out.
Some parents prefer buying a mattress and putting it straight on the ground, in which case you wouldn’t need bedrails.
Safety first!
One of the first things you need to do before you make the transition is evaluate your child’s room. Now that they will be able to get out of their bed and walk around the room unsupervised, you need to safety-proof their environment by:
Bolting and securing all furniture to the wall.
Putting safety latches on dresser drawers so they can’t pull them out and use them to climb.
Making sure there aren’t any loose cords around that they could pull on or put around themselves.
Keeping dresser tops and furniture clear.
Covering all open electricity sockets with safety proof covers.
Inserting safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. You may want to consider putting a safe gate at the door of your child’s room to prevent them wandering around the house in the dark alone.
Positioning your toddler’s bed away from windows and heaters or radiators.
What can I do to help prepare my toddler for this transition?
Whether they are excited or nervous to leave their crib, there are some things you can do to help make the transition smoother:
Start talking about it - Read a book about the change to their big kid bed. My personal favourite is this Sesame Street book. We read it to both our boys to help get them ready for the big move.
Get them excited and invested! - Let them pick out their sleeping accessories (sheets, pillowcases, blankets, etc.) and stuffed animals. I recommend allowing two or three stuffies max as we want their bed to remain a place they associate with sleep as opposed to play.
Remain consistent - Try to keep their room set up the same as much as possible and stick to your regular bedtime routines. Visual cue cards and a timer can help with this progression through their bedtime routine. For example, letting them know how many minutes they have for each activity that is part of the bedtime routine and re-setting the timer at the start of each (e.g. 20 minutes for bath, 10 minutes for getting into their Pjs, and 10 minutes for quiet play or story time).
Consider using an OK to wake clock - Toddlers don’t always have a firm grasp of night versus day and an OK to wake clock helps to signal to them when they should be in their bed sleeping and when it’s morning time and ok to get up.
Set clear guidelines - Outline expectations ahead of time in a way your toddler can understand. A social story at bedtime can really help with this. For example, “Maddy is going to fall asleep in her big kid bed and stay asleep and in her bed until morning when the yellow light comes on.”
What can I expect once we make this transition?
It will take time so bring lots of patience to the table! But if you remain consistent and firm with your expectations and reinforce them with your actions, it will all work out and things should normalize within a few weeks.
If your little one has independent sleep skills they are already able to fall asleep without your help, so try not to create new habits, such as lying in bed with them until they are asleep.
For a toddler that doesn't yet have independent sleep skills, this transition will be more challenging and your child will require more help falling asleep in their new space. They may need you to stay with them until they fall asleep, and you may get a nightly surprise visitor trying to come into your bed. I know it can be hard, but you will need to walk them back to their room and work on teaching them how to fall and stay asleep in their bed.
Try not to feel bad about implementing these healthy and loving boundaries. Toddlers (and adults) need a good night’s sleep. It’s their job to test us (and they are so good at it) but it’s our job to create a safe, secure and restful environment for our little ones so they can truly thrive and be their best selves.
If you need help transitioning your child to a bed, or with any stage of their sleep journey, we can help! Check out the website for more information about our sleep packages and book a complimentary discovery call to chat with one of our Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultants about how we can best support you.
Author: Karen Nussbaum
Karen Nussbaum is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant who has worked with over 400 families to help them get more sleep. She is also currently working on gaining a certification in adult sleep. Karen is a frequent speaker and presenter to parent groups and daycares/preschools and is a member of various professional associations. As a former senior PR exec, Karen has vast experience providing exceptional and responsive service to clients. She is passionate about all things sleep related and believes everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. You can find her on Instagram @karennsleep.
Company:
Have Baby. Must Sleep. is a leading pediatric sleep consultancy serving parents with babies and children ages 0 to 5 years old. They specialize in providing a high-touch, completely customized sleep coaching experience centred around each individual family and their lifestyle. The team is composed of moms who have experienced their fair share of sleepless nights while trying to balance work and life, and that’s why they’ve come together to help other tired parents get the rest they need and deserve. As Pediatric Sleep Consultants who have worked with 800+ families, sleep is what they do, it is their expertise and sole focus. You can find out more at www.havebabymustsleep.com.