Every transition with your little one is an exciting step towards independence — learning to roll, crawl, walk, use the potty and now prepare for the move from a crib to a bed.
Each stage changes the dynamic of your daily routine and gives your child new freedoms.
Take time to prepare your toddler and yourself properly for this big shift.
Following these steps will help you ease from crib to toddler bed with minimal issues and stress.
Table of Contents
Choose the Right Time
Like most other transitions in your child’s life, there’s no hard and fast rule about when they need to begin.
Most kids move out of their cribs between 18 months and three years. However, most pediatricians agree keeping your child in as long as possible is better for their safety.
Despite the recommendation, some toddlers are ready earlier than others.
Watch for these signs to see if it may be time for your little one to make the shift:
- The crib rails come up to your child’s chest, even in the lowest mattress position.
- They’re starting to climb out of their crib.
- They’re asking for a big kid’s bed.
Even if your child is exhibiting some of these signs, you may want to hold off if they’re currently going through other significant transitions like potty training or getting a new family member. If you’re moving them to a toddler bed because you need the crib for another baby, start the transition well before you need the crib.
Otherwise, your child may blame you and their brother or sister for taking their bed.
Pick a Toddler Bed
If you’ve decided it’s time to move your kiddo out of their crib, you’ll need to pick them out a new bed. Many parents buy a twin frame and mattress to save money and minimize the furniture coming in and out of the house. However, without significant modifications, a twin bed will never be as safe for your little one as a toddler bed.
Toddler beds are much lower to the floor, so it isn’t a big deal when your child rolls onto the floor. Most options even have rails you can install to prevent falls in the first place. Plus, you can find toddler beds in various colors and themes, making them more appealing to small children.
Double Down on Your Babyproofing
Even though you took the time to babyproof the nursery before bringing your little one home, things have probably slacked over the last year or so. Double-check that all heavy furniture is anchored into the wall.
Remove toys they could hurt themselves with unsupervised and ensure you take care of all choking and strangulation hazards. Finally, block all outlets with appropriate covers.
Take Things Slow
As much as you wish you could speed things up, moving from a crib to a bed should be gradual. If possible, put the new toddler bed in the same room as your child’s crib, so they have plenty of time to get used to it. Continue to put them to sleep in their crib, but encourage them to read books or lay toys on the new bed. You can even offer it as a possible location for nap time.
Over the next week or two, talk up the new bed and ensure you give them plenty of exposure. Then, when it’s time to move the crib out and put the toddler bed in its place, they’ll be more prepared for the change.
Make the Move Special
Moving from a crib to a bed is a momentous time in any child’s life. Make the transition exciting for them by building up the anticipation. Read books about sleeping in a big-kid bed and watch kids’ TV show episodes around the theme.
Keep their new toddler bed close by while they’re still sleeping in the crib, so they have time to adjust to it. Encourage them to play on it and experiment as much as they like. Take them out on a special shopping trip to buy big kid sheets and a comforter.
When the day finally arrives, make a big deal about how big they are now and let them help get their new furniture set up in the right spot.
Maintain Their Routine
A consistent bedtime routine will be more critical than ever as your child moves from their crib to a bed. To them, it will feel like their whole world is shifting, so they’ll need the steady anchor a regular schedule provides.
Maintain bath time and any other little habits you use to get your little one ready for sleep. The only thing you may want to change is their bedtime. Give yourself a little wiggle room for fits and nighttime playing by getting them tucked in half an hour earlier than usual.
Consider How Far They’ll Go
You have to expect your child will attempt to escape their bed now that there isn’t anything stopping them from doing so. Parenting philosophies differ widely in the approach to take. Some people decide to put baby locks on the bedroom door handle so the child can’t leave the room.
Others install a baby gate on the opposite side of the door opening. Others will only put a gate across the stairs or nothing at all.
The method you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the layout of your home. However, if you leave the house available to them when unsupervised, you’ll have to amp up your babyproofing efforts throughout the house, not only in their room.
Transitioning from Crib to Bed Will Take Patience
While these tips will help you maintain your sanity through the transition from crib to bed, you’ll still need a boatload of patience. Your kiddo will make a break for it.
They’ll probably fall out of bed at least once. You’ll also get to watch a late-night toddler party or two as they get used to their newfound freedoms.
Everything will improve as they get used to the new setting and rules. Take a breath and remember, just like every other phase, this too will pass.
