Moving from a Crib to a Toddler Bed
Crib to Toddler Bed Transition
It’s quite exciting. Your baby is no longer a baby but an adorable toddler exercising independence and full of opinions! We need to work with this concept and not against it when moving them out of the crib.
When do you transition them? Please do not transition them too early! I made this mistake with my first son, prior to becoming a sleep consultant. I was super eager and very pregnant with #2. I thought I needed the crib, but I had a bassinet in my room for the first few months and didn’t need it! I think it was some form of nesting, thinking I was going to transition him NOW, so I didn’t have to later. It was a disaster. But I did it the right way the second time and here is how’s what I did.
I waited till my second son was almost 3. I luckily did not have a climber. A few times my older son would come in the room and start climbing around the crib and I panicked “no sweety, he copies everything you do, please don’t teach him how to climb in and out of the crib!” The only reasons you should move a child out of the crib to a toddler bed are:
1) They are climbing out
2) They are 35 inches tall, or the rail is at their nipple line
3) They are expressing a strong desire for a ‘big kid bed’
Talk about it in age-appropriate language before it happens. Like all things sleep, I recommend talking about it during the day for several days before making the change. Make sure there are no other big life changes occurring such a move, potty training or starting preschool. Just one change at a time.
Smaller the mattress the better. I highly recommend transitioning to a toddler bed (preferably the crib with toddler rail) over jumping to a single bed. They will find comfort in being in the familiar bed, this way I didn’t need to buy new bedding, I had all the familiar sheets and blankets, the only change was the one rail looked different. Jumping from a toddler-sized mattress to a single-adult sized mattress can be very intimidating for a child.
Introduce pillows and blankets before the transition (if they are not climbing out). Sometimes after the age of two you can introduce a toddler pillow (not an adult-sized pillow) and blankets if you desire. Once they get used to those for a week or so, then you can transition to the toddler bed.
Continue with your regular bedtime routine. Also continue using blackout curtains and a sound machine if they are already part of your routine. Consider incorporating a wake-up clock to prevent early rising.
Toddler-proof the room. Remember that once they have that new freedom, they just might use it. Make sure all light sockets have cover, bolt furniture to the wall and keep it away from the window. You now need to treat the entire bedroom like a giant crib! Any put up (or don’t remove!) any baby gates outside the room that are necessary. What if they do get out of bed, do you have stairs nearby that need a baby gate? No one needs a toddler roaming around the house at night.
Expect a time of transition. In my experience they don’t run amuck through the house, they run straight to mom and dad’s room. If this does happen. Quietly and calmly escort them back to their room, tuck them back into bed and say good night. This may keep occurring and continue escorting them back to bed calmly and quietly.
Have a drip-free water bottle in their bed, ensure they have their favorite stuffy and show them the monitor saying mommy and daddy are watching you to keep you safe.
If you are struggling with the transition, contact me, book a call and I will help!
Kyla Lucas is a Registered Nurse, Pediatric Sleep Consultant and a mom of two busy boys.