Transitioning your toddler from a crib to a toddler bed is a significant milestone, both exciting and challenging for parents and children alike. This change marks a step towards independence for your little one, fostering growth and development. However, it also comes with a new set of considerations, from ensuring their safety to establishing a comfortable and reassuring bedtime routine. We will explore practical tips and strategies to make this transition as smooth and stress-free as possible, helping you and your toddler embrace this new chapter with confidence and ease.
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Key Takeaways
- Transitioning to a toddler is best between 18 months and 3 years (or reach 35 inches in height)
- Signs to look for that your child is ready to make the transition
- How to make the transition, and involve your child in the process
- Which bed to choose once you have decided to make the transition
You may not be ready to admit it, but your little one may be ready to make the transition to a toddler bed. I know, I know, time has just flown by and your little baby isn’t little anymore. So how to transition to a toddler bed and when? I knew it was time to make the switch about 3 months before we actually bought the toddler bed, but it took me longer than 3 months to come to face with reality.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggest toddlers make the transition from crib to bed once they have reached 35 inches in height to avoid fall risks if they are able to climb out of the crib. If you have a crib that grows with the child, consider making the transition to the toddler rail now if safety is of concern.
Ask yourself the following questions to know if it’s time to make the switch
- Are they at least 35 inches tall and climbing out of their crib?
- Are you potty training, making the crib an added obstacle if they wake up in the middle of the night needing to pee? (Tips on how to potty train here.)
- Are they refusing to sleep in their crib? Asking to sleep in your bed, because it’s the big bed?
- Do they understand the concept of bedtime and to not leave their bed until it’s time to wake up the next morning?
We made the switch ourselves after we moved from Florida to Ohio. We lived with my father-in-law for a few months while we searched for our new home, to say we had a few changes already in the mix is an understatement. Considering the transition to a toddler bed at this point felt rather challenging. It was best to wait until all life changes were behind us to make the transition.
How to Make the Transition
If you have made it this far in the article, you may have decided to move forward with the transition to a toddler bed. Cue the tears. The first thing you want to do is communicate with your toddler the change and what it means. Once you are all ready, involve them in the process by letting them help pick out the bed. This also gives you the opportunity to measure them to ensure they will fit in the room, and is the mattress firm enough? Does your child have new interests such as outer space, princesses, cars, etc… that can be incorporated into the new decor? Consider changing the dynamic of the room to give it a big kid room feel. Once the transition has been made, maintain a routine bedtime, communicate clearly the expectations, and when they no doubt come find you in the middle of the night, walk them back to their bed to soothe them back to sleep. It is best to try and avoid letting them spend any time in your bed as it is a very hard habit to break.
Toddler Bed Options
PROS: Enhanced Safety, and Increased Independence.
CONS: Entrapment Risk
While the safety rails provides added safety from the risk of falling out of bed during their sleep and gives them a sense of independence of no longer being confined to a crib, it does have some cons to keep in mind. Entrapment can occur between the rails and the mattress, as well as the rail openings.
PROS: Promotes Independence, and Minimizes Fall Risk.
CONS: Exposure to Allergens, Can Lead to Unusual Sleep Locations
New found independence will come will all toddler beds. With a floor bed, there will be less injuries if they fall out during the night, as they are already close to the floor. The downside is since they are closer to floor, they are also closer to dust and debris that clings to carpet. Floor beds allow them to get in and out a lot easier, making it quite tempting to get out of bed to play with toys, and then you may find that they fell asleep somewhere other than their bed, leading to poor sleep.
PROS: Variety of beds making it easier to fit your toddler’s preferences, toddler may feel more inclined to sleep in it, making it less of a struggle.
CONS: Not as comfortable as traditional beds, toddler may need more help getting in and out of the bed.
We definitely would love it if all kids take to their new beds easily, because it looks like another toy. Less struggle means more sleep for the entire household. Given the design of the bed, the mattress may fit snugly, making it less comfortable than traditional beds. If the sides are too high, younger children may require assistance getting in and out. Princess beds offer the same format as race cars.
Traditional Twin Size Kids Bed
PROS: Long term fit, and creative designs.
CONS: Fall risk due to no railings/siding, and tougher transition.
This option will cut the cost of transitioning to a bigger bed in a few years, as they will be able to use this mattress for awhile. Twin beds also have the added benefit of more designs and options to find something that fits your child’s personality. Twin beds do not offer railings, making it easier for them to fall out of bed and possibly become scared to sleep in said bed. Given all the added space, it can make the transition from the safe space of a crib a bit more difficult. You can always make it more inviting by having their favorite stuffed animals waiting for them in bed.
Conclusion
How to transition to a toddler can be a simple process given that you do thorough research on when to make the transition. Other things to consider are signs your toddler may be ready to make the transition, and types of toddler beds. All toddler beds have their pros and cons, keep safety in mind, and enjoy the process to the next phase if your life.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, Sleep Foundation