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The transition from crib to bed is a major milestone in the life of a toddler, and yours as the parent of said toddler. Until now, your child has been safely confined to the coziness of their crib, so a bed may represent a level of "freedom" that makes both of you a bit uneasy.
Most children are ready for a bed somewhere between 1-1/2 and 2-1/2 years. But as long as they seem comfortably content in the crib, there is no age at which they should be sleeping in a bed (no matter what your mother-in-law says.) However, once your child is 35" tall or starts climbing out of their crib, it's time to make the switch.
Here are some tips to ensure a safe and smooth transition, so when your child is ready you will be, too.
- The first step is a thorough re-childproofing of your child's room. Find tips in Toddler Proofing 101.
- Attach Guard Rails on both sides of the bed to provide an extra degree of safety and security.
- Install a swing-style gate in the doorway of their bedroom. The gate should fasten to the doorframe with screws (for stability) and have vertical bars (to inhibit climbing.) Tension-mounted gates are not secure enough for an unsupervised child.
- Install another gate at the top or bottom of the stairs, depending on which floor your child's bedroom is on.
When it comes to change, most children respond well to a gradual approach. For others, a fast and unceremonious switch sits best. Still, some prefer a special celebration to mark the occasion. (These young sentimentalists love ceremony and tradition. Prepare yourself; there is at least one formal goldfish funeral in your future and you may be called upon to write the eulogy.)
Here are some tips for every little personality.
- Start slowly by placing the crib mattress on the floor for naptime. This can help your child adjust to the openness of a bed.
- Give them notice. Young children don't really have a handle on time, especially in the long-term. For toddlers, this means anything farther into the future than right now. So give your child short-term notice and mark time with events. Depending on their age you can try something like, "After breakfast we are going to set up your new bed," or "When we come home from the beach, then you will sleep in a big girl bed."
- Stick to their usual bedtime routine.
- Take it one change at a time. For now, hold off on potty training, weaning from the pacifier, switching day care providers, etc. If they're already in the middle of another big change, let the bed wait a while.
- Make it fun. Have a daily countdown to "Big Boy Bed Day" by checking off days on the calendar. Let them pick out new pajamas, sheets, a night-light, music box or a stuffed animal friend for their "new bed." Take pictures and email them to family members so your child can brag a bit about being a big kid.
- You may have to help your child get used to being alone in their room with the gate closed. Explain that the gate is there to help them stay safely in their room at night. Walk your child into their room and let them watch as you leave the room, closing the gate behind you. Leave them alone for just a few seconds at first; increasing gradually by a few minutes at a time.
- Use a night-light or a low-wattage bulb to ward off monsters in the dark.
- Realize that the first few nights may mean a lot of getting up and down until they get used to their new bed. Do what you feel is right to make your child feel comfortable: an extra story, a nightlight, a picture of you by their bed, a tape of your voice, etc. But try to resist their dramatic pleas to sleep in your bed, no matter how Oscar-worthy the performance (or how tired you are.) This can be an easy habit to start and a tough one to break.
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