Many toddlers make the transition from a crib to a bed somewhere between 18 and 42 months, according to the Babycenter Medical Advisory board. While there is no set time for the switch, parents often move a child to a bed if a soon-to-be born sibling needs the crib or due to the crib's size constraints. Some children make the change without any difficulty, but others need a bit more encouragement and reassurance. By creating a plan for the switch and addressing your child's fears and concerns, you can help increase the odds of a smooth transition.
Step 1
Build excitement for the transition by involving the child in the process. Pediatrician and child development expert Dr. William Sears suggests children are more likely to use items they select--so take him shopping for his "big boy" bed and let him select his own bedding.
Step 2
Follow your child's regular bedtime routine. Set the bed up in his room, but don't force him to use it. Expect him to express a certain amount of trepidation about sleeping in the new bed. Ease her fears by snuggling with her and reading or telling stories in the new bed.
Step 3
Use soft lights and music to help alleviate your child's fears of the new bed. Put a nightlight in the room and attach it to a timer programmed to turn it off at bedtime and on in the morning. Pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene recommends investing in a CD player so your child can relax before bedtime by listening to books-on-tape or soothing music.
Step 4
Set strict guidelines for staying in the room. Unless you want your child to share your bed, Dr. Greene recommends using a child-proof gate on the doorway to help teach the child to stay in her room. Allow your child to play quietly with toys, sleep or listen to music in her room, but dissuade her from leaving without your permission.
Step 5
Practice the "in and out" strategy to help an anxious child fall asleep without your presence. Dr. Sears advises placing your child in her bed and stepping out of the room for 10 to 15 seconds---tell your child "just a minute." Gradually lengthen this period of time over the next few weeks until she eventually falls asleep on her own.
Tips and Warnings
- Use your child's nightlight to help him differentiate sleeping time from awake time. Since young children generally lack the ability to read a clock, checking to see whether the light is on or off can help him determine when to get out of bed.
- Thoroughly child-proof your child's room before switching her from a crib to a bed.
Things You'll Need
- Nightlight
- Child safety gate
