When your toddler begins to outgrow his crib or develop expert climbing skills that enable him to escape from the crib at any time, Kids Health from Nemours recommends switching him to a toddler bed to prevent injuries or interrupted sleep. Whether your child is hesitant or completely opposed to the transition to the "big kid" bed, ensure your timing, swapping technique and motivational tactics make the move away from the crib a happy experience.
Step 1
Let your child help select her new bed to ensure she feels involved in the process. If you think your child will select a style that won't suit your available space or budget, Parenting magazine suggests letting her choose a new bedspread instead. As she's making the selection, promote the idea of switching to a bed by mentioning siblings, friends or cousins who happily made the toddler bed transition.
Step 2
Set the new bed up in the same spot where your child's crib used to be so he'll feel a sense of familiarity. Place the same blankets, pillows and stuffed animals that your child used in the crib on the new bed to maintain some of the same sensations and smells.
Step 3
Take the crib out of the room. The transition from the crib and being a "baby" to a bed and being a "big kid" may be difficult, so it's less stressful to eliminate the crib since it's a reminder of the past. Removing the crib will also prevent your child from insisting on returning to it in the middle of the night.
Step 4
Continue the same bedtime routine that your child used when she slept in a crib. If you don't have regular bedtime activities, develop a ritual, such as giving your child a warm bath, a light snack, a bedtime story and cuddles. Maintaining the routine will help her have a sense of normalcy when switching to the new bed.
Step 5
Give your child a sense of security by offering to check on him every 10 minutes until he falls asleep. Reduce your child's apprehension by leaving his door open so the household "noise" will comfort him as he drifts off.
Step 6
Take your child back immediately if she hops out of bed. The Mayo Clinic recommends tucking her back in bed while keeping talking to a minimum. Excessive talking may turn bedtime into a battle of wills or make your child think that she can spend more time with you by getting out of bed.
Tips and Warnings
- Add guard rails to the side of the bed to prevent the child from rolling off the bed. Rails may also make a child feel safer in the new bed.
- Avoid transitioning a child to a bed if he is dealing with another life change. Hold off if the child is also potty training, expecting a new sibling or moving to a new house, for instance.
