One of the major milestones of early childhood is moving from the crib to a "big kid" bed. But pulling your child out of the only bed she's ever known can be traumatic--for her and for you--so a little preparation is in order. Moving the child to a toddler bed, rather than a full-size twin bed, can ease the transition. These beds take the same size mattress and linens as a standard crib, and they usually have sides to keep the child from tumbling out in her sleep.
Step 1
Wait until your child is old enough. Writing at BabyCenter, pediatric sleep disorders expert Deborah Lyn-Diken says toddlers typically make the switch between 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 years old, though the best time for most kids is around 3. If in doubt, err on the side of waiting longer.
Step 2
Look for signs that your child is ready to make the move. Lyn-Diken and Elizabeth Pantley, author of several books on raising children, offer examples: He's able to climb out of the crib, even after you've lowered the mattress as far as it will go; he's too active to be penned up; he's toilet-trained and wants to be able to go in the night; or he simply asks to move to a real bed.
Step 3
Take your child with you when shopping for a toddler bed, if you're buying it new or at a used furniture store. Stress that because it's "her" bed, she should help pick it out. If the bed is a hand-me-down, talk about the person she's getting it from--tell her how that person is "big"--and now she is, too.
Step 4
Place the toddler bed in the same place where the crib used to be. If possible, use the same mattress and linens that your child had with him in the crib, plus any bed toys or stuffed animals. Having the same view of the room, with the same sleeping surface, cuts down on his stress level, Pantley says.
Step 5
Keep your bedtime routine the same, or as close to the same as possible, as you switch from crib to toddler bed. Knowing that "everything" isn't changing will comfort her.
Tips and Warnings
- Every child is different, and no one knows your child better than you. If you feel your child is not ready to move to a toddler bed, then don't do it. If you're making the change because you need to free up the crib for a new baby, then start the process early. You don't want your older child thinking that the new baby is stealing "my bed." Lin-Dyken suggests doing it six to eight weeks before the baby comes home. Consider planning and throwing a "big bed party," if you're up to it. With your child's involvement, decorate the room, and invite grandparents and other family members to come over. This turns the transition into something to be eagerly awaited rather than feared.
- Even if you do everything "right," there may still be tears. Give your child time to adjust--they almost always do--but if it becomes clear that you've made the switch too soon, be willing to admit it and bring the crib back. It's your mistake, so don't make the child "live with it."
