The first time your toddler sleeps in his toddler bed instead of his crib is bittersweet: Most parents are a little sad and quite amazed by how quickly their baby is growing up. There's no right time to make the switch, but most children are ready to move to a toddler bed by the time they can get out of their cribs by themselves. If your child is ready to transition to a toddler bed, you can make this milestone go more smoothly by preparing yourself and your child for his first night in his new big-kid bed.
Step 1
Prepare your child for the switch by letting her participate in getting her new bed ready. Let her help you put on the sheets and turn back the blanket.
Step 2
Help your child choose a favorite soft toy or stuffed animal to join him in bed. Though you may be tempted to celebrate the occasion by getting him a new stuffed animal to sleep with, a familiar animal will make his new bed feel less alien.
Step 3
Stick to your usual bedtime routine. If you normally have a bath, a story and then bedtime, do the same thing for bedtime in your toddler's new bed.
Step 4
Put your toddler to sleep while he's drowsy but still awake so that he can get used to falling asleep in his own bed. If he wakes up during the night, comfort him and let him fall back asleep in his own bed.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure your toddler understands that bed is for sleeping and not for playing, or you could end up with bedtime battles. Consider making the bed off-limits unless your toddler is napping or going to bed. Let your toddler help make the bed and change its sheets. She'll feel a sense of ownership in her new bed.
- Follow basic child safety guidelines when you position your child's bed, and keep it away from hanging cords, blinds, uncovered electrical outlets, open windows, objects that can be climbed and other hazards.
