When to Transition to Toddler Bed
When to transition to toddler bed
Deep down you know it your gut when to transition to toddler bed but it’s a bittersweet feeling moving your baby from the crib to a toddler bed. After that, it’s only two more bed transitions until your little baby becomes a grown-up adult! But let’s not freak out, baby steps. Let’s stay in the present and think only about how amazing it is for your toddler to be ready for the first big move.
And because it’s a big move, you should get as much information as possible before you make your decision. That’s why Happies reunited all the important things you need to know that will help in this new phase.
As everyone knows, sleep is essential for good healthy habits. Babies, kids, adults. We all need at least eight hours of sleep to properly function the next day. So, the first thing you should consider is whether your child is ready or not to change his or her crib for a bigger bed. This because, if you change your little kid from the crib to the toddler bed sooner than needed, neither of you will get much sleep.
It’s perfectly understandable that as parents of little ones, it’s easy to start looking forward to the next big milestone. It’s exciting to see your little kid grow up but the transition from the crib to a toddler bed might be one of those times that more is simply more and maybe you should consider letting your child stay put for a bit longer.
As taking your child from the crib and put him or her into a bed, some of them might forget about sleeping and can come and go from their bedrooms wherever they feel like it. If this is a scenario you don’t like very much, it won’t hurt letting your toddler stay in the crib for a couple more weeks.
And when it’s time for the big switch remember to stick up with the same bed routine you previously had, because even this transition is a big one, your little one is still a very young child that needs the best sleep habits possible.
WHEN TO TRANSITION TO TODDLER BED: SIGNS
Experts recommend that the earliest you should make this transition is 18 months old and the latest is 4 years old. Additionally, the most common time parents choose to do this transition is when their child is 2 years old. The transition to a toddler’s bed is one of those milestones that just varies a lot for each child. However, paediatricians agree that the perfect time has come when your little one is busting out of the crib, touching with their feet and hands both ends. Other signs that your toddler is ready for the big step are:
When to Transition to Toddler Bed = Frequent Climbing in or out of the crib.
The previously safe crib could become dangerous if your little one can climb over the rails. We don’t want accidents like falling onto the floor but it can happen if your child stays in a small crib any longer than needed. As a general rule, you should move your baby from the crib to a bed before he or she is able to climb out of it on his own to avoid hurting themselves.
However, don’t rush out making the transition the first time your child breaks free from the safety of the crib. Although obviously, your baby’s safety is a concern, many young children do this as a flask one time before they are trying crawling out regularly. When it becomes a repeated event, then it’s officially time for the bid toddler bed.
Another way to tell if it is time is by listening to your child. If your little one starts making comments about being a big girl or boy, or your toddler starts asking for a big bed, then it is most likely time to make the switch bed!
When to Transition to Toddler Bed = During Potty training.
If your child is not using diapers, he or she will need to go to the toilet and putting them into a bed that doesn’t have the crib safety will allow them to go use the toilet wherever they need.
When to Transition to Toddler Bed = Another baby needs the crib.
If you are expecting a new baby and your older child is at least two years old, they may need to move on from the crib. If they are younger, however, consider getting a bassinet or co-sleeper for the new-born.
HOW TO MOVE YOUR KID FROM THE CRIB TO THE TODDLER BED
The transition from a crib to a toddler bed is a special milestone, so should be a special experience for your little one as well.
Before you start looking for a new bed, you should first openly introduce the topic to your child. Don’t keep the excitement about the big change for yourself, because your little kid should also feel the same way in order to easier accept what is about to change. If you see he or she is feeling uncertain about changing their crib for a big, maybe scare bed, hear them and let them know how important this adventure will be. One tip to help you with this is by reading books about the switch to your kid.
Once, your baby is ready and you feel the time is right, let them help pick out some special toddler room supplies, such as bedding with her or his favourite character. Remember to never skip this step as your child need to feel that the new space is exclusively for them. And once the toddler bed is ready, you have a special reveal, take pictures and again, don’t keep your excitement only for yourself. By doing all this, your little ones will feel really proud of themselves and make the transition even easier.
WHEN TO TRANSITION TO TODDLER BED: DECORATION TIPS
Some parents get attempted to do a redesign to match the nursery décor to the new toddler bedding, but it’s not a great idea. You should keep the room as much the same as possible. This means, keep the room layout the same, place the toddler bed in the same space where the crib was before, and keep dressers and toy boxes in the same places. And don’t remove any of the toys of sentimental items that your little one finds comforting and if there was any stuffed animal in the crib, let it in the toddler bed as well.
WHEN TO TRANSITION TO TODDLER BED: SAFETY-PROOF THE ROOM
For last, don’t forget to toddler-proof their room. Your little one will now have the freedom to explore every nook and cranny of his room. So, if outlets were not covered and blind cords were not tied up before, now is the time to do it. Also, in the beginning, you might also want to consider using bed rails to avoid your child falling off the bed.
