Crib to Bed Transition
From Crib to Bed - Seven Tips for a Smooth Transition
Transitioning your children from a crib to their own bed is a big change! And while change is sometimes scary, this one doesn’t have to be.
Here’s my top seven tips to make the transition as smooth and easy as possible for you and your little one:
Delay the transition as long as possible, ideally until your child is about 3 years old, because toddlers younger than this do not have the self-control to stay in bed. However, if your toddler is repeatedly climbing out of their crib, then make the transition earlier for safety reasons.
Wait until THEY start talking about a big bed! When the change is initiated by them and it’s something they want, it will make it so much easier for all involved. For example, my daughter expressed she wanted to be able to get in and out of the bed herself just like ‘Mom and Dad’. This kind of talk indicates it’s time to make the transition.
Limit simultaneous big changes. Too much change all at once is enough to overwhelm anyone, adults included! If your toddler is in the middle of potty training or another big transition, consider delaying this transition for a little while longer.
Make this transition SO exciting. You may feel a bit silly, but really talk it up in advance and in front of your toddler. Perhaps you might even go and buy new sheets they choose themselves.
Keep the sleep sack if you can. Even though they may have transitioned to a big bed, keeping a blanket on themselves is a skill as well. If they are refusing a sleep sack, then consider a walking sleep suit to avoid them waking up cold during the night.
Talk about in advance what boundaries look like, including around what falling asleep looks like and what happens if they do get out of bed.
Be sure to baby proof their room and if they’re able to open their door, ensure that any stairs or other hazards in the house are mitigated.