Transition From Crib To Toddler Bed

Thinking of moving your little one from the crib to a toddler bed? Or looking for tips on the transition? If so, read on.

When To Move

Firstly, there is no hard and fast rule on how old each child needs to be before moving her from the crib to a bed. Most parents would do so when the child shows signs of climbing or jumping out of the crib. For me, I stored away the crib when my toddler reached a height whereby the sides only came up to his chest when he stood up in the crib. I knew it wouldn't be long before he tries to get out of the crib and I just didn't want to take the risk of him toppling over from such a height.

Arrival Of New Baby

Some parents might also want to get their child out of the crib because of the arrival of a new baby. If that is your motivation for doing so, make arrangements for the transition a few months before the arrival of the new baby. That way, your child won't get the feeling that she has to make way for the younger one. Otherwise, it might be one uphill struggle to get your toddler to cooperate to sleep on her own when you are already exhausted taking care of the new baby. Alternatively, let your baby sleep in the bassinet while you buy yourself some time to get your older one onto her own bed when she may be more willing to do so.

But if your child does not exhibit the signs that she is ready for a transition from her crib to a toddler bed, the solution may be to just buy another crib. Signs that she may not be ready to sleep in a bed include nightmares, interrupted sleep, cries and pleadings for her crib. There is little use in forcing your child to give up her crib if she is just isn't ready for the big step. You are better off easing her into the idea rather than forcing an immediate transition.

Tips On Moving From Crib To Bed

A few tips on moving your toddler from crib to bed are:

1. Talk about the idea beforehand.
Let her know you will be getting her a bed and assess her reaction. Encourage her to tell you of her feelings on the transition and reassure her constantly.

2. Get your child involved in the whole process.
You can do this by shopping together for the bed and sheets as well as letting her "help" out with the assembly. Basically, if she feels the bed is her choice and not yours, chances are she will be more prepared to sleep in it.

3. Show her the bedroom of other toddlers.
If you have a friend or relative with kids of similar ages and they are already sleeping on their own, you can try showing her their beds and bedrooms. Tell her this is how big girls and boys sleep and she might just want to follow suit.

4. Put the bed where the crib used to be.
If you have the feeling that the transition from crib to toddler bed would be difficult, try out this method. Let her have the familiarity of the surroundings before attempting to move the bed to another room. Moving to a new bed is already a scary thought on its own, what more if you try to get her to sleep in a new room. So, be patient and work your way slowly to ease her fears. When it is time to move the bed to another room, get her to re-arrange the place together with you. Through the process, she will understand it is going to be her room and place to sleep.

5. Read a story book on this topic together.
There are many children story books out there that touch on this transition topic. Try Big Enough for a Bed which features Elmo being too big for a crib. This is a very simple book with a character that most children can identify with. Another book worth a try is My Own Big Bed. This one has more words in it and it makes a good bedtime story prior to moving your toddler to her own bed. Reading such story books together will help your child to imagine and understand the process better which saves you problems later on when it is time to make the switch.

You can try out the above methods for the transition from crib to bed for your toddler or you may have your own way for doing so. Whichever method you choose to use, I wish you every success. Good luck!

Get Your Kid This Great Book!

	Big Enough for a Bed (Sesame Street) List Price: $4.99 Sale Price: $1.68 Average Rating:
	Elmo is too big for a crib! He’s ready to sleep in a big kid’s bed! It may take a little while, but with his favorite snuggly blanket and his teddy bear David by his side, soon Elmo feels comfortable in his new bed.