Ah yes, the crib to bed transition. For some, this is a long awaited move that you have looked forward to since your baby was little. For others, you may feel like someone needs to rip the crib out of your hands (this is me, 1000%), and you have been dreading this change.
In this post, I will tell you my recommendations on when this transition is most appropriate, and tips on how to make it go smoothly.
Here are the three situations I see that warrant the move to a big kid bed
1. They are three years or older and are developmentally able to understand the new responsibilities that come with their new freedom. The third birthday is a good point of reference as this age typically means the child has the self-regulation necessary to stay IN the bed.
2. They have outgrown the crib per the crib manufacturer.
3. They are climbing out and you have tried all other measures to keep them safely in the crib. This is important!! If your child is climbing out and not yet three years old, I HIGHLY suggest exhausting all other techniques first.
Okay, so it has been decided. You are doing this. Now what? Please, please do not just decide this one day and throw together a toddler bed and expect all to go smoothly. I can promise, it likely won’t, at least not long-term . One of the most important things to do is to properly prepare your child for the upcoming change.
Tip- if your child is not yet sleeping independently, I highly recommend working on this first. It is possible to achieve independent sleep in a big kid bed, but you have many more factors working against you, and it will be more difficult.
Talk about the upcoming change with your child
Children do best when they know what to expect and what is expected of them. Talk about the change- tell them what new responsibilities they will have and see how they feel about the change. Some kids love their crib- if they haven’t hit any of the three reasons listed above and don’t seem into the idea of a big kid bed, don’t push it yet! If they are on board, make it an exciting time! Since kids love to be involved, you can even let them help pick out their new bed, sheets, etc.
Introduce toddler clock
If you don’t use a toddler clock/okay to wake clock yet, I recommend introducing one before the change so your child can get used to it. These clocks act as a visual cue to help your child understand when they are to remain in bed, and when it is appropriate to get up.
Here is an example of how to use a toddler clock (using a Hatch for this example)
· Turn light yellow during the bedtime routine. If you use the white noise option on the Hatch, turn it on.
· Turn clock red when it is time to get goodnight kisses and get into bed.
· Turn light off when you leave
· Turn light green in the morning at okay to wake time
Set up the room
Treat the whole room like a giant crib and toddler proof as needed. Remember, not only is this essential for safety purposes, but also because we want to discourage your little one from crawling out of bed to go play with toys and objects in the room. Be sure that you have a plan to prevent them from wandering out of the room- gate, door closed, etc. You want this to be clear from the beginning so they understand the boundary. You don’t want to be worried about your child taking a midnight stroll around the house. Set up their new bed! Feel free to let them help set up the bed- the more involved they feel, the more successful they will typically be.
Family meeting and Sleep Rules Poster
This is so important when making a big transition and when the expectations change. Hold a family meeting before you switch your child to their big kid bed. Make this FUN. We want your kiddo to feel like they are part of this decision and that you are working as a team. Include all family members and talk about how exciting this step is! I always suggest that my clients make a sleep rules poster with the help of their child. Allow them to color, decorate with stickers, etc. You will hang this poster in their room and review the rules as part of the routine before going to bed. This helps remind your child of what the expectations are and shows them that you believe they can succeed!
Example of sleep rules-
· Johnny will get into bed
· Johnny will close his eyes and take three deep breaths
· Johnny will go to sleep
· If Johnny wakes, he will hug his teddy and go back to sleep
· Johnny will stay in bed until the light turns green
Another option is to put together a story starring your child- snap some pictures of your child acting out bedtime routine, going to bed, and waking up in the morning. Throw them together and make a story that you can read each night.
Now that you are well prepared, enjoy this big step with your little one! If you find that you need support through this transition, feel free to contact me, browse package options, or set up a free 15 minute evaluation call!
Sweet dreams,
Janet