How to Easily Transition Your Toddler to a Bed

So your toddler is starting to grow up and they are ready to move to a toddler or big bed. This is a big change, not only for your toddler but also for you as well.

After all, the crib is a safe place and they typically stay there until they’re picked up. You don’t have to worry about them getting into anything dangerous as they are restricted to their crib. Awesome!

Now they are ready to move to a big bed so they can get in and out of bed whenever they want and can literally get into anything in their room. Yikes!

Despite this being a scary step of growing up, there are some simple tips to help you make this transition a lot easier!

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Wait Until They Are Ready

It’s best to wait until they are showing signs that they are ready for the big change. Transition them too early and the process becomes more stressful and a lot harder.

If you are expecting another child before your toddler is ready to move, invest in a pack n play so your newborn can sleep safely and your toddler can spend some extra time in the crib. After all, the crib is safer (until they start climbing out that is!).

The longer you can keep your toddler in a crib the better.

If your toddler starts to climb out of their crib or is starting to show an interest in sleeping in a bed, it’s time to transition.

Prepare Your Toddler

Start talking to them about their new bed. Explain to them that they are getting big and are ready to move to a big bed.

Encourage them and make it exciting. There are some really awesome books like this one that helps explain the transition in a fun and exciting way!

If you don’t prepare them and just put them in a big bed, they may get confused and scared as they don’t know what is happening. Explain every step of the way so they can feel like they’re involved in the process. This will help make the transition as smooth as possible!

Choose a Safe Bed

It’s best to start with a toddler bed as they are smaller and not so high off the ground. You can also get toddler beds with guard rails if your little one likes to roll around in their sleep a lot. As your toddler hasn’t used a bed before, it is likely that they may fall out from time to time.

If you choose to go with a regular twin bed, you can purchase some safety guard rails that you can put up so they won’t fall out of bed.

If you are buying a new bed, letting your toddler pick one out can really help with the transition process as they will feel more inclined to use the bed they picked out.

Invest in a Camera Baby Monitor With a Talk Function

If you don’t already have a camera baby monitor, it’s time to purchase one as this will make the transition so much easier. Why? Well, you can easily see if your toddler gets out of bed when they shouldn’t. When you see your toddler climb out of bed, you can use the talk function to ask them to get back into bed.

Typically, your toddler will look around and then quietly climb back into bed. You may have to remind them to stay in bed a few times before they learn that they need to stay in bed.

Toddler Proof Their Room

This is the most important step! After all, they will be able to get up by themselves so they now have full access to their room. You may need to toddler-proof your entire house if they can open doors by themselves.

Top Tip: Try to put toys out of reach (if possible) to avoid any temptation of play. Storing toys in closets is a great way to keep toys out of sight.

Here’s a basic list of what to look out for when toddler-proofing a room:

• Cover all unused electrical outlets. These outlet covers work great!
• Look out for long cords and remove or secure them (strangulation hazard).
• Anchor furniture to the walls (to prevent tipping if your toddler decides to climb!).
• Remove big, heavy, unsecured items.
• Cover sharp corners or ledges. These corner protectors are a great option.
• Secure cabinets or drawers that contain products that you don’t want your toddler getting into. These safety locks work great and are super easy to install and remove.

There could be other hazards in their room so be sure to complete a thorough check before unleashing your toddler to their new big bed!

It may take a few nights for your toddler to adjust to their new bed which is normal. Our first daughter transitioned smoothly and never got out of bed. Our son was a little different though! We had to ask him to get to bed about 7 times a night for the first few days before he stopped getting out of bed!!

You got this mama!!