It’s an exciting time in the family when you’re ready to transition your toddler from the crib to a bed. While the shift has its challenges, you’ll get to see your child grow in independence and self-control.
It will require some extra time and effort initially, but it’s well worth it. Before you begin, though, you’ll want to be sure you and your toddler are fully ready for the change. To make the transition as seamless as possible, there are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.
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Crib to Bed Do’s
Make plans to celebrate this transition. This day is a big deal, so you want to celebrate it with something special. It could be as simple as purchasing a balloon for your child or a having cupcake after dinner. Encourage the rest of the family to praise your child as well, and tell her how proud you are that she’s growing up and getting her own “big” bed.
Involve your child in the changes. It’s helpful for your child to be a part of the transition. You can go all out and choose new sheets together, or buy a special new pillow your child can snuggle with. Have her “help” put the bedding on and decorate with a few, hand-picked stuffed animals.
Make the room safe. You will want your child’s bedroom to be a safe place for him to rest and play, since you may not always be around when he gets out of bed and goes exploring. Make sure to put safety plugs in outlets you’re not using, put away breakables and put a bed rail on the new bed. Make sure all lamps are out of reach. He is also getting older and stronger, so make sure any dressers or bookshelves are secured to the wall in case he decides to climb them.
If you’re moving your child to a new room, spend some time there first. Prepare the room together and spend time during the day in the new room for a few weeks. Try to position the bed in a manner that’s similar to where the crib is in the old room. You might even put your child down for a nap in the new room. Taking a little extra time to do this will help him feel comfortable in his new surroundings and make it easier for him to stay in bed when the big day comes.
Use a sleep manner chart to review the new expectations. Your child now has more freedom than she had before, and that’s exciting for her. At the same time, you’ll want your child to be aware of the new rules for a big bed. Make a simple chart that outlines these new expectations, and review these each night before bedtime as well as each morning. This could include letting your child know that you expect her to stay in bed quietly, and if you have an early bird, to remain in bed until the child’s wake-up clock turns green. You can also have her wear a sticker the next day as a visual reminder of how well she did. Talk about it, and praise her throughout the day. This is not a reward system, but a way to be clear about the behaviors you are both working towards.
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Stay nearby as your child learns to remain in bed. You’ll want to keep your same bedtime routine. Say goodnight in the same way, then turn out the light. But in addition, for the first few nights, stay near her bedroom, just out of sight. Find an activity you can do that keeps you in close proximity, such as putting away laundry or getting ready for bed. Reassure her that you’ll check on her before you go to bed. After that, try to just give verbal reassurance if she calls out to you instead of going into the room.
Prepare yourself for some push-back. Don’t be surprised if your child tests the new boundaries. This is normal and will need to be met with love and firmness. There’s no need to get angry or harsh with a child who pops out of bed. It’s all part of learning the new rules.
As you stay nearby that first week, listen carefully for the pitter-patter of feet. Quickly and quietly return her to bed without any fanfare or chastising. Just tuck her in and remind her gently but firmly that you expect her to stay in bed all night long and that you know she can do it. Then be ready to do this a few more times!
Crib to Bed Don’ts
Here are some examples of what you don’t want to do — mistakes you’ll want to avoid to ensure a smooth transition:
Move your child to a big bed too early. I prefer for parents to wait for this transition until a child is close to 3 years old; and 2 and a half years is the earliest I would recommend making the change. Children have a little more impulse control and are simply better able to overcome the urge to get out of bed as they get closer to 3 years old. If you move your child to a big bed too early, you may experience more tears, tantrums or sleep disruptions.
Create a new sleep crutch. When you change the sleep routine, there may be a temptation to help a little too much. Resist this impulse so that you don’t create a new habit, or sleep crutch, that your child is now dependent upon in order to settle down and go to sleep. A common sleep crutch is lying down with your child at bedtime — even until they’re drowsy — and when they wake during the night. It won’t take long before that’s what they expect every night.
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Expect perfection. This transition is a really big deal in the life of your young child. It will not come without some bumps. Even if your child was going to sleep on his own beforehand, he may experience some sleep regression. Instead of introducing a sleep crutch, go back to some gentle sleep training. That could include reviewing your sleep manner chart or staying nearby — just outside the child’s room — after you lay him down, so you can quickly return him to bed as needed. This way you can help your child get back on track to ensure he sleeps well in his new bed, and not create any bad sleep habits.
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How to Smoothly Transition Your Child From the Crib to a Bed originally appeared on usnews.com
