Is Your Toddler Ready to Move to a Bed?
Transitioning your toddler from a crib to a bed is a big milestone. It’s the end of the crib era and the start of overnight freedom for your child (yikes!) This move can happen at different ages and for different reasons. In a perfect world, YOU are controlling the move with a well-thought-out plan and confidence that your toddler is ready.
What to Consider When Moving from a Crib to a Bed
If you are thinking about making the move, here are 5 questions to consider:
Is my toddler old enough?
Does my toddler have strong sleep skill?
Does my toddler have impulse control?
Will this feel like a positive change for my toddler?
Have I been preparing my toddler?
Let’s break these down into more detail…
1. Is my toddler old enough?
Children mature physically and cognitively at different rates, which will factor into how “ready” your child is for this move. Generally speaking, three years old is a good age to consider the transition. At this age, toddlers are typically outgrowing their cribs and are demonstrating the ability to follow 3- to 4-step instructions.
2. Does my toddler have strong sleep skill?
Sleep skill is a measure of how consistently and independently your child can fall asleep and stay asleep. An olympic sleeper in my book is a child who falls asleep entirely on their own, sleeps through the night and wakes up happy, confident and waiting for you in their crib.
If your nights are unpredictable and full of wake ups or your child constantly wakes up standing in their crib crying for you, then moving to a bed will not fix the problem. In fact, it will only make it more difficult.
You’ll want to strengthen your child’s skill and establish new cues before the transition while your child is in the comfort and confines of their crib. If you’d like support with this, reach out for a consultation call to discuss how we can help.
3. Does my child have impulse control?
Most toddlers skew low on impulse control. They grab a toy from a friend without thinking, run after a ball without a sense of safety, and this list goes on. Impulse control is a big one with this transition because your child now has complete freedom in their room and they will need to control their impulses to stay in bed, rest their body, and wait for their morning cue to know it’s time to get up – three steps that require a lot of will.
If your child skews low on this point but hits the above two considerations with no problem, then you will have to focus more on expectation setting and have a plan to help your child learn their new boundaries.
4. Will this feel like a positive change for my toddler?
Try to envision this change from your toddler’s view. You want this to feel exciting and positive for them. Maybe you coincide the change with a birthday or do a fun countdown. Avoid it feeling like a punishment or like you are taking something away from them. For example, many parents will move their child to a bed in anticipation of welcoming a new child and needing the crib. This is understandable, but ensure you space out the transition and move your child to a bed in advance of welcoming the new baby so it doesn’t feel like cause and effect.
5. Have I been preparing my toddler?
Establishing expectations is the most important part of this transition. You cannot expect your toddler to know what to do unless you have thoroughly explained it to them and have repeatedly been prepping and reminding them of it. Have a little sit-down in advance and talk about the transition and what that will look like when they are sleeping in a bed. Keep the rules simple but work on repeatedly talking about them and testing your child BEFORE you transition them!
Next Steps for Making the Move to a Bed
If you comfortably checked these considerations off, then you are in a great place for this transition! If you feel like you are lacking in a few areas, now is the time to work on these things to make the transition as seamless as possible. Reach out for a consultation call if we can help you feel more confident in the changes to come!
Save the Date: Group Coaching Call
June 3rd at 8:00pm AND June 4th at 12:30pm EST
Get direct access and tips from Meg on our upcoming group coaching calls focused on Navigating the Crib to Bed Transition. These interactive coaching sessions will cover topics such as safety, setting new expectations, refreshing your bedtime routine, responding to situations where your child gets out of bed and more.
This call is geared towards parents who have an independent, consistent sleeper. If your child requires assistance (rocking, holding, staying in the room, hand holding) to fall asleep, please reach out to discuss one-on-one sleep coaching support. Register here!
Meg O’Leary is an Infant and Child Sleep Expert and the Founder of A Restful Night. She and her team offer sleep training support to families worldwide.
