Moving out of a crib and into a big kid bed can be exciting but also nerve wracking for the parent. Will my child stay in their bed? Is my child old enough? Are there ways to make the transition easier? 

To make this move as smooth as possible, timing is key!  

Recommended Age

I recommend waiting until your child’s 3^rd birthday to make this switch from a crib to a bed. Why wait until 3? Because for most children, somewhere between 2.5 years and 3 years of age, they become developmentally ready for the freedom and independence that goes along with sleeping in a big kid bed. To be safe, I like parents to wait until the child turns 3, so it can go as easily as possible. 

Because all children develop at different rates, however, there certainly are some 2 and 2.5 year old children who could successfully move to a bed. You won’t know until you try. 

What if it’s too early?

If you move your child too early, you might see success initially – a honeymoon period! Eventually though, the pop outs will start – over and over and over and over again. It’s exhausting! If it seems like there is no end in sight to this, it’s not too late to go back to the crib for sleep. 

What if my child climbs out of their crib? 

Many parents will move their child to a bed when their toddler learns to climb out, because it becomes a safety concern. Safety should be our biggest priority when it comes to sleep, but if the child is not ready to be in a bed, that too can become a safety concern – roaming the house in the night. 

There are ways to teach your child that the crib is for sleeping and not climbing. Over the years I have helped many families keep their child safely in their crib until developmentally the child was ready for that move. Need help teaching your child to sleep? Let’s chat!

How to Make the Move

When the time is right, start prepping your child for the big move. Mark it on the calendar, present it in a positive and exciting way, and let them be involved in the preparation if you can. Having your child help pick out their bedding or a special pillow is a nice way to involve them.  

The day of the big move, let your child help take down their crib (or transition it into a toddler bed). If they are physically helping, it allows them to feel a sense of ownership over their new big kid bed, and hopefully feel excited about the big move.

Should I Convert the Crib into a Toddler Bed or Use Something Else?  

It doesn’t really matter. I like for families to use what they want. If converting the crib to a toddler bed is the preference or the only option – great! Some children will move to a child-sized bed or twin. My own children both moved to a full and queen size bed because we already had them, and I didn’t want to buy more stuff. Do what works for your family. 

What does matter is what is on the bed. Keep it simple. One pillow and an easy to move blanket or comforter. I wouldn’t suggest a sheet right now. They tend to get tangled and cause problems. Whatever bedding you use, your child should be able to “work it” themselves. 

Other Tips on Making this a Smooth Transition from Crib to Bed

If your child doesn’t already have one, introduce a Toddler Clock or Light that can change colors at certain times. Allowing your child to have a visual so they know when it’s “sleepy” time (and time to stay in their bed) and when it’s time to get up, will help them be more successful. 

If your child gets out of bed, walk them back calmly. Don’t give any positive attention or negative attention. Just try to make the interaction as boring as possible so they are not encouraged to do it again. Then repeat this over and over and over with each pop out. 

*If you are a past client and we have worked on sleep with your little one as a toddler or preschooler, do not use the walk back strategy. Use the strategies we used during our program. 

If your child has a legitimate request, like they need to use the bathroom or need a tissue, there is a way to allow their one request without it becoming a landslide of things. Use My Golden Ticket, aka a Bedtime Pass. You can read more about how to use a bedtime pass HERE. 

If you are struggling, reach out for help. The walk back method doesn’t work for all children and can be really frustrating and exhausting for parents when the pop outs are relentless. So get professional help if you want to make this transition go as smooth as possible. You can schedule a Free Discovery Call so we can chat.