Hey! It’s time for a big-boy bed! Follow these easy tips to make the transition smooth for your family.
Once your baby makes the move to climb out of his crib, it’s time to think about moving him to his own big kid bed. Moving a toddler from crib to bed can sometimes be tricky (once done you have to deal with keeping him in his bed at night!), but you can smooth the way by taking these easy steps.
1. Talk it Up & Let him help
Make the move nice for your child. In the few days leading up to the change, say something like, “You’re getting to be a big boy and pretty soon you’ll be sleeping in a big-boy bed and doing the things a big boy does!,” suggests Heidi Murkoff, coauthor of What to Expect in the Toddler Years. (Workman). If you take your toddler to the store with you to pick out his big-kid bed, chances are that he will be more excited about using it. Let him pick out some fun bedsheets with cartoon characters that he loves. Picking out a toddler bed with built-in guardrails can make your child feel more comfortable and safe and you can encourage him to show off his brand new bed to friends and family who visit.
2. Make sure your child is comfortable in his new bed.
This is a big change in your child’s life and if he is a little hesitant about it, you can make the transition easier by keeping him comfortable. Place his favorite baby blanket and stuffed toys in the bed with him to soothe him to sleep.
3. Stick to your regular sleep routine.
If your child has a regular nightly routine to get ready for bed, make sure you stick to it closely. If he always gets a bath before bedtime to calm him down, continue with the nightly baths. Read him a bedtime story and tuck him in with his favorite stuffed toys or have him put his toys to bed too. Try not to stay with him for longer than normal because your child needs to be able to fall asleep on his own.