Toddlers— and their milestones— move at the speed of light. Before you know it, your child is speaking in sentences, learning to run and jump, and building teetering block towers. However, one of the biggest milestones is also the most worrisome: the transition from a crib to a bed. “We were worried about lots of up-and-down traffic at night and in the morning,” confesses Cheryl Oliver, mom to 14-year-old Rianne and 5-year-old Gabriella.
But the transition doesn’t have to be terrible. In fact, it can be downright fun. “When Jack was 2, we transitioned him to his own ‘big boy’ bed, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience,” says Lindsay Fisher, mom to 4-year-old Jack and 1-year-old Will. “He slept through the night and was so proud of himself in the morning.”
Put your worries to the side and smooth the way for a great bedtime evolution with these suggestions.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
When parents are anxious about moving a toddler to a bed, they can unwittingly pass on their worries to their children, says psychologist and mom Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., author of A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness (Morgan James Publishing). “Children are like sponges, and they pick up on our fears and anxieties,” she says. Try not to transmit your nerves to your tot. Instead, talk about the new bed as an exciting step, not a worrisome obligation.
Control Tweak
Toddlers are notoriously hungry for more independence and personal power, so give them some control over the change. Allow tots to be part of the process. “We asked Jack to be a part of setting up his new big boy room. He picked out his bedding— Thomas the Tank Engine, of course— and he got to pick out special pajamas for his first night,” Fisher says.
Calendar Countdown
Help your child prepare for the change by creating a countdown. One to two weeks before making the switch, tell your little one that he’ll be moving to a special new bed. Then, cross off the days on the calendar and talk excitedly about the big day that awaits. But don’t set the date too far in advance. A buildup of several weeks could make your child anxious instead of eager.
Room Service
If your child leaves his new bed in the middle of the night— or if you’re worried that he will— install a baby gate at his bedroom door. When you hear him get up, return him to his bed promptly, every time. Once he realizes that he won’t be rewarded with parental interaction or be able to get out of his room, he’ll be more likely to stay in his bed all night long.
Winning Ways
Maintain positive associations with the new bed. Avoid using the bed as a place for punishment or a time out. Lombardo believes it’s better and more effective to reward positive behavior. Sticker charts, special outings or a visit to the child’s favorite restaurant are good options. “When Jack slept all night in his new bed, we made him a special breakfast the next day to acknowledge his accomplishment!” Fisher adds.
Nap Trap
During naptime, opportunistic toddlers may capitalize on their newfound freedom by refusing to stay in bed. “Often, kids do fine with their new bed at bedtime— naps present a bigger issue,” Lombardo says. But most 2 year olds still need a daily siesta. Enforce your child’s midday break by creating a consistent naptime ritual and keeping the bedroom dark and quiet during this period.
Clock Extra Minutes
Kids in toddler beds may be more inclined to get up with the roosters. Keep your early riser in bed a bit longer with a special clock that tells her when it’s time to start the day. “We bought a special alarm clock with nature sounds just before we converted to a toddler bed,” Oliver says. “She loved waiting for her alarm in the morning and getting up to press the reset button— no troubles with getting out of bed too early!”
Whatever you do, “don’t give in and allow your child to go back to the crib,” Lombardo suggests. Make this transition an exciting milestone for your little one, and the crib will soon be a thing of the past. On to the next adventure!
