What Age Do You Move Your Baby to a Toddler Bed

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Hither's the funny thing about milestones—although they're an heady and developmentally appropriate sign that your child is growing up, they often also come with a host of new obstacles (retrieve when your child learned to walk and all the bumps and bruises that promptly followed?). And then, you lot may exist a little nervous nearly moving your child from her crib to new big-kid digs. But how do y'all know when to transition to a toddler bed, anyway? We tapped the experts for their timeline suggestions plus some helpful tips on how to navigate this milestone smoothly.

Commencement up, what exactly is a toddler bed?

When it's time to say dark night (for good) to your kid's crib, yous basically take two options: a toddler bed or a twin bed. A toddler bed typically uses the aforementioned size mattress as a crib (in fact, many cribs convert to a toddler bed), is depression to the ground and has built-in rails. A toddler bed'southward size ways that in that location's more flooring space for play (a key factor if your child'southward room is on the smaller side) and you can reuse your crib sheets. Toddler beds can also be constitute in fun kid-friendly designs, like princesses or cars. A twin bed, on the other manus, is longer than a toddler bed (typically around 80 inches, compared to the l- to sixty-inch range of toddler beds). The pros of a twin bed are longevity (kids tin can basically use them until college) and comfort (parents can prevarication downwardly in a twin bed for story time and many kids sleep amend in bigger beds).

When to Transition to a Toddler Bed

"At that place's no exact answer hither," Dr. Roy Benaroch tells us. "Families typically make the change from nearly eighteen months to 2 1/ii or 3 years." In fact, research shows that by around iii years of historic period, about toddlers sleep in a bed. But Dr. Benaroch argues that there's no reason to rush this transition. "Typically, if your kid is sleeping well and is happy and comfortable in a crib, it's all-time to look."

A few signs that your kid is ready to move to an ordinary or toddler bed include:

• They tin can climb over the rails of the crib. The American University of Pediatrics recommends moving your kid to some other bed when he is 35 inches (89 cm) tall, or when the pinnacle of the side rail is less than iii-quarters of his elevation (approximately nipple level). Note: Some particularly agile children may be able to escape the confines of their crib even earlier they accept reached these heights.
• They don't want to arrive the crib anymore. "Families may want to start thinking nigh the transition when their child no longer wants to get in the crib or prefers to accept a cuddle or reading time in their [parents'] bed," says Dr. Benaroch.
• They are asking for a big-kid bed. One time your toddler is interested in new sleeping arrangements, it's probably time to transition.

How to Transition to a Toddler Bed

1. Go the timing right. If your toddler is currently undergoing another transition (say, potty grooming or a new sibling) and then you should wait earlier introducing new sleeping arrangements. "If you're pregnant, it'due south commonly all-time to motion your toddler out of the crib a few months before the new baby arrives (bold your first child is old enough to be out of the crib)," says Dr. Harvey Karp. "If it is already after the nativity, you might keep your tot in the crib a while longer. Just beware: if y'all motility your toddler to a bed and the next calendar week move the babe into her old crib, your tot may experience jealous—similar you gave her beloved possession to the new intruder!"
2. Go slowly. Let your toddler "practice" in her new digs with a couple of naps starting time before settling in for nighttime sleep.
3. Keep the routine. You already know that a regular bedtime routine helps set your kid upwards for a adept night's slumber. The aforementioned rules apply when y'all transition him to a big-kid bed. In addition to keeping the same order of events (similar bathroom-story time-bed), consider putting the bed in the same space where the crib was, if possible.
4. Enlist their help. Brand this milestone more fun for your kid by letting them choose their bed or bed sheets. Note: Toddlers aren't exactly the best shoppers, so y'all'd exist wise to do some enquiry beforehand and give them 2 to three options that y'all're OK with.

How to Become Your Toddler to Actually Stay in Bed

Your kid is totally on lath with their new bed—hurrah! Except this newfound freedom means lots of trips out of the bed (hello, 3 a.m. wakeup call). Here are a few tips and tricks to help your kid stay put.

• Safety-proof your abode. At present that your kid can basically roll out of bed anytime she wants, you'll want to make sure that in that location are no hazards in her room. That means safety proofing any space that your kid can access in the center of the dark (like checking outlets, securing curtain cords and bolting bookshelves). Y'all may also want to add a soft landing such equally pillows and blankets effectually your child's new bed (peculiarly if it doesn't have safety rails).
• Keep your kid in their room. Karp advises parents to use a gate to go along children in their room. "If she climbs over it, you may need to spend a petty time preparation her to stay in the room or fifty-fifty close the door. Say something like, 'Honey, this is Mr. Gate! Mr. Gate will assist you lot stay in the room…so at bedtime, after nosotros sing and read and say night-dark…and then we'll close Mr. Gate…and he will aid you stay safe and happy in your room all night.'"

And in that location you have it—expert night and good luck.

RELATED: You Tin can Still Slumber Train a five-Yr-Old. Seriously.

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Source: https://www.purewow.com/family/when-to-transition-to-toddler-bed

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