Moving Your Child to a Toddler Bed: Ideal Times and Suggestions
Transitioning Your Toddler to a Bed: A Guide for Caregivers
When it comes to transitioning a toddler from a crib to a bed, timing is crucial. The optimal age for this transition is generally between 18 months and 3 years old, with many experts recommending closer to 2.5 to 3 years for smoother adaptation, better sleep quality, and safety reasons.
Signs of Readiness
Key signs indicating readiness for the move include the toddler climbing out of the crib, reaching about 35 inches (approximately 3 feet) tall, outgrowing the crib (e.g., chest visible above crib rails), expressing interest in a "big kid" bed, and showing signs of better self-control or nighttime potty training.
Sleep Quality and Safety
If a toddler frequently climbs out of the crib, this poses an injury risk, signaling the need for transition to prevent falls. Toddlers younger than 3 years may lack impulse control to stay in bed, resulting in frequent bedtime or night awakenings that disrupt sleep for both toddler and parents. Waiting until closer to 3 years can help minimize this behavior and improve sleep quality.
Safety precautions such as using a toddler bed with guardrails and securing the sleep environment should be taken to prevent falls and wandering. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends transitioning a toddler to a bed once they reach 35 inches (89 centimeters) in height.
Preparing the Sleep Environment
To fall-proof a bed, a caregiver can push it into a corner so that at least two sides are against a wall and ensure the area around the bed is soft by adding plush rugs or pillows. A light can help children see obstacles in the night if they do climb out of bed and can help them feel more secure.
Maintaining the Routine
Maintaining the bedtime routine can help a toddler transition to a bed, including telling the toddler to remain in bed unless they need to go to the bathroom and calmly leading them back to bed if they get out.
Individual Readiness
Each toddler's readiness for transition from a crib to a bed depends on their maturity level and behavior. It's best to use a crib with a manufacture date after June 2011, when new safety standards came into effect.
Safety Measures
In addition, caregivers should praise a toddler for remaining in their bed but avoid rewarding getting out of bed and should not let the toddler climb into the caregiver's bed in the night or spend time with other family members who are still awake. If a toddler does get out of bed, it's important to install gates to prevent them from accessing stairs.
Benefits of Delaying the Transition
Delaying the transition from a crib to a bed until a child is 3 years old may be beneficial, according to a 2019 study. Sleeping for the recommended hours increases the chances of better health outcomes for toddlers, which include improved mental and physical health, attention, quality of life, behavior, emotional regulation, memory, and learning.
Recognizing Unreadiness
Toddlers who seem very upset, have tantrums or are very fearful after the transition may not be ready yet. In such cases, it's best to reconsider the timing of the transition or seek advice from a healthcare provider.
- A caregiver can take safety measures to prepare a toddler's new bed, such as pushing it into a corner, filling the area around the bed with soft rugs or pillows, and installing gates to prevent access to stairs if the toddler repeatedly climbs out.
- Delaying the transition from a crib to a bed until a toddler is 3 years old may have beneficial effects on their health-and-wellness, including improved mental and physical health, attention, quality of life, behavior, emotional regulation, memory, and learning.
