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How To Transition From A Crib To A Toddler Bed

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young girl sitting up in a toddler-sized bed, looking happy and well rested

Moving from crib to bed is yet another milestone in your toddler’s life. There’s no set time for when it’s best to switch your child from a crib to a toddler bed. However, little ones generally make the switch from crib to toddler bed any time between 18 months and 3 1/2 years old, ideally as close to age 3 as possible, according to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

There are a few factors to consider before you make the transition – most important, making sure your child is developmentally ready for the move. If you notice your toddler doing any of the following, it’s likely time to make the switch.

Signs your child is ready to transition to a toddler bed

  • The AAP recommends transitioning a child out of a crib and into a toddler bed once the crib railing is lower than their chest. At that height, children are more easily able to climb out of the crib, which can lead to injury.
  • After they’re fully potty-trained at night. For many kids, potty training overnight comes after daytime potty training. But once they’re no longer wearing diapers or training paints to sleep, they’ll need easy access to a bathroom.
  • Once they’ve expressed interest in a big kid bed, that’s a good sign they’re cognitively and emotionally ready for the transition.
  • Make sure the transition to the toddler bed doesn’t coincide with any other big lifestyle changes, such as moving or bringing home a new baby.

In short, you will follow your toddler’s lead to determine when it’s time. For example, if your child hasn’t mastered the art of self-control and doesn’t understand the importance of staying in their bed or room at night, they may not be ready. When they are ready, here’s some advice to make the transition as smooth and positive as possible.

Tips for easing the transition to a toddler bed

  • Put the new bed in the same place your toddler’s crib used to be. Make sure your toddler’s bed is positioned away from any potential hazards that could lead to injury. Place the bed at least 2 feet from any windows, heating vents, radiators, wall lamps or window blind cords. It’s best to either avoid having blind cords in your child’s bedroom if possible or tack them high up and out of reach.
  • Get the right size bed and mattress. If you’re moving from a nonconvertible crib to a bed, you might be tempted to buy a twin bed that will last your child for years to come, but a toddler-specific bed is a better choice. It’s lower to the ground and the mattress is smaller, both of which make it easier for very young children ages 15 months and up to climb in and hop out without getting hurt. Toddler beds are also designed to be used with a full-sized crib mattress (so feel free to use the full-sized mattress from your child’s crib, if it’s still in good condition). The crib mattress should fit snugly — if you’re not sure whether it’s right, use the two-finger test. The mattress isn’t a good fit if you’re able to fit more than two fingers in between it and the bed. You can explore the Colgate Mattress® new CuddleSnooze® Crib Mattress Collection designed to gently lull baby into a cozy, sound and restful sleep throughout the infant and toddler years.
  • Make sure the toddler bed comes equipped with safety rails. Safety rails serve the purpose of stopping your child from rolling out of bed. Convertible cribs and toddler beds are required to have side rails at least 5 inches taller than the top of the mattress. If you’re using a bed without a built-in rail, be sure to install separate guardrails that are at least that tall.
  • Check that the hardware is firmly secured. Whether you’re converting your crib or buying something new, a thorough safety inspection is always a good idea. Confirm that hardware like bolts and screws are firmly secured and that the sides and slats have tight, sturdy joints.
  • Set physical boundaries. Late-night visits from your child might be inevitable at the beginning, but tell them that they need to stay in bed once the lights go out. If they try to escape a few times and call for you in the middle of the night, simply tell them everything’s okay, give them a kiss, and walk them back to bed. It might take a few tries, but they’ll catch on eventually.
  • Maintain your routine. The bed may change, but the bedtime routine doesn’t have to. Keep your nighttime routine consistent with how it was in the crib – bath, teeth brushing, books – so your child has a sense of familiarity and knows when they’re expected to settle in for the night.
  • Reward good behavior. If your child stays in their bed all night, tell them how proud you are of them so they’re inclined to do it again. It’s up to you whether you want to use prizes or other incentives to encourage good listening.

Now that your child has free reign of the house – don’t panic! But, you will need to review important home childproofing. Here are some more tips:

  • Make sure your child is comfortable. This might mean buying a new nightlight or leaving a light on in the hallway if they’re newly afraid of the dark or letting them sleep with a comfort object such a lovey or stuffed animal during the night.
  • Steer clear of electrical outlets. If you have to put the bed near an outlet, make sure nothing is plugged in and that the outlets have child-protected plugs in them to protect curious little fingers.
  • Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, lock all doors and windows, and anchor furniture that could topple over.
  • Keep unsafe items out of reach. This includes latching all drawers with cleaning products, medicine, and electrical items.

As with many aspects of parenting, there’s no way to predict how this transition to the bed will go. Once in a while it’s okay to bend the rules and let your child cuddle up in your bed. But it’s best to develop a plan and stick with it as often as possible. Your child will thrive on the consistency of a routine just as much as you will.

If your child is upset and doesn’t want to sleep in the new bed, don’t give up right away. Encourage your child to try out the bed. If they’re still distraught after a few days, bring the crib back without treating it like it’s a punishment, and try again in a few months.

Colgate Supports Helping Babies Sleep Safely

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Every year 3,600 infants die due to sleep-related deaths

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. Of those, about 90 percent of SIDS cases occur before baby hits the 6-month mark.

SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs. In 79 percent of these cases, babies were either sleeping in an adult bed or in their crib/bassinet with pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, fluffy bumpers or loose clothing. 

These deaths can be prevented by following the Safe Sleep Guidelines developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2016.

What does a safe crib environment look like?

Did you receive the most beautiful handmade blanket or precious stuffed animal from a friend or family member? We know you may feel the desire to let your baby sleep with their cute gift, but keep it clean and simple when setting up your crib. 

Here are five tips to creating the safest sleep environment for your baby:

  1. Always lay your baby on his or her back in the crib. Babies should always sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS.
  2. Use a firm, flat mattress in a safety-approved crib. A firm surface maintains its shape and will not indent or conform to the shape of the infant’s head when placed on the surface. Soft mattresses can create a pocket (or indentation) and increase the chance of rebreathing or suffocation if the infant is placed in or rolls over to the prone (face down) position. Also, the crib should not have bumper pads.
  3. Share your room with baby and keep baby close to your bed, but in their own crib or bassinet. Room sharing reduces the risk of SIDS. Baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with you or with anyone else. Having a separate safe sleep surface for the baby reduces the risk of SIDS and the chance of suffocation, strangulation and entrapment.
  4. Keep baby’s sleeping area free of soft and loose bedding, such as bumpers, stuffed animals and blankets. Soft objects, such as pillows and pillow-like toys, quilts, and loose bedding such non-fitted sheets, can obstruct an infant’s nose and mouth. An obstructed airway can pose a risk of suffocation, entrapment, or SIDS.
  5. If the crib is near a window, remove pull cords or use cord shorteners on window dressings. Those curious little arms like to reach out and cords can so easily get wrapped around your precious little one.

By following these simple guidelines, you can help reduce your infants’ risk of SIDS.

How can you help spread awareness?

We’re asking moms, dads and parent influencers to help model a safe sleep environment to generate visibility for unaware parents, grandparents and other caregivers and help them understand the vital importance of safe sleep practices.

By committing only to post images of babies in safe sleep situations you can become one of First Candle’s Safe Sleep Guardians. First Candle is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to reducing the rates of SIDS and educating new and expectant parents on the importance of providing a safe sleep environment for their baby. And for those families who have tragically lost a baby, they offer bereavement support and counsel.

Colgate Mattress has a longstanding relationship with First Candle and is honored to be a Safe Sleep Guardian. We encourage you to also show that you support First Candle and are committed to helping us save babies’ lives.

September is Baby Safety Month

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baby safety month sleeping

Colgate Mattress understands that being a parent is the biggest responsibility you will ever have in your life. After all, as a third-generation, family-owned business – we’ve been there too! While you’re hard at work loving and nourishing your little one, protecting your baby is always a top priority. That starts with an excellent choice of crib mattress and continues with healthy practices and safety measures.

Launched by the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA), Baby Safety Month is a great time to reassess your routine to ensure you’re using healthy habits, best practices and safety precautions to keep your baby as safe as possible.

According to the JPMA, each year in the United States there are approximately 3,500 Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID). These deaths occur among infants less than 1 year old and have no immediately obvious cause. Although the causes of death in many of these infants cannot be explained, statistics show that as many as 80-90 percent are the result of unsafe sleep practices.

At Colgate, we’ve created the D.R.E.A.M. SAFE sleep practices to help protect your baby from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):

 

D ~ DO place baby on her back to sleep.
Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night.
R ~ REMEMBER a FIRM crib mattress is always best.
Firmness aids in development of baby’s muscles and bones. Soft beds naturally give and contour which can impede a babies breathing and trap heat, which can also be dangerous.
E ~ ELIMINATE clutter.
Do not put anything soft, loose or fluffy in your baby’s sleep space. Only a fitted sheet, mattress pad or waterproof pad should be used under baby.
A ~ ALWAYS place baby in the crib to sleep.
Never place your baby to sleep on top of any soft surface. This includes adult beds, couches, pillows, cushions, comforters and sheepskins.
M ~ MONITOR air flow and temperature.
Make sure your baby doesn’t get too warm during sleep. Use lightweight sleep clothing and keep room temperature at what would be comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult. For newborns, consider swaddling.

 

Expert Mom Tip: Nighttime feedings become simpler with a nursing chemise, which allows you to readily breastfeed when your baby is ready. Dads can help too! Incorporate daddy into your nighttime routine to help with burping and changing nighttime diapers so you can get a little more much needed sleep.

By integrating theses safe sleep habits, you will help ensure the safety of your baby every time they rest. For more safe sleep tips, please visit the JPMA’s Safe Sleep Center.