How did you transition your toddler into a toddler bed?

Question

How old were they?

Answer 1

Lucky for me my son never climb out of his crib. We had talked about moving him into a toddler bed, but didn't know the exact timing. Then we decided to move when he was just about 20 months old. Worked great for us to get a new place AND a new bed.

Here is how I did it and it worked great. For a first timer, make sure the bed has the child protectors on them to prevent falling out of the bed. Put your child in bed and do the normal night time goodnights. And say something to the extent now that you are a big girl/boy you need to stay in your bed. Of course this to them means woohoo no more railings and mom says no so time to run. Stand outside the child's door, where they cannot see you or a shadow. When they come to the door grab their hand and nicely lead them back to bed and tuck them back in and repeat the big girl/boy thing. Stand guard at the door again. This time when the child gets up say nothing and lead him/her back to bed. REPEAT!!!!! REPEAT!!! REPEAT!!! Do not let your guard down. It may take a long while for the new routine to settle in. For my son the first night was all a game of who could last longer...3 hours later he was sleeping and I was able to do my housework. It was not a fun process but in the matter of just 5 days he got the routine and did not get out of bed anymore. My husband's cousin did the same routine with her little girl about the same time and it took her daughter almost a month to not get out of bed anymore.

Good luck. Stay consistant and stern and you will be rewarded for your efforts. Nothing better than your child falling asleep on his/her own so you can have freedom to do what needs done around the house.

Answer 2

I'm having the same problem with my 20 mth old daughter. She has always been easy to get to sleep right from the beginning...she went to bed wide awake with no crying at all until a couple months ago when she started refusing to sleep in her crib at all anymore. She started sleeping with us (she was also sick and teething so I made an exception). I took the crib down and put the mattress on the floor, let her pick out a new pillow and blanket and she was really excited about her new big girl bed....until bedtime that is. I would sit with her until she fell asleep and then go to bed but she would wake up every 1/2 hr screaming and running into our bed again and I would eventually give in because my hubby and I both have to work the next morning....any advice? Sorry to post a question on an answer board but it was related to the original question.

Answer 3

First of all, three yrs. old seems very late to transition a child to a big kid bed. As for transitioning your little one, do what I did. Skip the toddler bed. It is just one extra thing to transition to. Get a twin with bed rails. Place it in the room next to the crib. Give your child naps in the big bed and play it up!!!! He/she will prefer the big bed. Once it looks like he/she likes it after two or three days, make the crib disappear when the child is not present. Place everything back nicely and play it up some more. Read a nice book beside him/her, kisses, hugs...all will be well with the world. It doesn't have to be a big deal. Good luck.

Answer 4

I just recently transitioned my daughter into a toddler bed. She was about 18 months old when I did. How I knew she was ready for it was she had climbed out of her crib two times. I had a mattress laying beside her crib so she didnt hurt herself.

The crib that I bought for my daughter transitions to a toddler bed and later into a full size bed, so it was really easy to get my daughter to stay in her bed. I took her in there like I normally did, laid her down and tucked her in. I gave her a kiss and told her "goodnight" and left her room. She didn't get out of her bed at all. She fell asleep pretty fast after I laid her in her bed. I think the part that made it so easy for her to go to sleep was it was still the same bed that she was used to, it just didnt have the side on it anymore. It has the guardrails on it which helps keep her from rolling out of bed.

Answer 5

I can't remember my children's exact ages.I know that my eldest was 2 and a bit.I took them shopping and they picked out their own bedding,a new teddy,to keep them company,and a torch,so that they felt safe,and could make their way to my bedroom with out being scared,and some new books,so that their new bedtime routine seemed a little bit more interesting.when I had finished shopping and after setting every thing up for them,i would make a big fuss on how their new bed and all their new things looked so beautiful and cosy,and how only this bed could give only good sweet great dreams.I never had any real trouble with any of my children getting them to sleep in their toddler beds,I mean they still came into my room in the middle of the night for a little while after their new change,but that's to be expected.

Answer 6

My child was about 3 years old. Suggestions for transition from crib to toddler bed ~ ~ ~ several days before convey to your child how well their growing and you think he / she might soon be ready for a big kids bed. Remove the crib (while not in child's view) and then place the crib mattress on the floor made up for the child to sleep in. Have comforting reassuring conversation with you child about the crib now being moved then take your child into the room and sit on the bed with him/her. That night make up some bedding for you to sleep in (sleeping bag ?) next to your child's bed telling them that you want to help them be comfortable while they get used to the new bed. Do this for one (no more than 3 ) nights. After third night tell them that it's time for a more comfortable bed for them and then move in the toddler bed. (Or shop for it together). It's all about easing them into a transition.

Answer 7

Both my kids went from crib to a twin bed at about 18 months old. I had used a rail to prevent them from falling out of the bed. Toddler beds are a waste of money. If you are uncomfortable about the rail, just place the mattress of a single bed on the floor.

Answer 8

I transitioned my 18-month old into a *twin* bed after I saw that she didn't roll off on a family vacation. We went on a trip where the guest room only had 2 twin beds - they were both against a wall. As soon as we got back, she started sleeping in her new bed - I let her help me pick out the sheets at the store and used a pillow to wedge her in the bed a bit (they make some great body pillows for kids with cartoons on them!).

I hear it's harder to do later (because kids get attached to their cribs, and if you have another baby they get mad about "their crib" being reused). Good luck!

Answer 9

i put my daughters toddler bed right beside my bed for the first few weeks. she was 20 months.

Answer 10

They were 1 1/2.You can wait until 2.There is no spacial way.You just buy the bed and tell them they are a big boy/girl now and they have to sleep in bigger beg.