From Crib to Bed

It’s inevitable!  Those babies do grow with every passing day — toddlers before we know it.  As moms we have to be willing to grow with them, but I, personally, have a really hard time with that.  As a matter of fact, babies who start growing make me want more babies and that’s why my two babies are 16 months apart!  🙂

My biggest baby, Langston (2 years, 2 months), just made a big transition and it was something I stressed about for a long time.  He moved to from the crib to the toddler bed.  He handled it like a champ!  I hated that he wasn’t caged in his crib anymore.  I feared for him because he could just get up from his bed whenever he wanted.  In actuality, he could have stayed in his crib for a while longer, but I was finding him with his leg thrown over the top rail when I would walk into his room.  I knew the time was just around the corner when he would take the plunge and throw the rest of himself  over the rail.  I knew we needed to make a change!

While there really is no set time for toddlers to go from crib to toddler bed, I wanted to share some tips for the moms who have yet to hit that milestone.

• GET EXCITED about the transition and make sure your excitement is contagious!  You might have your child help you choose the new bed or even their new sheets.  If it is a hand-me-down bed like ours, try telling your toddler “This bed is the same bed your cousin, Rollins, used!  Isn’t that neat?!”

• CHILDPROOF the room.  If your child already plays in his or her room on a regular basis, then you have probably already done this.  In our situation, our bedroom is upstairs, and Langston’s bedroom is downstairs.  Because of that, we had to put a child safety latch on his door handle.  He can’t get out of his room until I open the door for him.  I can hear him on the monitor when he wakes so I can be there in just a few minutes whether in the middle of the night or in the morning.

• MAKE SURE your child is ready!  If you have a baby on the way and need the crib for the new arrival, try to do it several weeks before the baby’s arrival.  Give your toddler a chance to get settled in the new bed before a new baby takes over the crib.  Some toddlers have a sense of security in their crib and could have a hard time letting go of the current sleeping situation.  It may even be a good idea to try putting the toddler bed in the same place where the crib was.  If you can, take the crib out of their bedroom, as well.  “Out of sight, out of mind” works for kids, too!If your toddler is not ready to move to a toddler bed before the new baby arrives, consider waiting three or four months after the new birth.  You’ll be giving your toddler a chance to get used to the new baby in the family and it will make the bed transition much easier on everyone.  Your new baby will, more than likely, not need the crib right away, anyway.

• BE CONSISTENT!  After a couple of successful bedtimes, I think Langston realized he could get out of his bed, and that’s exactly what he did!  Instead of starting the bedtime routine over from scratch, we quickly and quietly walked him back to his room and put him right back in bed.  Without saying anything, or making eye contact, he knew we meant business.  A couple of nights we had to do it more than once (or even several times), but eventually, he realized he had to stay in bed.  Consistency is key!

It’s hard for us as moms to see our babies growing up.  Usually, this transition is harder on the parents than it is on the child.  Remember, it’s not just a milestone for your child.  With love, encouragement, and consistency, you will be on the road to a successful transition.  Consider it one of your parenting accomplishments and be proud of what you’ve done!

If you’re a veteran “crib to toddler bed transitioner”, what are some tips that worked for you?