Transitioning to a Big Kid Bed

At some point, your little one will move from a crib to a bed. I know, I know – it can seem like a big move, and it is! You are giving your child more freedom and independence. It can be a big deal for everyone, and there are some things that you can do to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Wait as long as you can. If your child is content in their crib, don’t change a thing. Developmentally, “stay in your bed” is possible for children to understand when they are about 2.5 years old. I still recommend waiting, if possible, until a child is climbing out of their crib (even then, I have some tricks), you need the crib for a sibling, or they have maxed out the height and/or weight requirements of a crib. There is nothing wrong with your 3-year-old still sleeping in their crib.

Get your kiddo involved. When you’re ready to make the move, get your child involved in the decision making. If it works for your family, let them choose the bed or bedding. Let them choose the stuffed animal that they would like to sleep with or a new special set of pajamas to wear on the first night in their bed. You want to make them feel like they have some control over the transition.

Make sure the room is safe. Now, essentially, the whole room is their crib. They will be able to get out of bed, so you want to make sure everything is safe. Furniture should be anchored to the walls. Cords should be out of reach. Get down on their level and see what looks “interesting” to a small kiddo.  

Consider a gate at the door/steps/hallway. Because you child now have some more freedom, you want to take some additional steps to be sure they are safe and secure. You certainly don’t want them to be wandering around the house during the night! You can put a gate at their door (so that they door still closes) or try a door money. Make sure any steps are gated as well!

Spend intentional time in the room. This is my #1 sleep tip of all time. Their room should continue to be a safe, calm, comfortable space where they can relax and go to sleep. You don’t want it to be a scary place where they go and mom or dad leave for a long time. Spend time playing their new bed. You can also have them practicing tucking stuffed animals or dolls into bed!

Have a consistent, predictable bedtime routine. Kids, especially toddlers, thrive on routine. Have the exact same bedtime routine every.single.night. If they are ready for a bed, they may also be ready for some kind of bedtime routine chart of checklist. You can absolutely adjust the routine to work for your family, and most families will do things slightly differently. It doesn’t really matter how you do it, just be consistent.

Invest in a clock. I love the Hatch light, and there are other similar products available. Basically, you can set a color from an app on your phone and the light will turn on when it is OK for your kiddo to get up and out of bed. You can experiment with this – some families have it turn one color when a kiddo can get out of bed but remain in their room, and another color when it’s OK for them to come out of their room. Others, like us, will use a color to signal when it’s OK to get up and come on out. If you really want to get your kiddo invested in this, let them pick the color! I still recommend a dark room for sleeping, but if your little one starts to express any fears or concerns, you can also use this as a nightlight.

Have clear expectations. Let your child know ahead of time when the change is going to happen. Explain to them clearly that they will need to stay in their bed. You can let them know that if they come out of their room, you will walk them back and tuck them in again. If you stay consistent, it will work.

 As always, I’m here to help. Email me at nikki@nikkinelsonsleepconsulting.com with any questions!