When to transition your toddler to a toddler bed

For some families, seeing the signs your child is ready for a toddler bed can be an emotional time.

This is because sleep is so important and just happens to be one of the biggest struggles for families with little ones. Therefore every transition made in relation to sleep for our babies and toddlers can be quite impactful.

In this article, let us look at some of the biggest clues that your child is ready to move into a toddler bed.

To start with, you might be wondering if there is usually a set time when kids tend to transition into a toddler bed.

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When is the right time to make the transition?

A lot of parents tend to make the transition between 18 months to There is no fixed or definite time by which your child should switch to a toddler bed.

It is best to watch for signs your child is ready for a toddler bed rather than fixate on a specific age or date. You know your child best. You know when they will be happy to sleep soundly in a toddler bed on their own.

Even after you have made the decision to move them, your kid might still take some time to get used to it.

Good reasons to transition to a toddler bed

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If you have any of the following reasons to transition to a toddler bed, you should certainly make the move happen:

Your mommy instincts say so
Your toddler is too big for the crib when they are lying in it
They are too tall for the crib – the bars of the crib are below their armpit level
They can sleep safely in the space you put them in at night without you being close by
Your toddler seems to prefer your bed or their sibling’s bed to their own crib
They are potty training and need to be able to get out to use the toilet quickly, easily and independently
They try to get out of the crib in a dangerous manner
Your toddler is now fully weaned from breastfeeding
They are now mature enough to clearly understand your instructions about staying safe

READ: How to fully wean a co-sleeping toddler off breastfeeding

4 Benefits of making the transition

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Your toddler now has more space
They gain a sense of independence as they can get in and out on their own
Your kid is closer to the ground which means that they are safer
It is easier to get in and cuddle with them if they need a cuddle!

What are the challenges of making the transition?

Your toddler could start to enjoy their new found independence a bit too much and be playing when they should be sleeping.

Family night time routine disruption if your toddler does not take too well to their new sleeping space is the biggest challenge to transitioning your toddler to a toddler bed. The disruption is likely to come from your toddler not wanting to stay in their bed and so disturbing everyone else’s sleep in the process.

When they are sleeping in their toddler bed on their own, they are not as close to you as they are used to being and for some toddlers, this could lead to them waking up earlier and more frequently than they would if they were sleeping close to you.

In addition, if your toddler takes a while to get used to their new bed area, they may find it disconcerting to find themselves in it in the middle of the night and end up wandering into your room for comfort.

How long does it take a toddler to get used to a toddler bed?

This will certainly vary for each toddler. If by “used to”, you mean happy to go to sleep in their toddler bed and stay there for most of the night, it could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months on average.

My experience moving my daughter into her toddler bed

My daughter moved into her toddler bed when she was almost 3 years old. We thought we’d hit the sleep jackpot when I, pregnant and desperate for a nap myself, asked her to go and lie down in her newly set up toddler bed for an hour in the afternoon.

I was shocked when she went happily and had a nap! You’d have to know my strong-willed daughter to understand why this was such a miracle.

Come night time, we went through our usual bed time routine and I tucked her into her toddler bed, kissed her goodnight and thought I was about to have my first uninterrupted night of sleep with no kicking and nudging in years.

Of course, things never go that simply with kids!

She was in and out of our room several times before she settled into her bed and even then only for about three hours before she found herself in my bed again.

She is now 4.5 years old, going to sleep in her toddler bed (often reluctantly) and waking up around 4am at least a few times a week to come and sleep with us.

Really, with how little sleep she used to allow us, we consider this a win.

So…really I’d say it could go any way with these kids! You can only try.

7 Tips for transitioning your toddler to a toddler bed

Get a bed guard rail. Even if you think you know that your toddler is able to sleep without thrashing all over the bed, a bed guard will give you that extra peace of mind.

Child-proof their room. Again, for your own peace of mind, make sure the room your toddler will be in is completely child-safe. Cover up electrical sockets, remove any cupboards that are not attached to the walls and so on.

Maintain your usual night time routine. Try to keep your usual family night time routine before you take them to bed to make sure that they do not feel the change of place of sleep too drastically.

Involve your toddler in the process. Make it fun and like something they are a part of and have a say in. Take them shopping and let them choose their bedding, for example.

Stay consistent. Take them to their new bed every night around the same time if you can manage it. And back again if they wake up later in the night (if you want to).

Be patient. This is a new experience for your toddler. As with any transition, they might need some time to get used to it so expect that.

Talk to them about it beforehand. Prepare them mentally by talking to them over time about how fun it will be for them to be in a new bed and how much more space they will have to themselves.

How to prepare your toddler for the transition

Speaking of talking to your toddler about the transition beforehand, here are some important ways to prepare your toddler for the transition:

Start talking about it at least two weeks in advance
Let them help with setting things up
Be clear about how things will work so that they do not feel confused
Set some rules around their new sleeping space to help them feel more protected and responsible
Keep it positive. Emphasize that this transition is a sign of them being a big girl/boy

I wish you all the best in making that transition to toddler bed for your child! I’m sure it will lead to much better sleep for the whole family.

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