Making the Transition to a Toddler Bed

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

29 Jul 2008 12:38 PM

When is the right time to transition your little one to a toddler bed? How can you make the experience easier? I've been through it with three kids, and here are my tips.

Well, the time has come to get my last little one into the toddler bed. It is a big moment for us as a family. My toddler is growing up. Do you face a similar time?

When is the right time to transition to a toddler bed?

In general, a baby is ready for a toddler bed sometime between the ages of one-and-a-half and three-and-a-half years of age. Some of the factors for making this decision might include the child's interest, a child who has outgrown the crib or is just too active for one, a child who is climbing out of the crib and could be injured, potty training (to make it easier to get in and out of bed as needed), the impending arrival of a new baby, etc. For families who are co-sleeping and don't use a crib, aside from the reasons mentioned above, such as safety, interest, potty training and size, the parents may just decide that it is time for the child to move on to his own sleeping space.

For us it was mostly a matter of interest on the part of my two-year-old son. He was very interested in my middle child's toddler bed and would climb in to it as often as he could. He also asked for his own bed. As he is also expressing an interest in potty training (his older brother trained at 25 months), it made sense for us to get a second toddler bed for his use.

Be careful not to rush into the toddler bed, though. Some parents go out and buy a bed the same day that their toddler starts climbing out of the crib. You can give yourself a little extra time by making sure that the mattress is set to the lowest setting and reinforcing the rule that your child stay put in the crib. Depending on the maturity of your child and the layout of your home, it might not be safe for your toddler to be up wandering around the house while everyone is asleep.

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Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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