Toddlers often make it clear to parents when they are ready to leave the confines of a crib and start sleeping in a toddler bed. They may shake the crib so violently that the screws come loose or shake hard enough for the crib to move away from the wall. Toddlers may also begin to scream when they are placed in the crib or might even be able to climb out of the crib.
When a child is ready to move to a toddler bed there are steps that parents can take to make the transition both safe and easy.
Choose a Safe Toddler Bed
When buying a toddler bed, a parent should keep safety in mind. Even though a toddler is ready to leave the crib, he or she will not be used to sleeping without barriers that prevent him or her from falling out of bed. Parents need to make sure that the bed they choose has side rails, a headboard and a foot board. These will help keep the child on the bed, particularly if he or she moves a lot during sleep.
Choose Designs that Toddler Will Sleep Best In
There are a number of designs to choose from when selecting a toddler bed. These can range from simple one color designs to beds shaped like race cars or doll houses. Parents need to consider their child's temperament when choosing a bed. Some toddlers might be overstimulated in a bed that is too busy and be too excited to sleep. Theme beds are great looking but may create problems if the toddler would rather play in a bed than sleep in it. Simple designs also tend to be less expensive and can be dressed up with sheets, pillow cases, and comforters.
Make Sure Your Mattress Fits Your Bed
Most toddler beds fit the same size mattress as a crib and parents are often able to save some money by using their crib mattress for the bed. Parents should know their crib mattress measurements when shopping for a bed to make sure the mattress will indeed fit.
Keep Bedtime Routine the Same
It is important to keep the same bedtime routine the child had while sleeping in a crib after transitioning to a toddler bed. If the child was bathed, read to, or rocked before the switch parents should continue to do so after. This will allow the child to associate his or her new bed with bedtime and sleep and help eliminate potential confusion.
Double Check the Toddler's Room for Safety
A toddler may be tempted to get up and play in the middle of the night and it is important that parents make sure that the child's bedroom is 100% baby proof in case this does occur. There should be nothing in the room that could cause the child harm.
Parents can also take measures to prevent injury should the toddler accidentally fall out of bed. Placing pillows on the floor next to the bed is an easy way to do this.
Transitioning to a toddler bed can be fun and exciting for parents and children. With proper selection of the bed and a quick safety check, the process could potentially be easy and seamless.
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