When to Transition from a Crib to a Bed (and Why You Should Wait)
One of the biggest reasons parents reach out to me is with questions about transitioning from the crib to a bed. Usually, the message starts with, “Johnny is approaching two and we think it’s time to move him to a toddler bed. What do we do?”
My answer to them is always, “Wait as long as possible,” and here’s why:
First, if your toddler is not already a good sleeper, this is not the time to make the switch and will only lead to problems. It’s much more important to first focus on establishing a good bedtime routine and independent sleep skills. Without a solid sleep foundation, the bed will become a nightmare of constant exits and bedtime battles.
Second, most toddlers younger than 2.5-3 years aren’t developmentally able to handle the responsibility of a bed. (Don’t come at me here if you put your 18-month-old in a bed and it worked out! It’s definitely the exception!) It is more difficult to institute rules and boundaries before this age. Your toddler may not understand why Mom and Dad aren’t just as accessible to them as they are during the day.
Third, really, what’s the hurry? Transitioning to a bigger bed shouldn’t be a bragging-rights-worthy milestone we toss around with other parents (like walking and talking early.) It is not a sign of intelligence or future leadership potential. There are no scholarships given out for the first kid to get there! Keep that kid contained as long as you can!
There are two main reasons parents give for wanting to make this transition early. The first is that a new baby is coming and they want to use the crib. However remember, the AAP recommends that baby sleeps in the same room as the parents for the first 6 months to a year. So a bassinette or pack n play will work while baby is small. That frees up the crib for your toddler for just a little longer and your transition will go that much smoother.
The other reason is that their toddler is now tall and agile enough to climb out of the crib. (I promise you that if they climb out of the crib they will be climbing out of bed!) There are a few things you can do here. First, if it is safe, with no open space for limbs to get pinched, move the mattress to the floor to make the crib just
a little deeper. If the back of the crib is taller than the front, turn it around so short side is against the wall. A narrower bodied sleep sac can also be helpful to prevent that first leg going over the edge.
Having said all of that, if your toddler is ready, go for it. This transition usually goes well. Toddler’s get very excited about “big kid” things and the bed is the Cadillac of toddler firsts. They will love to climb into bed for nighttime stories with their new frozen or spider man sheets, and sleep happily through the night.
But fair warning, there is often a honeymoon period, and after the novelty of the new sleeping arrangement wears off, your toddler may start to leave their room looking for cuddles. You may be tempted to give in to the sweet request to sleep with mom and dad, however I strongly suggest putting an early and absolute boundary in place here or you will be dealing with nighttime roaming for the long haul.
