How to Transition Your Toddler From Crib to Big Kid Bed

How to Transition Your Toddler From Crib to Big Kid Bed

As toddlers get older, they want more and more independence. One of the biggest ways they can have that is by transitioning to a big kid bed. This can be an overwhelming emotional experience, so I’m here to help guide you through it. If you are not sure if your toddler is ready to transition to a big kid bed, there are a few ways to figure it out. 

How to Tell When it is Time to Transition 

Toddlers transition to big kid beds for all kinds of different reasons. It could be that they are big enough to climb out of the crib, which can be unsafe if they fall. It could be because a younger sibling is on the way and they need the crib. 

They may start talking about seeing a cousin or friend with a big kid bed or see one on a tv show. They may be fully potty trained but unable to get to the bathroom at night because of the crib. 

Whatever the reason, be sure to assess whether it is actually time  to move out of the crib before doing so. Your toddler’s safety is the most important thing to consider here. I will go into some other reasons below. 

When to Transition

Try not to transition to a big kid bed during a big life change, such as having another baby, moving to a new house, or starting preschool or daycare. If there are too many changes at once, your child could struggle to adapt. 

We chose the (generally) slow time period after the holidays. We don’t have any birthdays or major events going on at this time. For you, it might be during the summer when sleep schedules are more flexible or once you get serious about potty training. 

Before Transitioning to a Big Kid Bed

Make sure you have (mental and physical) tools to have the best chance for success. 

If your kiddo will need access to the potty, make sure there is a stool available to help them be successful. If there are rooms or cabinets that you don’t want your child going into once they have the ability to get out of their bed, make sure you have child safety locks on them. Childproof anything under five feet tall. If you don’t want your kiddo turning on noisy toys during quiet time or bedtime, make sure they are turned off and out of reach. 

How to Make the Transition Easy

Talk About it Beforehand

Don’t surprise your toddler with an enormous change without talking to them about it first. You wouldn’t like it if the only safe and comfy bed you’ve ever known was suddenly ripped away from you. Don’t expect your toddler to adapt so easily either. 

Don’t Push

If your Toddler does not seem ready for a big kid bed, don’t force it on them. Some signs that they need to move out of the crib could be:

• If they start climbing out of the crib. This is a safety hazard, and really depends on the individual child. My kid had zero interest in climbing out until he was over 2.5 years old. My friend’s son (who is 14 months younger) was ready to move out only two months after mine because he was already tall enough at 19 months old. 
• If they are looking for more independence. Toddlers don’t care if their parents are ready for big milestones. When they’re ready to learn and explore, they simply go for it. Be on the lookout for signs like wanting to be fully potty trained, playing independently, or asking for more responsibility (in the form of wanting to help or do it themselves). 

Get Their Input

My son is currently obsessed with superheroes so we let him choose some Batman and Ninja Turtle sheets to make him feel included in this process. You can check out the bottom of this post to see exactly what we bought!

Let Them be Involved

My kiddo got to help put his big boy bed together, and I really think this made the transition more exciting for him. Let your child pick out paint colors, decorations, pillows, etc to make it their own. 

Talk Up the Advantages

We have been *mostly* potty trained for several months now, but my son still needed a diaper at nap and overnight. About two months before moving into his toddler bed, I started noticing that he was usually dry when I got him up from nap. 

I took this as a sign that he is able to hold it through nap and shared with him that if he could hold it long enough, he could just wear big boy undies during nap. Are you noticing a ‘big boy’ theme here? He is all about being a big boy!

I let him know that if he got a big boy bed, he’d be able to get up and go potty any time he needed to. This was something he was really interested in!

Make Sure You’ve Childproofed

Outlets should have covers. Cords should be covered and/or out of reach. Furniture should be secured to walls and/or unable to fall on your child. Make their room as safe as possible so that when they inevitably get out of bed, they can do so safely. 

After Transitioning to a Big Kid Bed

Expect Some Regression 

Don’t expect your kiddo to get in bed and stay there – at least, not at first. Your child might be nervous or uneasy with the change, and may seek you out for comfort. They may go back to peeing in their diaper at first, just be patient and understanding. 

Adjust Your Schedule

Something we started doing for nap times is allowing him to have quiet time beforehand. So usually lunch is over around 12:45, then we clean up and go potty. After that, he is allowed to quietly play (read books, play with toys that don’t make noise) for 15-30 minutes. His sound machine is on, the room is (mostly) dark, and I have found that this allows him to naturally settle his body down and go to sleep much quicker. Whereas if he gets straight into bed, he’s staring at the ceiling for over an hour and wanting to get up and run around. 

This means that I had to let go of the expectation of him going to sleep immediately, even though it is what I would prefer. 

Make Some Rules

We sat down with him before bedtime and established ‘rules’ for bedtime with our son. These included:

• No running at nap time
• No yelling or singing during quiet/nap time
• No toys that make noise
• If he needs to potty he can knock on his door to let us know (Once he is a little older, he’ll be able to go potty alone)
• No playing with toys at bedtime
• No leaving his bedroom during these times
• If he wakes up early, he  needs to stay in bed until the light turns green on his sound machine. This is an indication that he can get up and have “extra” quiet time. 

You can make whatever rules you want to fit your family. He felt included and I think it really helped him grasp the concepts. Now, before nap and bedtime, he recites the rules. This gives him a good refresher and again, makes him feel heard. 

Be Flexible

If there are toys in your kid’s room, she’s probably going to want to play with them at some point instead of resting her body. Try to be reasonable if they want to explore, but firm when it’s time for them to stop playing. 

I usually allow one toy (currently Batman) to sit on the end of his bed for him to look at while getting sleepy, but if he gets out of bed, he knows that he will lose the toy. If he has had a really good day, I might let him have two toys or if it’s been an not-awesome day, he might lose the chance to have a toy in bed with him. Try to find a balance. 

PS: stay tuned for my post on using a sticker chart with your toddler. 

Transitioning to a big kid bed is a big deal. For your toddler, it promotes independence and satiated their need to do things for themselves. For parents, it can be emotional watching your kiddo grow up. Remember to be patient and understanding as you navigate this change with your toddler. 

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