This is my current situation as my girls are only 12months and are already attempting to make a jailbreak. This is so scary and I know its also scary for new mums and in order to avoid any domestic accident we tend to rush to switch up the beds. In my opinion, don't rush right out and buy a new bed the day your toddler first climbs out of the crib. He or she may not be ready to move to a new bed, and it may not be safe for him or her to be up and about during the night when everyone else is asleep. Buy yourself some time by lowering the crib mattress as far as possible, so the side rails are relatively higher and more difficult to climb over or buy a convertible crib that turns into a toddler bed with the removal of the front panel, this can make the change seem less drastic to a toddler. This is what we offer at Custard and Mustard Craft, making easy to transition for your toddler.
Another reason parents make the switch to a toddler bed is the impending arrival of another baby. If this is your situation, make the switch at least six to eight weeks before you're due. You will want your toddler well settled in his new bed before he sees the baby taking over "his" crib. Depending on your toddler's age, you could also consider delaying the switch until the new baby is 3 or 4 months old. You can consider making your new born sleep in a bassinet for the first few months so your toddler will have time to adjust to the new baby, making the transition to a bed easier when it does happen. Either way, be sure to base the timing of the switch on your child's readiness rather than on the need to free up the crib.
When Is Your Child Ready? Here are suggestions from the experts;
Unlike some developmental milestones of early childhood, such as learning to use the potty or starting solids, the move from crib to toddler bed doesn't involve a checklist of signs indicating that your child is ready. The one overriding concern is safety. As a general rule, parents should move a baby from a crib to a bed before he or she is able to climb out of it on his own and possibly hurt himself, says Mark Widome, MD, a professor of pediatrics at Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Most toddlers have the ability to hop over the crib rail when they are about 35 inches tall and between 18 and 24 months of age. Of course, some babies are particularly agile and will attempt to climb out sooner while less adventurous types will not try to climb out at all. If your toddler is comfortable in his crib and not a climber, then it's okay to let him sleep there past the age of 2 -- just as long as you're mindful of his safety, says Jack Walsh, executive director of the Danny Foundation, an organization dedicated to crib and child-product safety. But the longer a baby stays in his crib, Walsh adds, the more emotionally attached to it he may become and the harder it may be for him to make the transition.
Once you've made up your mind that the time is right, you'll have to decide what type of bed your child will be comfortable in. Whichever bed you choose, let your child help pick out kid-friendly sheets, pillowcases, and comforters, and personalize the space with her favourite stuffed animals. Once the bed is home and in your child's room, however, don't be surprised if your little one doesn't want to sleep in it. It might be necessary to actually remove the crib from your child's room when the new bed arrives. It can be stressful for a toddler to have to choose between sleeping in her crib (and wanting to be a baby) and sleeping in her bed (and wanting to be a kid). If you relieve a child from making that choice, says Dr. Widome, it makes it easier for everyone. Plus, when the crib is out of sight, it's usually out of mind.
Some children adjust readily to this change, while others have a hard time with it. Every child is different. It's not unusual, though, for firstborn children to resist the transition. He may be very attached to his crib and all of his associations with it. The move to sleeping in a bed is just one of many changes at this stage in a toddler's life — it may coincide with toilet-training, starting preschool and other pressures to "grow up."
Consider a convertible.....
For multi-tasking parents like us, the concept of convertible cribs is appealing. These transformers can be reconfigured into toddler beds, daybeds or double beds as your child grows and can be used for many years. Baby furniture is an investment especially the Custard and Mustard Craft Convertible cot bed. With our 3 in 1 crib, you get the maximum value for your money. Our convertible cribs give you three beds for the price of one as the crib can become a toddler bed and eventually a "big kid" bed too. Consider adding our changing table, dresser or chest to add to an already safe, warm environment for your child. Most importantly, Custard and Mustard Craft Furniture doesn't just look great, it meets or exceeds federal safety standards. Rest assured, when you purchase a crib from CMC, you're getting your little one the very best.
Some tips to keep in mind;
Before you do anything else, safety-proof! Once you remove those crib bars, your toddler is going to have unhindered access to his room. So take some time to carefully toddler-proof that room! If you’re transitioning to a big bed, you’ll also want to invest in some safety bed rails, to prevent any falls.
Talk to your toddler about the switch ahead of time. Few toddlers will react well to entering their room and suddenly seeing their old bed replaced with a new one. Remember, toddlers like routine and predictability! So let your toddler know what’s coming. Talk about it, and maybe read a book about it (like am already doing) together.
Make the big bed welcoming. Pile on your toddler’s favorite toys or stuffed animals. Layer on any favorite blankets or bedding. Consider taking your toddler shopping for new “big kid” sheets, and let her pick them out.
Consider leaving the crib in the room for a bit. This may or may not work. For some kids, having the crib there proves to be a huge distraction, and only makes the switch harder. For others, though, it makes the switch easier. Toddlers love choices, after all, so if (for a few weeks) you give your toddler the choice to sleep in the crib or the big bed, it can help your toddler feel more in control of the transition.
Prepare yourself for the “jack-in-the-box.” Your toddler WILL try to get out of his new bed. And that’s understandable — the sudden freedom is bound to go right to his head! So be prepared for it. When your toddler (inevitably) wanders out of bed, quickly put him right back into it. It’s a good idea to make it an emotionless interaction — too much positive or negative reaction on your part will likely serve to make the jack-in-the-box behavior worse. But if your toddler can’t get a rise out of you, he’s likely to quit the behavior faster.
Don’t expect the transition to happen overnight. It’ll probably be 2-3 weeks before this transition is done, and the new bed feels normal for your toddler. And yes, there will be a handful of rough nights in there. Stick with it, though — be firm, and be consistent. And before you know it, your little one’s new bed will feel just like home.
Finally, remember that the switch from a crib to a bed is a milestone in your life, too. It's one more sign that your baby is growing up. Reflect on when you first set up the crib for your little one, and then go have a private celebration of your own.
When did you transition your toddler from the crib to a toddler bed? How did you handle it? Share your insights with us!
Another reason parents make the switch to a toddler bed is the impending arrival of another baby. If this is your situation, make the switch at least six to eight weeks before you're due. You will want your toddler well settled in his new bed before he sees the baby taking over "his" crib. Depending on your toddler's age, you could also consider delaying the switch until the new baby is 3 or 4 months old. You can consider making your new born sleep in a bassinet for the first few months so your toddler will have time to adjust to the new baby, making the transition to a bed easier when it does happen. Either way, be sure to base the timing of the switch on your child's readiness rather than on the need to free up the crib.
When Is Your Child Ready? Here are suggestions from the experts;
Unlike some developmental milestones of early childhood, such as learning to use the potty or starting solids, the move from crib to toddler bed doesn't involve a checklist of signs indicating that your child is ready. The one overriding concern is safety. As a general rule, parents should move a baby from a crib to a bed before he or she is able to climb out of it on his own and possibly hurt himself, says Mark Widome, MD, a professor of pediatrics at Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Most toddlers have the ability to hop over the crib rail when they are about 35 inches tall and between 18 and 24 months of age. Of course, some babies are particularly agile and will attempt to climb out sooner while less adventurous types will not try to climb out at all. If your toddler is comfortable in his crib and not a climber, then it's okay to let him sleep there past the age of 2 -- just as long as you're mindful of his safety, says Jack Walsh, executive director of the Danny Foundation, an organization dedicated to crib and child-product safety. But the longer a baby stays in his crib, Walsh adds, the more emotionally attached to it he may become and the harder it may be for him to make the transition.
Once you've made up your mind that the time is right, you'll have to decide what type of bed your child will be comfortable in. Whichever bed you choose, let your child help pick out kid-friendly sheets, pillowcases, and comforters, and personalize the space with her favourite stuffed animals. Once the bed is home and in your child's room, however, don't be surprised if your little one doesn't want to sleep in it. It might be necessary to actually remove the crib from your child's room when the new bed arrives. It can be stressful for a toddler to have to choose between sleeping in her crib (and wanting to be a baby) and sleeping in her bed (and wanting to be a kid). If you relieve a child from making that choice, says Dr. Widome, it makes it easier for everyone. Plus, when the crib is out of sight, it's usually out of mind.
Some children adjust readily to this change, while others have a hard time with it. Every child is different. It's not unusual, though, for firstborn children to resist the transition. He may be very attached to his crib and all of his associations with it. The move to sleeping in a bed is just one of many changes at this stage in a toddler's life — it may coincide with toilet-training, starting preschool and other pressures to "grow up."
Consider a convertible.....
For multi-tasking parents like us, the concept of convertible cribs is appealing. These transformers can be reconfigured into toddler beds, daybeds or double beds as your child grows and can be used for many years. Baby furniture is an investment especially the Custard and Mustard Craft Convertible cot bed. With our 3 in 1 crib, you get the maximum value for your money. Our convertible cribs give you three beds for the price of one as the crib can become a toddler bed and eventually a "big kid" bed too. Consider adding our changing table, dresser or chest to add to an already safe, warm environment for your child. Most importantly, Custard and Mustard Craft Furniture doesn't just look great, it meets or exceeds federal safety standards. Rest assured, when you purchase a crib from CMC, you're getting your little one the very best.
Some tips to keep in mind;
Before you do anything else, safety-proof! Once you remove those crib bars, your toddler is going to have unhindered access to his room. So take some time to carefully toddler-proof that room! If you’re transitioning to a big bed, you’ll also want to invest in some safety bed rails, to prevent any falls.
Finally, remember that the switch from a crib to a bed is a milestone in your life, too. It's one more sign that your baby is growing up. Reflect on when you first set up the crib for your little one, and then go have a private celebration of your own.
When did you transition your toddler from the crib to a toddler bed? How did you handle it? Share your insights with us!
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