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In your eyes, your child will always be a baby. Babies grow up so fast, and soon, it will be time for your little one to sleep in their own bed. But when should this happen?
There are no signs!
Okay that’s not completely true. Some kids will let you know that they are ready to sleep on their own but for the most part, it can be a guessing game. Your child generally will not tell you, “Hey mom I want to sleep in my own bed now!” (although some might!). Unlike some developments such as crawling, walking, or going to the bathroom, there usually are no signs of children being ready to transition to a bed. According to experts, moving from a crib to a toddler bed can be done as soon as the crib poses safety concerns for the baby. For instance, if you see that your baby can climb out of the crib, it is time to move to a bed.
Typically, transitioning from a crib to a bed happens between the ages 1 ½ and 3 ½. This is the time when they learn to stand on their own feet without assistance and can hop over the rails of the crib. If you practice co-sleeping, you’ll have to play it by ear, depending on your own sleeping situation.
Things to look for
As a parent, safety is always the first priority for our children. Once you see that your child is learning to be adventurous and trying to climb out of the crib or off the side of your bed over the bed rails, then you should consider transitioning them to their own bed. This, however, is also dependent on the behavior of your child. Some children are more adventurous, while others like to be in their comfort zone and stay in their crib all the time. Some experts also say that you should not take too much time to make the transition, as the longer the baby stays in the crib, the harder it will be to move to a bed since there can be an emotional attachment to the crib.
Making the transition
Once you feel that your child is ready to have his own bed, you have to prepare him for what’s to come. Get your child excited about having their own bed by taking him shopping with you when you purchase one. Another thing you can do is get a toddler bed that features designs and characters that may be of interest to your child. Another thing you can do is have your child help pick out their own sheets, blankets, and pillowcases that have designs that they like.
Some children won’t adapt to the transition immediately, which is why you should introduce the bed in small doses. Let him nap on the bed or play with some of his toys on the bed. You can also stay with your child on the bed until he falls asleep. As your child gets more comfortable in his new environment, it will be easier for him to let go of the crib. We never recommend letting your child “cry it out” (CIO) to get them to stay in their own bed. This is proven to be unsafe and physiologically harmful to children.
At some point, you will be making another transition from a toddler bed to a regular bed such as the Divan Beds Centre zip lock beds. Just be sure to choose a bed that will be comfortable for your child, as this may be the bed that he will be using until he is all grown up and moving out!
There is no concrete answer on the perfect time to buy your little one their first bed. You just have to observe the behavior of your child and make sure that his safety is always your number one priority. Follow your “mommy gut” instincts and be aware of your child’s cues.