Our tiny babies don’t stay tiny for very long. And as they grow you’ll need to start thinking about converting their crib into a toddler bed. This can be an emotional time but it’s something that you need to ensure that you do correctly as it is imperative to their safety.
I have two beautiful girls and one boy, and I know that the move is no easy and simple feat. And that’s with the help of a sleep specialist.
So I thought I would impart some of the most vital knowledge I have to ensure a seamless transition.
If it is time to change your baby’s crib into a toddler bed you’re going to want to read this article to ensure a happy, comfortable, and safe transition, if you are not quite sure we also have a how to transition baby to crib article to check out.
Table of Contents
Okay, so the first thing you’ll need to establish is whether you have a traditional crib or a convertible crib. A traditional crib is your typically cheaper and generally more standard crib option.
If you have a traditional crib, it will be a stand-alone crib that won’t be able to be converted. You’ll need to purchase a new toddler bed separately. Typically mini cribs will have the same issue, read here for the differences of a mini crib vs crib.
However, if you have a convertible crib, they can be, as the name suggests, converted to suit your little one as they continue to grow.
I think these are great because they mean that you don’t have to make a new purchase when the time comes.
No two children are exactly the same and so there is no hard and set rule. When your little one is big enough and ready, you can take the plunge when the time is right for you.
Typically though, you’ll be looking at anywhere between the ages of 18 months and three and a half years and are too big for a pack and play.
You’ll need to keep in mind that once you change to a toddler bed, your little one will be able to get out of that bed as and when they choose.
Expect a few nightly wanders – they’re inevitable. Because they can get out of bed as they please, you’ll also want to consider their maturity and self-control levels before making the big decision.
If you have a jungle-gym gymnastic on your hands that enjoys scaling the confinements of their crib, as I did, it may be time to swap to a toddler bed.
While they may seem like a pro acrobat, there’s a good chance that they’re going to end up falling and hurting themselves, and transitioning helps avoid this.
While this can be a big thing for parents, it’s even bigger for your little one. The most productive way to ensure an easy transition is to get your little one excited about the change rather than apprehensive.
Here are some tips that helped me.
I found that giving my child some independence as well as some rewards really helped to get her excited about this next step, and it made the whole ordeal a lot easier, we learned so much with our first newborn, and we shared the five things first time moms need to know, in this article.
You should stop using a crib anywhere between 18 months and 3 years old. A telltale sign of changing from a crib to a toddler bed is when your child is able to climb over your crib rails.
Does A Crib Need A Conversion Kit?Yes, if you do not already have the necessary pieces of equipment to turn your crib into a toddler bed, then you will need to purchase a conversion kit.
When Can A Toddler Start Using A Pillow And Blanket?From experience, I would recommend not introducing blankets and pillows until your child is a minimum of 18 months old.
When it is finally time to ditch the crib and convert it into a toddler bed, it can be a big change for both you and your little one, if you toddler is not sleeping during nap time, check out our article on how long to leave your toddler in crib if not napping for tips. .
Preparing them for such a transition is necessary to keep tantrums to a minimum and to just make the whole process a little easier on them.
Luckily, the actual conversion process of the crib itself is probably the easiest part of the whole thing. As you can see from the guide, doing so really is a breeze and will only take a matter of mere minutes.
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