Is your kid ready to make the switch from crib to bed?
This could be a big move for your little bean, so expect bedtime to be more challenging both for you and your kid. You may find her getting out of bed a few times during the night and suddenly appearing in your bed or room—a not-so-great news when you yourself want some shut-eye.
You have to understand that the upgrade can feel very scary for her. Help your child smoothly transition to her new sleeping arrangement with these tips and tricks:
1. Ensure she is ready for this big change.
Some kids have grown to love sleeping in a crib until they’re a little older and they usually take a longer time to be ready to move to a bed, while others are in a rush to get out. The timing differs among toddlers, but you’ll want to make the upgrade before that little ninja of yours masters the art of crib escape. But do not rush her to make this change—it’s important that she’s also ready to do it.
2. Do it gradually.
Don’t change her sleeping environment all at once. You can mover her mattress first and place it on the bed until she becomes familiar with that setup. Some kids love their beds on the floor. You can then gradually move other items she’s familiar with, such as pillows and beddings.
Hamlet Kids Room Lukka Kids House Bed Frame3. Design and decorate the bed according to her likes.
Make this new bed irresistible for your child. You can start off with a stylish bed frame, that with a bit of dressing up and accessorizing could be your child’s favorite spot. Involve her in the decisions of which mattress, blanket, and pillows she wants.
Stephen Joseph Printed Blanket for Kids (Butterfly Design)
B. Toys Glow Zzzzs Shelle - Glowable Soothing Turtle4. Accessorize to make the space more fun.
While it’s advisable to keep some of her old stuff for comfort, you can add more fun by introducing new items on her new bed. This will make her curious and want to explore the new space more. Add new toys such as a huggable sea turtle or super cute starfish plushie (don’t forget to disinfect toys with a toy disinfectant!).
You can also add stylish furnishings around the bed that will make her sleeping area even more beautiful: a table and chair set, night table, round carpet, table lamp, and floor stool. She’ll surely grow to love this area, and get used to having a space of her own faster.
Hamlet Kids Eldraine Kids Table and Chair Set
Hamlet Kids Farren Kids Round Carpet
Hamlet Kids Taysir Kids Giraffe Lamp5. Turn it into a relaxing haven.
Introduce activities that can be done on the new bed. You can start with naps during the day, massages when she needs to relax, and some bedtime fun such as reading a book together. Reinforcing positive association with the new bed will help her get acquainted with it quickly.
6. Stick to your bedtime routine.
Just because your child moved to a bed doesn’t mean you should change her bedtime routine altogether. You can place the bed in the same space where the crib used to be, and stick to whatever activities you do when your little one needs to hit the sack.
Bambina Bella Bedrail7. Focus on safety.
Moving from crib to bed may pose an additional safety risk for your precious one, especially if she will be in a separate room. Child-proof using bed rails and rubber mats. Also, it pays to put a baby monitor so you can keep a watchful eye on your kid.
