Moving your baby from his or her crib to a toddler bed is an exciting experience. Your angel is getting bigger but you are still confused about transitioning your big boy or girl to a new big bed. How do you figure out whether or not you are making the right call? Continue reading to find out more.
Is Toddler Bed Right For My Child?
There is nothing to worry about if you have this question in your head. Interestingly many parents experience the same turmoil while doing extensive research of their own. What are the important factors that would influence your decision?
Your Child’s Age
Perhaps the most important factor that decides whether your adorable munchkin is ready for a toddler bed or a twin bed is their age. Most parents believe that if the baby can climb out of the crib, it is time they are moved to a bigger toddler bed.
Some couples get creative and find fun ways to keep their angels in their cribs for as long as possible. Some parents on the other hand move their babies to a bed once they reach 18 months of age. You should not be surprised if you find someone who has moved his or her child to a toddler bed after waiting for three years.
Now that you have decided to move your baby out of his or her crib, you face another challenge. Should you go for a twin bed? Is toddler bed a good choice? Well, the answer to this question again depends on the age of your baby.
If your child is on the younger end, i.e. less than 18 or 24 months, you should think about investing in a toddler bed.
These beds are small enough and will easily fit in small space. Some toddler beds use the same mattress as a crib and the best thing is that they are lower to the ground. Yes, you know that toddlers just love jumping around and you cannot put their safety at risk.
If your kids are older, let’s say three years or more, you can buy a twin bed instead. Perhaps the biggest advantage of buying twin beds is that you don’t have to buy another bed for your child until he or she leaves for college.
Make Sure Your Child Is Comfortable With The Transition
Even if you think your child is too old for a crib, that doesn’t mean you force them to move to a toddler bed or twin bed. Sometimes you need to invest in a toddler bed so that your child gets familiar with the new setting and can gradually move on to twin bed.
Remember that you should never force your child to make the transition, as this would complicate things for them. After all, you know your children better than anyone.
What Are You Comfortable With?
If your child isn’t walking yet, it’s better to keep him or her in a crib a bit longer. Again, some kids develop quickly and they might be ready for moving out of the crib early. As a parent, you can evaluate your child’s development and make a decision accordingly.
Moving To A Toddler Bed – Preparing Your Child For The Transition
Therefore, your child would finally be giving up on his or her crib. Of course you would be excited for the move and you want your child to fall in love with the cutest toddler bed you’ve picked from the store.
However, wait … your baby keeps rolling out of the bed and comes looking for you every two minutes. This goes on all night long and you are walking around looking like a zombie the next day.
Okay, first you have to understand that this situation can affect anyone. Even you need time to adjust to your new bed and same is the case with your child. Children might be excited to experience the new freedom, but at the same time, sleeping in a different bed can feel very scary.
The question here is “how can you get your child form the new habit of falling asleep pretty quickly in the new bed without losing your mind?” Remember moving to a toddler bed is a big move for your child and it is natural for him or her to feel uneasy. To your child, this is a big change and he or she needs your help to get used to the new sleeping habits.
First, you need to stay calm and allow a week or even more for the transition. Here are some transition steps that you can follow to make your life easier.
You can take your child along while picking the bed for him or her. If you’re ordering a toddler bed online, allow your child to make the selection. You can also ask your child to pick any toys or other things he or she likes to make the new toddler bed cozy.
Sometimes parents use as many things from the crib as possible so that their child feels comfortable in the new bed.
This is a good idea because kids love to be surrounded by their favorite things. In addition to being safer, old blankets and toys for instance will help kids feel more secure in the new place. More importantly, this makes it less likely for them to be getting out of bed.
Just before the big day, explain to your child that he or she will sleep in the big bed tonight. Make sure you go through the usual bedtime routine. If you read bedtime story to your child, hold their hand and sit right next to them. This way your child will feel your presence and more importantly, he or she will be looking forward to snuggle under the covers in the new bed.
You should appreciate your child for sleeping in their new bed. Remember, it may take a few days before your child gets used to the new schedule, but the effort will be worth it.
Toddler Bed Safety Checklist
The transition from cozy crib to a safe ‘big’ bed can be made easier when you choose the right bed for your toddler. What’s important to note here is that the transition from a crib to a toddler bed will be easier if you use the same mattress and bedding your child is used to.
When it comes to toddler bed safety, here are a few pointers:
The bed you choose should be sturdy. In addition, you need to check the joints frequently so that the bed is not in danger of collapsing. This is especially true if your toddler loves to jump on his or her bed.
In case you are using a metal framed toddler bed, you need to pay special attention to joints and screws, which are more likely to get loose.
For safety reasons, the toddler bed should be low to the ground. If the bed is low, your child can easily get into the bed or move out. On the other hand, your child is less likely to injure himself if the distance to the floor isn’t too much.
If you have chosen a toddler bed that is too high, make sure you place a rug or any other protective padding along the sides as well as open end of the bed. This extra cushioning can help prevent serious injuries due to falling. You can even place a small mattress directly on the floor along the open end if there are no space constraints.
The toddler bed design you choose should be simple. Generally toddler beds have basic design without protrusions or cutouts because they are a likely source if injury.
Even if your child is calm, you should select a toddler bed to which guardrails can be easily attached.
Generally toddler beds and even twin beds should be placed safely in the room. Simply put, the bed needs to be away from heating units, windows, think drapes, blinds, and wall lamps.
To avoid the risk that your child is trapped between the side of the bed and the wall, place the toddler bed headboard along the wall rather than the side.
What Should You Consider Before Buying A Toddler Bed?
Moving your little one into a new toddler bed isn’t the easiest decision. However, this transition can become more fun with the purchase of the right kind of bed. As stated previously, the bed you choose should keep your child happy, comfortable and more importantly, safe.
What Ages Are Toddler Beds For?
You need to consider how long your child will be using the toddler bed before buying it. A toddler bed is one you can consider when your angel shows signs of growing out of his or crib. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that the child must be at least 15 months old before he or she can start using toddler bed safely.
Remember that you’ll have to consider a variety of safety issues before your toddler can fully enjoy his or her new bed. First, you need to ensure that your child can roam around without supervision, more importantly without the risk of injuring himself. Cover the open spaces and place guardrails to make the toddler bed safe.
Experts recommend that keep all tiny and sharp objects out of your child’s reach and cover all electric cords and power outlets. When your child reaches 50 pounds, it is advised that you move him or her to a twin bed.
You will sense that your angel is outgrowing his or her bed when they cannot comfortably stretch out in it. Remember, kids need a lot of room for moving around.
What Are The Different Types Of Toddler Beds?
The good news is that there are many exciting options when it comes to buying the right toddler beds. Some bed designs are more creative and fun such as racecar beds. Similarly you can also find toddler beds that convert into bigger beds once your child gets bigger or heavier.
Some parents prefer to buy folding toddler beds and if the budget allows, they decide to buy convertible toddler beds. You can also find portable toddler beds if you are travelling out of town and if the budget doesn’t allow expensive purchases, you can buy a plastic toddler bed.
Toddler beds come in different shapes and sizes. Perhaps the reason toddler beds are so popular that most models are quite low to the ground. This means that even if your little munchkin falls out of the bed, she or he won’t get hurt.
Because you can have side rails on both sides of the bed, you don’t have to worry about your child rolling out of the bed while snuggling in.
Wooden Toddler Beds
These beds as you can guess are the standard toddler beds. If you have a closer look at the wooden toddler bed, you would find that they have side guards on both sides. Most models have a headboard and some might feature a footboard.
Wooden beds make it easy for your child to climb in and they come in different colors. Sleigh beds are a popular type of wooden beds and come in a variety of ‘wood’ colors. You can also paint these beds in a different shade depending on your personal preference.
Sleigh type toddler beds can be one of the most elegant ‘modern toddler bed’ additions to your child’s room.
Some wooden beds have a storage drawer underneath which makes them more convenient. You can use the pull out storage drawer to store toys, blankets and even extra bedding. Storage wooden toddler beds can be a perfect addition to your toddler’s room if there are space constraints.
Shaped beds, as the name suggests are wooden toddler beds that are shaped in endless styles. These beds are pricier compared to simple wooden beds and can be shaped into truck, boat, cruise and even racecars.
Convertible Toddler Beds
A convertible toddler bed can grow right along with your growing toddler. Most parents recommend convertible toddler beds for their functionality and ease of use. Yes, these beds are well worth the money and can be assembled easily at home with the help of manufacturer instructions.
Plastic Toddler Beds
Many toddler beds you would come across will be made of plastic. These models are the same size as wooden beds and some models come with additional features such as headboard and footboard. If you don’t want to invest lots of money, plastic toddler beds with popular cartoon characters such as Cars or a Disney Princess are a good choice.
Canopy Toddler Beds
Canopy beds are the best toddler beds for girls. Young girls in particular would love to own a canopy bed that connects to four different posters on the bed’s headboard and footboard. It’s really up to your child which type of canopy bed is selected. Most canopy models you find these days include your toddler’s favorite characters.
Toddler Bed Or Twin Bed – The Great Debate
One of the hottest debates among young parents is whether they should move their child to a toddler bed or invest straight in a twin bed – the later of course, is much bigger. Well, the decision really comes down to your personal preferences and there are a number of factors that you must consider.
To make your decision easier, let’s have a quick look into the pros and cons of each bed type.
Toddler Beds
Many parents choose toddler beds because they can fit even in the smallest rooms and leave enough floor space for play. You can buy a toddler bed if you have space constraints. Interestingly, some toddler beds can fit into tiny spaces without hassle.
Another reason why parents prefer smaller toddler beds is that they are more convenient and comfortable for younger kids. What’s more exciting is that you can transform the toddler bed into a crib by placing side rails, which can make kids more secure.
The decision to place guardrails depends on how your child wants to sleep. Some kids want the rails to surround them and just putting a large bed is not the answer they’re looking for. Toddler beds have a cozy feel and your child can easily roll in and out without injuring himself or falling over.
Some parents report that changing the bedding of a toddler bed was changing compared to maintaining a twin bed. For most parents, toddler beds meant that they can use the same pillows, bedding and other accessories that they used in the crib.
Twin Beds
A twin bed on the other hand offers all the benefits that a big bed would offer. You can snug into the comfortable sheets with your child while reading bedtime stories. That’s right. If your child loves to be held while sleeping, buying a toddler bed isn’t the smartest decision. After all, you just cannot fit into a toddler bed.
For parents who have a great deal of space, twin beds are an excellent option. Your kids can sleep well on a big bed and there would be days where you can even crawl into the bed with them. It is also seen that twin beds make better play space too.
The debate can go on endlessly and the final decision would come down to your personal preference. So, whatever model you choose, just make sure your child feels safe with the bed and there’s sufficient room for them to move around.
Some parents tried using a mattress on the floor before making their kids sleep on a true twin bed. If you think your child is ready to be taken out of the crib and needs to get his or her own bed, you can try a week of ‘sleeping on the mattress on the floor.’ This simple method would tell you whether or not your child is ready for moving to a twin bed.
Families that travel frequency prefer to invest in a portable or folding toddler bed. Interestingly, these beds can be folded easily and stored. Some travel toddler bed models come with foamed bumper sides that will cushion your child if he or she tries to move around too much.
Conclusion
Most children will love to move from a crib to a toddler bed and to make sure that the transition is the smoothest:
Here’s hoping that this post will help you find the right bed for your toddler. For extra information, we have compiled a buying guide to help you with your search for the perfect toddler bed.