How to Transition Your Child from a Crib to a Bed

For me, even the thought of moving my son into a bed gave me anxiety.

My mother-in-law - bless her! - got him this awesome Montessori-House floor bed for a Christmas present when he was 3 years old. I was also pregnant with his sister at the time and did NOT want to mess with his perfect sleep while preparing to welcome another baby into our home.

My husband, the voice of reason, talked some sense into me: “Ariana, because of you, Lukas is a great sleeper. He has a strong sleep foundation. He’s going to do great.”

So he and Lukas set the bed up together. We talked about expectations, and we talked about them some more. I kept the crib in his room as a visual reminder.

We went to Target the next day and he picked out some Christmas sheets for his new bed (‘tis the season!) and we went home to make his bed. He slept in it that night and has every night since with no issues. The only time he’s ever gotten out of his bed is when he’s sick and actually needs something.

There’s something to be said about having a solid, strong sleep foundation.

Many parents reach out to me after they’ve attempted this transition and, while there seems to be a honeymoon period for a month or so, sooner or later their child’s sleep has completely unraveled.Today I’m going to try to prevent you from becoming those parents. (And if you are those parents, no worries! Keep reading. I’ve got you covered, too!).

Reasons NOT to Move Your Child into a Bed Yet

Many parents assume that once their baby enters toddlerhood, it’s time to put them in a toddler bed - WRONG!

This is really good marketing, but in reality, it’s a terrible idea unless you never want to sleep again.

Here are some hard and fast rules to follow:

Unless your child is 3 years or older, do not put them in a bed

The ONLY exception to this rule is if they’re climbing out of their crib and you’ve tried everything you possibly can to keep them in and safe

Do not put your child in a bed if a big life change is about to happen (moving to a new house, welcoming a sibling, potty training, etc.)

Have a solid sleep foundation BEFORE moving your child from their crib to a bed

4 Steps to Transitioning From a Crib to a Bed

Step 1 - Have a Family Meeting

About a week prior to having your child sleep in their bed for the first time, have a family meeting. During this meeting, you will go over the changes that are going to happen and the rules that go along with being in an open bed.

Here are a few examples of what your sleep expectations can (and should!) be:

Close your eyes

Sleep all night in your bed

Wake up when the sun comes up (or your light turns green)

Keep it simple and direct.

Step 2 - Involve Your Child in the Process

This is a big deal. Help your child take ownership in the process by allowing them to be a part of it. Have them help with taking down the crib and setting up the bed. Let them pick out sheets for the bed, pay for them (like, have them help with the checkout process, not actually bring their piggy bank!), wash them together, and make the bed with you. If you don’t already have or use a toddler clock, make sure you get one of those too, The Hatch is my favorite toddler clock!

If you ever want your child to totally buy into something, making them a part of the process is the easiest way to do this.

Step 3 - Continue to Talk About It

As the week goes on, make sure you continue to talk about the changes that are going to happen and your expectations. Have your child tell you what’s going to happen so you can ensure they fully understand. Maybe even have a countdown to their first night in their new bed!

Step 4 - Stay Consistent with Your Bedtime Routine and Nighttime Response

It’s time - the first night in their big kid bed! Do your usual bedtime routine. This time, before you say goodnight, remind your child of the rules or expectations one more time before turning out the lights. Remind them that you’ll see them when their light turns green in the morning.

If there are any incidences where they get out of bed, be consistent with your response. Follow through with logical rewards and consequences as needed.

If you’ve already moved your child to a toddler bed and it’s horrendous…

If they’re not yet three, put them back in the crib. Cognitively, children younger than this usually don’t have the self-regulation skills to actually stay in bed without a physical boundary. If you’ve got a baby also and made this decision because you were going to need the crib…you’re not alone. Keep your baby in a bassinet and pack n play until your big kid is fully ready for the crib-to-bed transition.

If the above isn’t an option, it’s time to implement some expectations! Have a family meeting and go over the rules for sleep. Have your child color or decorate a poster with the rules. Use a toddler clock if you’re not already.

Then, follow through with step 4 - be consistent with your responses. Positively reinforce positive behavior, and negatively reinforce negative behavior.

If you need help with this, you can book a Mini Sleep Strategy Call (a 30-minute call) with me and we can chat through it together!