When Can My Baby Sleep in a Crib

You and your toddler both probably wish you could keep them cocooned in their crib for the residual of their life. Information technology's not hard to imagine why. For you, a crib keeps your child safely contained, keeping them from exploring at inconvenient or dangerous times and surrounding them with everything they demand. It's too a safe haven for them — a comfortable place your toddler tin can sleep and play.

Merely babies abound. And soon enough, they outgrow cribs. They acquire to climb. New siblings arrive. Pretty shortly, that cocoon seems cramped and it's time to make the transition from crib to big kid bed. Only when's the correct time to transition your child from their crib to a bed, and how can you help them through the process?

The biggest concern most parents have when it comes to making the crib-to-bed transition is condom. While virtually kids can hands make the transition between 18 months and three 1/2 years, it actually depends on your child.

If at all possible, try to wait until your child is closer to 3 years old to give them a chance to develop the maturity information technology takes to stay in a big bed at night. If your child is climbing out of their crib, consider moving the crib mattress to the lowest level earlier moving your child to a bed. If your child'due south crib mattress is on the lowest level and they're still climbing out of their crib, information technology'south probably fourth dimension to make the motion, since your child could injure themselves as they climb out of or into their crib.

If you're having another baby, it might be time to switch your toddler to a new bed so the crib will be available. Y'all should effort to brand the switch at least six-8 weeks before your new babe is due. This will give your toddler plenty time to get used to the new bed and not make them feel similar the new baby is taking their bed.

Depending on your child's historic period, you may also consider borrowing or buying another crib. Having a new baby is going to leave you with trivial sleep. If your toddler isn't ready for a bed, that ways less sleep for everyone. Instead, decide if your toddler is truly ready for a bed, and don't be afraid to go along them in a crib if that'southward best for them.

You've decided it's time to motility your toddler from their crib to a new bed. As most parents know, making big changes in your toddler'south life can exist stressful for both of you lot. Instead of jumping into the transition, take some time to ready you and your kid for the move.

• Involve your child. Let them pick out new bedding for their large child bed. If you're picking out a new bed, let your child have a say. You lot can fifty-fifty let your toddler option out a new stuffed animal to assist ease them through the first few nights.
• Child-proof your toddler's room. Of class, you've probably already looked over your baby'due south room with a disquisitional eye. Merely now it'due south time to look at your child's bedchamber again with your toddler in listen. Can your child tip a dresser? Unlock windows? Pull down defunction? Some parents have the all-time success when they pull any unnecessary items out of their child'due south room, at to the lowest degree for a fourth dimension, while their kid gets accustomed to the freedom of a regular bed.
• Remember most timing. Fifty-fifty if you lot feel similar your kid is set up, their transition from crib to bed won't get well if the timing is wrong. Avoid making the transition during other large changes similar a new sibling coming home, starting school, toilet training, or moving.
• Do information technology a niggling at a time. Instead of making the transition in one solar day, effort to fix a mattress in your toddler's room and let them practise sleeping in the big bed during naptime. If that goes well, make the full transition at nighttime.
• Go on bedtime routines. Just because your child'southward bed changes doesn't mean their bedtime needs to alter. In fact, keeping your toddler'southward routine the same will help them feel condom, even in a new bed.
• Be prepared to have your patience tested. Kids will be kids. With newfound liberty comes marvel. Your child will probably want to explore their bedroom (and beyond) long after bedtime has come and gone. Set up articulate ground rules with your child and stick with them. The consistency volition assist your child sympathize what's expected. For children who won't stay in their room, try putting a baby gate in their bedroom door.
• Recollect to give rewards. Praising your child for staying in bed and sleeping well is a good way to reinforce good behaviors. Set upward a sticker nautical chart or give your kid a special treat when they've done well.

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Source: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/pediatrics/2018/12/when-should-i-transition-my-toddler-from-a-crib-to-a-bed/

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