Are you planning to move your toddler from a crib to bed? Here are tips on how you can make this transition a smooth affair. In most cases, the toddler is ready to make the transition from his crib to a bed anytime between the ages of two to three. This of course can vary from one kid to the other as the health and conditioning of the kid are other associative factors in this regard. Toddlers are always found to be most comfortable when their set routines are not changed and they have their familiar surroundings. Toddlers are vulnerable from every respect and they feel “safe” when they are placed in their crib. But as the kid grows, he will understand that the crib is not containing him and he needs to make a move to a bed. He may wish for a bed by himself or may be in a state of denial that he can still sleep in his crib. This is when you need to make this transition and shift him from his crib. Some children might react to this change in a difficult manner. Here are some tips on how you can make this transition a smooth affair: In this articleMake Him Aware of the TransitionSet Up a Familiar AtmosphereFirst Night in New BedMake Him Aware of the Transition Make sure that when you make the move, the kid is not taken by surprise; he should be made aware of the fact. Tell him that you will be buying him a new bed and you can take the kid along when you visit stores looking for the perfect bed for the little one. Involve him in all things related to the transition. For instance, you can ask him to pick out a bed sheet from the display; this will not only make him aware of what is happening, but also get him excited. Set Up a Familiar Atmosphere Toddlers do not take for a total change in environment. They like familiarity, so when you are making this transition from the crib to a bed, ascertain the fact that there is not much change in the environment or settings. For instance, keep the same shade of night lamp on, make the bed and the other furniture of the room sound-proof and keep the door ajar. He should have a similar setting around his new bed. First Night in New Bed The first night in the new bed should be nothing different from all the nights. The routine that you used to follow should remain the same. If it is like, taking a shower, reading a book and curling up to sleep, keep it just the same. If the kid already has a habit of picking up a certain toy while going to sleep, good; else you can now develop this habit. It is an excellent habit so far the transition is concerned. During the story time activity, you can snuggle up to the child and make him feel comfortable. The kid will want you to be with him longer, it is better that you do not give in too much as he will expect it from you every night. Make sure you cut back the time you put him to sleep, as this will make him independent and help him to go to sleep by himself. The transition from crib to bed is not just a physical change in the surroundings for the kid, but a change in his emotional environment as well. Now he is made to feel that he is growing and it is expected that he adapts to the change as well. Parents need to be consistently supportive to the kid and at no point of time, should the kid feel that he is insecure. He must be made to understand that sleeping in a bed is a part of the natural process of growing up, as one cannot sleep in the crib forever. One vital point that can be very helpful for parents who find it difficult to put their kids to sleep in their bed, remove the crib from the room or house the moment you shift the child to a bed. Once he sees that the crib is gone, he will not crib for an alternative to the bed.
Are you planning to move your toddler from a crib to bed? Here are tips on how you can make this transition a smooth affair. In most cases, the toddler is ready to make the transition from his crib to a bed anytime between the ages of two to three. This of course can vary from one kid to the other as the health and conditioning of the kid are other associative factors in this regard.
Toddlers are always found to be most comfortable when their set routines are not changed and they have their familiar surroundings.
Toddlers are vulnerable from every respect and they feel “safe” when they are placed in their crib. But as the kid grows, he will understand that the crib is not containing him and he needs to make a move to a bed. He may wish for a bed by himself or may be in a state of denial that he can still sleep in his crib. This is when you need to make this transition and shift him from his crib. Some children might react to this change in a difficult manner. Here are some tips on how you can make this transition a smooth affair:
Make Him Aware of the Transition
Make sure that when you make the move, the kid is not taken by surprise; he should be made aware of the fact. Tell him that you will be buying him a new bed and you can take the kid along when you visit stores looking for the perfect bed for the little one. Involve him in all things related to the transition. For instance, you can ask him to pick out a bed sheet from the display; this will not only make him aware of what is happening, but also get him excited.
Set Up a Familiar Atmosphere
Toddlers do not take for a total change in environment. They like familiarity, so when you are making this transition from the crib to a bed, ascertain the fact that there is not much change in the environment or settings. For instance, keep the same shade of night lamp on, make the bed and the other furniture of the room sound-proof and keep the door ajar. He should have a similar setting around his new bed.
First Night in New Bed
The first night in the new bed should be nothing different from all the nights. The routine that you used to follow should remain the same. If it is like, taking a shower, reading a book and curling up to sleep, keep it just the same. If the kid already has a habit of picking up a certain toy while going to sleep, good; else you can now develop this habit. It is an excellent habit so far the transition is concerned.
During the story time activity, you can snuggle up to the child and make him feel comfortable. The kid will want you to be with him longer, it is better that you do not give in too much as he will expect it from you every night. Make sure you cut back the time you put him to sleep, as this will make him independent and help him to go to sleep by himself.
The transition from crib to bed is not just a physical change in the surroundings for the kid, but a change in his emotional environment as well. Now he is made to feel that he is growing and it is expected that he adapts to the change as well. Parents need to be consistently supportive to the kid and at no point of time, should the kid feel that he is insecure. He must be made to understand that sleeping in a bed is a part of the natural process of growing up, as one cannot sleep in the crib forever. One vital point that can be very helpful for parents who find it difficult to put their kids to sleep in their bed, remove the crib from the room or house the moment you shift the child to a bed. Once he sees that the crib is gone, he will not crib for an alternative to the bed.
