From Crib to Toddler Bed: Making a Smooth Transition

For the first 9 months of JDub’s life he slept in his crib right next to me. This momma wasn’t ready to be a whole room away from her little one and of course I had all the normal first time mom fears. When the The Mister and I finally decided it was the time to move the little man to his own room he was 9 months old. We did some sleep training and I felt like my biggest challenge was not being able to see him. 

We did some research and invested in a video monitor. Now I could see him and I knew he was okay. As he got older we continued to use the monitor during his naps and at bedtime. Oh the things you see when they think they are alone! So many precious moments, reading his books, playing with his lovey, or dancing in his bed. 

Well our routine took a turn this week. Little man decided that he wanted to sommersault himself out of his bed, when he woke up from his nap. Since I don’t want him to hurt himself, today is the day we move to a toddler bed. I’m not sure that I’m ready, it means he’s growning up.

We did a few things to make this transition from a crib to the toddler bed easier. 

Plan: We knew that this day was coming and while I wish he was a little older, safety was a top priority. Purchase what you will need to have for the transition- crib side rail, sleep sacks, special alarm clocks, video monitors, etc. This can be stressful enough, you don’t want to be making 3 trips to the store at 9pm.

Prepare you Child: Talk about it with your kiddo, get them excited about sleeping in their big kid bed. Tell them that this is where they are going to sleep now. If your crib converts, this is a great transition since it is familiar for them.

Get the room ready: We  picked up all the toys that might have been a distraction at bed time. We did leave his books, I am okay with him looking at his books till he falls asleep. We also made sure that there was nothing that could hurt him or potentially fall on him. He has all of his stuffed animals on the bed with him.

Know what to expect: This may be an easy transition or it may be difficult, every child is different. Be patient and know that it will come in time. Decide how often you are going to go into the room and redirect your child back to bed. We sing a calm song, talk about our big kid bed and lay back down. Our first night took about 30 minutes and 2 trips in to help him back into bed. He was so proud of himself in the morning!

Our  VTech VM343 video baby monitor has been a life saver as we make this transition. Not only does it allow me to scan the entire room with it’s tilt and scan option, but I can zoom as well. The scan option is also great when he’s playing in his room during the day. I also love that the remote unit has a reach of 1,000 feet! Which means that while he is sleeping in his room, I am able to be anywhere in the house. It allows me to work, have a conference call, cook and work out!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.