When and How To Transition to a Toddler Bed

Moving out of the crib is a big change for your toddler — and for you! A big-kid bed comes with responsibility and a hefty reminder that your little one isn’t a baby anymore. But how can you tell when the time is right?

Pediatrician Laura O’Connor, MD, talks about when to transition to a toddler bed and how to make the move go as smoothly as possible.

Signs your child is ready for a bed

Most toddlers switch from a crib to a bed between 18 months and 3 years old. That’s a big range, but it’s flexible for a reason.

“There’s no magic age when you say, ‘Now’s the time to move out of the crib,’” Dr. O’Connor says. “It’s more about following your child’s cues. The age when they’re ready for that change will vary.”

That means the timing will be different for every child. But Dr. O’Connor says there’s no harm in keeping your kid in their crib as long as it’s safe for them.

Toddler beds are easy to get out of and offer up very real independence that some toddlers take as an opportunity to get into mischief. They’re also easy to roll out of while sleeping.

On the other hand, outgrowing a crib comes with dangers, too.

“Your child’s safety should be your No. 1 concern when you consider their readiness to switch out of the crib,” Dr. O’Connor states. “It’s a matter of weighing whether they’re safer in a crib or in a bed.”

She shares signs that may indicate it’s time for your little one to move to a toddler bed.

They’re climbing out

The most obvious sign that the crib isn’t cutting it anymore is that your kid keeps escaping. Even with the crib mattress at its lowest setting, some little gymnasts still find ways to heave themselves over the railing (and probably scare the wits out of you).

Falling from the top of a crib rail can mean a drop of about 4.5 feet. Rolling out of a toddler bed, on the other hand, is more like 2 feet.

An older study reported that, fortunately, most injuries from crib falls amounted to scrapes and bruises. But it did report a few more serious injuries, like skull fractures and broken shoulders.

Dr. O’Connor says a sleep sack could buy you some time, making it more difficult for your child to stand up or climb. Of course, some little Houdinis can get out of their sleep sack, too, so it’s not a perfect solution for everyone.

Bottom line: If your kiddo is busting out of the crib, it’s time to move to a bed.

They’ve outgrown their crib

As your child grows, their height can put them at risk for a fall. The American Academy of Pediatrics says a toddler has outgrown their crib if:

• They’re taller than 35 inches.
• The crib railing is in the middle of their chest (at their nipple line) when they’re standing.

Either of those scenarios makes it easier for your little one to climb or tumble out. They’re signs that it’s time to move to a bed.

They’re mature enough

Sleeping in a bed takes some self-control. There are distractions for your child, like toys in their room and the freedom to wander the house. Some kids are happy to follow the rules and stay in their beds. Others are eager to test the boundaries.

“A child who isn’t developmentally ready to stay in their bed can be a safety risk,” Dr. O’Connor notes. “Left to their own devices, kids can get into all kinds of trouble while you sleep. If your child hasn’t mastered a good level of self-control, you may want to wait until they’re showing signs that they can be trusted to fall asleep in bed and stay in it all night.”

Those signs may include things like:

• Being able to self-soothe and fall asleep independently
• Sleeping well through the night
• Following other house rules, like not jumping on the couch or throwing toys

They keep asking

When your toddler starts asking about a bed, it may be a sign that they’re ready for a change. Of course, you don’t want to make the switch simply because they inquire — but it’s worth taking their interest into consideration.

“When your child asks about moving into a bed, use it as an opportunity to start talking about the expectations you have of them when they move out of their crib,” Dr. O’Connor advises.

Turn their request into a conversation about the rules of staying in a big-kid bed. That way, by the time they do move into a toddler bed, they have an idea of what’s expected of them.

Signs it might be too soon

Put a pin in the transition to a big-kid bed if your toddler:

• Seems content with their crib: “As long as your child hasn’t outgrown their crib and isn’t showing signs of readiness to make the switch, there’s no need to rush,” Dr. O’Connor says.
• Doesn’t sleep through the night: Moving to a big-kid bed is a big change. If your child already has sleep troubles, a switch in routine could make things worse.
• Has trouble with rules and boundaries: Sure, all little kids have some trouble here. (They’re little kids, after all!) But if yours is a persistent boundary-pusher, they’re likely to have trouble staying in bed without the confinement of crib walls.

Tips to help your child make the transition

When it comes time to move to a toddler bed — whether by choice or necessity — follow these suggestions to make the transition easier on you and your child.

Talk about it ahead of time

To help things run smoothly, let your child know the change is coming rather than springing it on them one night.

“This gives them the chance to get excited about it,” Dr. O’Connor points out. “Plus, talking about moving to a bed lets you have that conversation about what’s coming and what you expect.”

Talk with your child about:

• How moving to a toddler bed is a sign they’re getting to be a big kid now
• How proud you are that they know how to follow rules and listen
• That you expect them to stay in their bed after you leave the room for the night

Be sure to discuss their morning routine, too. Will you wake them up in the morning, or should they come get you when they wake up? Will the monitor in their room be on for them to call out if they need you?

Let them make some choices

Another way to get your toddler excited about their new bed is by allowing them to have some say in it. You might want to let them choose one (or all!) of the following:

• Sheets or a comforter in their favorite color or featuring a favorite animal or character
• A night light to help them feel reassured throughout the night
• A comfort item, like a small blanket or stuffed animal, to stay in bed with them

“When a child gets to have some say in how their bed will fit their tastes, it helps make them feel ownership and independence,” Dr. O’Connor explains. “Developmentally, that’s very important to toddlers.”

Maintain their bedtime routine

Kids thrive on routine, so changing up a bedtime routine can be jarring. If your child has a bedtime routine that works, stick to it. Don’t rock the boat by introducing a new set of pre-sleep activities.

Don’t have a solid bedtime routine? Now’s the time to start.

“Turn off electronics at least an hour before bedtime and then move into a consistent schedule of activities, in the same order, night after night,” Dr. O’Connor recommends. “This will help your child wind down and cue sleepiness.”

A good nighttime routine should include activities like:

• Giving them a bath
• Brushing their teeth
• Reading a story
• Singing a song together

Keep other changes to a minimum

Try to make the switch to a toddler bed separate from any other big changes in your child’s life. That includes events like potty training, moving, going to a new daycare and even going on vacation.

Why? We’ll say it again: Kids thrive on routine.

“If you’re in the midst of another change, it’s probably best to introduce the bed another time,” Dr. O’Connor reiterates. “Stick to one big change at a time, if you can.”

Do some more childproofing

You’ve probably already taken a good look around your house and childproofed anything that stood out. But now is the time to take another look at safety concerns both in and out of your child’s bedroom.

“It might sound silly, but get down on your knees to make yourself closer to their height,” Dr. O’Connor advises. “Then, take a good look around to see what their view might be like.”

A few things to check for include:

• Open electrical sockets
• Drapes or cords they could get wrapped up in
• Furniture that’s not attached to a wall
• Anything they can climb on top of that could pose a safety risk
• Unlocked windows
• Access to a bathroom, kitchen, garage or outside

It’s also a good time to put a gate at the top of the stairs, if you don’t already have one there. Dr. O’Connor notes that some families prefer a gate right at their toddler’s door for extra protection against sneaking out.

Start with nap time

If you can, start by transitioning to a toddler bed for naptime only. This gives your child time to get used to the idea.

“They can get practice having the freedom of a bed while you’re not fast asleep in your own,” Dr. O’Connor says.

For some families, this transition may happen at daycare or another childcare facility. If your child naps on a bed or cot outside of your home, ask their caregivers how it’s going. They may also share any special prompts or tactics they use that you can incorporate into your new bedtime rules.

Brush up on the basics of sleep training

You may have already done the whole sleep training thing, back when your baby was … well, a baby. But sleep training relies on your child learning self-soothing techniques, so a lot of what you learned then will apply now.

Follow these methods to help your child sleep better in their bed:

• Put them down when they’re drowsy but not fully asleep.
• Allow them to fuss or cry for a few minutes before rushing in to soothe them.
• Keep any nighttime interactions low-key and non-stimulating.
• If they come out of their room, calmly and quietly return them to bed and remind them they’re supposed to stay there.

To help you all get some sleep, you might feel tempted to let your kiddo crawl into bed with you for the night. But Dr. O’Connor says returning them to their own bed every time they get up is an important step in ensuring they understand the rules.

“It’s not easy to do, but consistency is important,” she stresses. “Once sleeping in your bed becomes a habit, it’s a hard one to break.”

Offer rewards as appropriate

Giving your toddler a small prize or reward for doing a good job of sleeping in their new bed can be very motivating for them.

Consider, for example, a sticker chart. For every night they stay in bed, they get a sticker. When they have a certain number of stickers, they can get a small reward, like going to the park or eating a special meal.

Start with a small reward for a small number of stickers, and work your way up to larger payoffs.

“Toddlers thrive on positive reinforcement,” Dr. O’Connor says.

Takeaway

Moving to a toddler bed is a big deal in a kid’s life. It’s an important step in their growing independence and responsibility. But don’t rush it. Wait for them to cue you that it’s time. And when the time comes, talk about it — and be ready to enforce some rules.