5 Signs It’s Time For a Toddler Bed
What to look out for to help you know when it's time to make the switch!
The switch from a crib to a bed can be stressful yet exciting! Personally, I worried about the timing of it all! My goal was to keep our son in his crib for as long as possible, but I also knew that the switch would come before we knew it. Here are 5 easy signs to know when it’s time to make the change.
1. Consistently climbing out of the crib
Quick tip! You can buy yourself a bit more time by having your little one wear a sleep sack for naps and bedtime. This might prevent them from climbing out, at least for a little bit.
2. If the crib railing is level to your toddler’s chest
Generally around 35 inches in height is when you might start to notice your toddler is getting too tall for the railings of their crib.
3. Showing interest in a regular bed
You might notice they start snuggling up in your bed, getting under the covers and putting their head on the pillow
4. They’re sleep is being disrupted in any way
We started noticing our son was waking up more at night. Once we switched him to a bed, night wakings went down significantly!
5. They have an understanding of visual cues
For example, they understand the red light, green light sleep timer cues. We introduced this when our son turned 2, to prepare for this exact thing!
More Information
Some sites suggest NOT doing the switch until your little one is 3 years old. This is because before that age, they generally lack impulse control. Our goal was to keep our son in his crib for as long as safely possible. But, once he began showing many of these signs we realized it was time to make the change. Overall, I am happy with the timing of the switch. He was ready, he understood the concept, it improved his sleep, and it was the safest arrangement for him!
Keep an eye out for another blog coming soon on HOW we made the switch!
Disclaimer
As always, I am not a professional by any means, just a mom sharing her own experience. Be sure to always do your own research and talk with your pediatrician before making any decisions if you are unsure about them.