When do i transition my baby to a toddler bed

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No, thanks I'm already a PureWow fan. No, thanks I hate pretty things. And so, you may be a little nervous about moving your child from her crib to new big-kid digs. But how do you know when to transition to a toddler bed, anyway? We tapped the experts for their timeline suggestions plus some helpful tips on how to navigate this milestone smoothly.

A toddler bed typically uses the same size mattress as a crib in fact, many cribs convert to a toddler bed , is low to the ground and has built-in rails. Toddler beds can also be found in fun child-friendly designs, like princesses or cars.

A twin bed, on the other hand, is longer than a toddler bed typically around 80 inches, compared to the to inch range of toddler beds. Keep pillows out of the bed for children under two years — pillows are a suffocation risk for young children. If you choose a single bed, use bed rails to stop your child falling out of bed. Check the bed frame and the bed rails for gaps that your child could get stuck in.

Make sure the rails and the bed frame fit tightly against the mattress. If there are a lot of gaps, a mattress on the floor is a safer option until your child is older. Avoid having heavy blankets or quilts in the bed. Keep the area on and around the bed or mattress clean and clear of soft toys, bean bags and anything else that might suffocate your child.

Helping your child settle into the new bed: tips Here are some tips for making a successful change from cot to bed: Tell your child how proud you are. After all, moving into a bed is an exciting step towards being a big kid! Get your child to help you set up the new bed.

If it seems like a fun idea, take your child shopping to choose the bed or bedding. Let your child watch while you move the furniture in the bedroom.

Let your child make a gradual transition to the bed if they need to. Or start with day naps in the bed and night-time sleeps in the cot. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Easing the Transition. Other Considerations. Keeping Your Toddler in Bed. Bedtime Routine. How to Raise Happy, Healthy Toddlers. Toddler Milestones. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Ask Dr. The 8 Best Baby Cribs of The 8 Best Toddler Pillows of The 8 Best Mattresses for Kids of Whatever model you choose, if you're in the market for a new bed for your toddler, make sure it is:.

Done shopping? Time to set up his sleeping space with safety in mind. What Can I Do? What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.

Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.