Tips for switching to a toddler bed. Follow these 9 steps and transitioning your toddler to a toddler bed will be a breeze!
One week before my daughter was born, my 18-month-old son climbed out of his crib. We had originally planned on putting our daughter in the pack n’ play for a few months and keeping our son in the crib, but it became clear pretty quickly that wasn’t going to happen. So we decided to start the transition to a toddler bed.
Within a month, our son was sleeping 12 hours a night in a twin bed. Now I do think he is a super good toddler, but I also think that we did a really good job in making the transition easy. We did it one step at a time, and didn’t move to the next one until we felt like he had mastered the one before.
I have had a few people ask me how we made the switch to a toddler bed so quickly and easily, and today I want to share a few tips for switching to a toddler bed so you can make it easy, too!
1. Go one step at a time. It might take you longer than a month to make the transition to a toddler bed, and that is totally okay! The most important thing is that you are making sure your toddler masters each step before you move to the next one. Moving to the next step too soon is a recipe for disaster!
2. Get a child-proof door lock. Not for the outside, but for the inside. Since your toddler will be able to get out of his bed, he will be able to get to the door and escape. So if you put a child-proof door lock (like the ones I mention in this post) on the inside of the door, he will stay in his room and learn that he can’t get out when it’s time for a nap or bed.
3. Minimize the number of other things in the room. Your toddler will probably get out of bed and try and play with everything in his room when he realizes that you aren’t coming back in. So if you have lots of toys in there, he will want to play with all the toys. When we first made the switch, all that we had in my son’s room was a bookshelf, and the books were all high enough up that he couldn’t reach them. So he was pretty much forced to sleep.
4. Take the side of the crib off first. If you have a convertible crib, hooray! The easiest first step in transitioning your toddler to a regular bed is to take the side of the crib off. Lower the mattress (if you haven’t already) and just remove the front of the crib. It will still be the same bed your toddler is used to, but it will just be a little more free. We didn’t give him a pillow yet at this point, just his regular baby blanket and a stuffed animal he was used to having.
5. Sit by the side of the bed for one or two nights to make sure he stays in bed. Don’t make it a habit, though! This is very important! It’s okay to sit there with him for a few nights just so he understands this is where he is still supposed to sleep. But if you sit there every night for a week, he’s going to expect that and then he won’t go to bed unless you do that. So do it at first, but don’t make it a habit!
6. Once he will stay in his crib all night, set up his bed with fun sheets and let him help. When we set up our son’s bed (it’s actually a twin size) we let him be in the room helping us. Then we went to the store and picked out some sheets with construction trucks on it (he was thrilled), and gave him his first pillow. The most important part about this step is making it fun and exciting for him. Make his bed, and let him help you! Even if he doesn’t really help, just get him involved.
7. Tuck him in and let him know it’s his big boy bed. Tell him that he is big and growing up (even if he doesn’t understand it) and that sleeping in a big boy bed is special. You’re basically just keeping up the idea that this is a fun, new thing for him.
8. Keep the same routine as when he was in the crib. Or if you didn’t have one, start one. Every night we read a book and then sing a few songs. Then we say goodnight, turn off the light, and don’t come back in. We’ve been doing this routine for over a year now and it has worked wonderfully. A routine helps your toddler know it’s bedtime and helps him calm down and relax so he can fall asleep.
9. Don’t go back into the room after you say good night. It’s similar to when you let your baby “cry it out” so that they know how to fall asleep on their own. It’s going to be hard, especially if they call out “Mommy!” or “Daddy!” For a while our son would just lay at the foot of the door and cry for everyone he knew. It was super sad, but we didn’t go back into the room and eventually he stopped.
Follow these 9 steps and you are sure to get your toddler sleeping in their bed. It might be rough at first, but I promise your child won’t be sleeping in a crib forever. Just stay positive, tough it out, and it will be all worth it! Good luck!
Britt Hanson says
I loved this! We’ll be switching Abe once baby girl gets here. We’re planning on just doing a mattress on the floor. l guess well see how it goes! Haha 🙂
Chelsea Johnson says
That’s what our friend did for a little while. And it worked! Good luck!
Jessica Dimas says
I’m having the problem of my 2 year old getting out of his bed every night and coming to ours, plus he wakes up for the day at 5:30 no matter what times he goes to bed. I’m checking out those locks you mentioned. I actually wanted to lock his door so he would get the hint that it’s where he sleeps, but my 4 year old sleeps in there too :/ What would you do if you had two little ones in the room? I’m afraid he’ll wake the 4 year old up…oh and also my 4 year old gets up to use the bathroom at night. I could put a potty chair in the room maybe…sorry I’m using your comment section to try and figure this out LOL. Any advice appreciated 🙂
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m actually going to put both of our little ones in the same room next month (eek!). I’m nervous about it but I’m hoping they will just get used to it! The way I see it is that lots of people have their kids sleep in the same room, so why can’t I? I definitely think there will be some rough nights at first, but hopefully they will adjust. I’m sure you could show your 4 year old how to use them. I think 4 year olds are smart enough that if you show them how to do it, they could! Good luck!!
Jackie Pickren says
Love these tips, we are getting ready to transition our second son and this was a great reminder!
Chelsea Johnson says
Good luck! I hope it goes well!!
Kacee says
My son doesn’t have a convertible crib, but could I still just take the front off without a conversation kit?
Chelsea Johnson says
I have no idea. I would check with the manufacturer, because if it’s not made for that, it might not be safe.
Rachel J says
I’m following this advice and switching my 2 year old twins before #3 gets here. Aside from sitting by the crib for the first night or so to make sure they stay in it, how did you keep yours from playing all night? I have one who sleeps pretty easily but one who would just party and play with anything all night long. Literally just run in circles talking to himself.
Chelsea Johnson says
When we switched my son he would play with his books sometimes, but when we switched my daughter we didn’t have anything else in their room besides their beds, so they just went to sleep. I will admit my kids are pretty good about going to sleep. Sometimes you just have to let them figure it out and realize oh, it’s time for sleep now! And they will eventually fall asleep when they are tired enough!
Amber Corkin says
Chelsea these tips are fantastic! I’m stressing out a little bit because he sleeps in a “den” that doesn’t have a door. (We’re in a little condo.) There is just a blackout curtain over his doorway. Do you have any ideas for what we can do?! Luckily he hasn’t tried climbing out of bed yet so we’re not transitioning yet, but he’s climbing on everything else so I feel like the toddler bed transition is coming sooner rather than later.
Chelsea Johnson says
Maybe you could try putting a baby gate there, too? Just so he can’t get out? Hopefully he won’t try to climb out for a while. I have a friend whose little boy didn’t climb out until he was almost three, so there is hope! Good luck!!
Natasha says
Hey Chelsea,
I Love these tips. Great tips, we’ve actually just made the switch tonight! She cried a bit at the start and got out of bed four times but she finally went off about three hours ago now.
Chelsea Johnson says
Congrats! I hope it goes well tonight, too!
Natasha says
Thank You so much for your reply, Chelsea.
Chelsea Johnson says
You bet!
BrittanyLeigh says
You said that you did not go back in the room after you said “goodnight”. And that sometimes he’d just cry at the door. Did he eventually go lay in the bed and go to sleep or would you find him asleep at the door? My daughter has a lot of toys in her room (We don’t have space anywhere else) I’m just afraid if I don’t go back in and redirect her to the bed, shell just stay up all night and play. LOL
Chelsea Johnson says
If I recall, sometimes I did find him on the floor by the bed, but he definitely didn’t have the energy to stay up and play all night!
Amelia says
How long will it take for a child to stay in bed . I have tried my child to sleep in his big boy bed but what he does he just gets out and go straight to his toys or books and plays and when the door is closed he screams so what I did I put him back in his crib and he is 16 months old Tuesday please give me more advice I would love to hear from you thank you
Sincerely Amelia Arnold
Chelsea Johnson says
Just keep trying! It’s different for every kid!