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The Big Change – Transitioning Your Baby From Toddler to Breastfeeding
“I want out! That’s the message your son is going to send – in a way – “
ready to say goodbye to the bed and say hello to the big boy’s bed. Your child may say that he is not happy, or perhaps, he just gets out of bed.
Therefore, what to do?
First, avoid the temptation to move him too quickly. Many experts recommend doing so around the age of 3. Unless your child is climbing out of his bed or needs more space than a small house can provide – his body is growing at an incredible rate – it is better to keep him in bed, which allows him to be safe.
This way, your baby can be free to take big hits during the day but return to the safety of his old crib at night.
Also, until the age of three, toddlers are very impulsive, and your child’s difficulty understanding and following instructions or rules (such as staying in bed all night) can make sleeping in bed very difficult. If you make the transition to bed before the age of 3, you can plan for a little guest to wake up next to your bed every night.
When the time comes, however, you must help your child change good to sleep in bed. That, you have to follow some steps. These are:
- Create a safe place: Guarantee to protect your child’s room and any nearby places that they can go to in the middle of the night. Protect windows, stairwells, and any treads that could be tripped over. Even better, you can install a security gate at your child’s door. You can also put a small night light in his room to help him monitor himself and prevent self-harm.
- Choose a mattress: Go to a mattress store – or any store that sells mattresses – and let your child help you choose a mattress or bed. With safety in mind, all you need is a double mattress with a box spring and side rails. You will need to adjust the height of the new bed accordingly, as it will need to sit down for a while until your child gets used to it. Get some fun new sheets, unique pillowcases and you’re good to go.
- Make the bed (together): When the new bed comes home, ask your child to help you put the bed down. This way, your child will feel that they are part of the change process and will be able to say good things to the child.
- Position the bed: Place the bed in the corner of your child’s room so that the head and side of the bed lean against the wall for protection. Add a safety rail to the exposed side of the bed. Your child will feel safe this way, just like he did in his own bed.
- Explain the bedtime rules: If your child is talking before the first night of bed time, follow the bedtime rules with him. Tell him that he is a big boy now who needs to understand that when we sleep, we only wake up when the sun is nice and bright.
- Do your bedtime routine: During the first few days your baby sleeps in his new bed, spend 10 minutes reading together to get him comfortable in his new environment. The idea here is to make your child feel safe. If your child seems to enjoy the new bed from the start, you are one of the lucky ones who will make the transition easily.