As your child grows up, plenty of things change — and they do so quickly. One minute you're waiting from them to crawl, the next you're chasing them down the hallway. Because all children progress on their own timelines, it can sometimes be difficult to gauge when your child is ready for the next step. Especially when it comes to sleeping arrangements. The transition from a crib to a bed can be a daunting one, especially if you're not sure at what age should you get your kid a bed.
Deborah Lin Dyken, a pediatric sleep disorder expert, told What To Expect that there's no set time to transition your child to a bed. Dyken also said that most children make the switch between one and a half to three and a half years of age. Depending on how active your child is in their crib, Dyken suggested that you may want to wait until your child is closer to three to transition your child.
In an interview with Parents magazine, professor of pediatrics Mark Widome said that as a general rule, parents should move a baby from a crib to a bed when they're able to climb out of their crib, increasing the potential for injury while unobserved. According to Widome, this occurs when your child is about 35 inches tall, and between the ages of 18 and 24 months. Of course, Widome reminded readers that not all babies progress at the same speed, and that some babies will prove themselves to be agile enough to escape their crib at an even younger age. Paying attention to your child's crib antics will help you be able to decide when to make the move.
Making the transition from a crib to a bigger bed isn't always a smooth one. But according to What To Expect, there are plenty of ways you can prepare your child for the transition from a crib to a bed to make it easier. From keeping your bedtime routine the same, to introducing bedtime stories about children who are climbing into big beds at the end of the day, to letting your child in on the excitement and action by letting them choose their own sheets, make the move something that you do as a family, so that nobody feels lonely or excluded by the move.
If you think your child is ready to make the move from a crib to a bed, take a note from What To Expect, and start by researching your toddler bed options. By the time you decide what kind of bed you'll transition your child to, you'll have had plenty of time to prepare your little one for the move, and the whole family will be ready to take the next step in your child's development.
