Jade Theater
How to Transition Your Child from a Crib to a Bed
Being a parent can sometimes seem like one challenge after another, especially in the early years. It sometimes seems as if you are constantly making transitions, and transitions can be difficult for most children as any parent will tell you. There is the transition from a bottle to a sippy cup; then from the sippy cup to a regular drinking glass. You may have a child that likes to use a pacifier. If so, there will eventually be a transition from pacifier to no pacifier. There is the transition from many naps, to two naps, to one nap, and eventually no naps at all. There are many more transitions I have not mentioned, but as you can see, the life of a child is full of transitions.
One transition that all children will eventually make is the transition from sleeping in a crib to sleeping in a bed. This can be a very difficult transition for many children because lots of children get very attached to their cribs. As exciting as a new bed may be, it can also be a scary transition for many children. But there things you can do as a parent to make the transition as painless as possible.
Read children’s books to your child about sleeping in a bed. There are many books available at your local library that are written on the topic of going from sleeping in a crib to sleeping in a bed. Ask your librarian for help finding some of these books and you will probably end up with many more than you need. Reading about the topic of moving from a crib to a regular bed will get your child thinking about the transition and also help your child see that feelings of apprehension are normal and can eventually be overcome. Reading these books can also be good for the parent too! Many of the situations that arise in these books will closely parallel real life and can prepare you for some things to expect from your child when making the transition.
Whatever type of bed you choose, be it a toddler bed, a twin bed, a double bed or some other type of bed, take your child with you to purchase the bed. Make a big event of this shopping excursion and try to make your child feel included in the purchase decisions. Obviously you know what’s best for a bed and mattress choice as the parent, but you can let your child choose items such as pillows, bedding, or stuffed animals to sleep with in the bed. Make your child’s bed a comfortable and inviting place by choosing child friendly bedding and décor. You may even wish to purchase a memory foam mattress topper to make the bed you choose even cozier for your child.
Even though you may be anxious to complete the transition to the bed once you have purchased the bed and set up your child’s new bedroom, remember to be patient. All children are different, so some may take a few days to make the transition while some may take a few weeks. Whatever type of child you have, the transition will be much easier if you do not pressure the child and support him or her in easing into the new bed at his or her own pace.