Infant sleep has become a category unto itself in the world of sleep. There are a plethora of readily available resources—from Instagram accounts to courses, books, and programs—all designed to help your baby learn to sleep.
But once your baby outgrows the baby stage, you may have many questions—about beds, safety, or bedtime struggles—and few answers.
So, if you’re in or teetering on toddlerhood, here are some guidelines for transitioning from crib to bed and nursery to big kid room and what to expect from nights with a big kid—including how to get them to sleep independently.
Remember, as always, you know what will work best for your child and your family, so treat all guidelines regarding your child’s sleep as just that: guidelines.
1. When should I move my baby from a crib to a bed?
In short, that depends on the child. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that it’s time for a bed when a child is about 3 feet tall (35 inches, to be precise), which would put a crib railing at chest level. But again, all kids are different, and all families are different.
“Some [children] do well on a ‘Montessori’ or ‘floor bed’ from infancy, while others are happy as clams in a crib until they’re 3 years old,” says Rachael Shepard-Ohta, founder of the baby sleep consultation company Hey Sleepy Baby.
Some questions she urges parents to ask themselves when it comes to outgrowing the crib include:
- Is your child safe in the crib?
- Are they still under the height and weight requirement per the crib manufacturer?
- Are they climbing out or jumping out of the crib?
- Are they restless, knocking their limbs on the bars, or getting stuck?
“These are all important factors to consider, and each family will arrive at the decision to move to a ‘big kid’ bed at a slightly different time,” Shepard-Ohta says. “There’s no one right or wrong across the board.”
2. How do I prepare my child—and myself—for the transition from crib to bed?
Moving your child’s sleeping space is a big change, and, as with any big change, something you want to prepare for. Shepard-Ohta reminds parents that it’ll likely take longer for children moving to a big kid bed to fall asleep for a while.
Knowing this, she suggests starting your bedtime routine earlier than usual; the AAP notes that, generally, sticking to a solid routine at bedtime is a big piece of the transition from crib to bed as kids thrive on routine.
Shepard-Ohta also stresses the power of communication with your child.
“Before the change, I always recommend prepping your child,” she says. “You can talk to them about their new bed, role play, and practice bedtime with toys or stuffies before bedtime. You want them to already know what’s coming once bedtime approaches.”
3. How do I choose a mattress, bed, and sleep accessories?
We often hear safety recommendations for infant sleep, such as using a firm crib mattress with just a tight-fitting sheet. Shepard-Ohta says it’s still a good idea for toddlers over the age of 2 to sleep on a firm mattress.
The
Our dual-sided nontoxic crib mattress for little ones
, for one, works for many ages and has dual sides for children from 3 to 7 on one side and 8 to 12 on the other.
“Toddlers can also start using a small pillow and a blanket, or you can continue putting them in a sleep sack,” adds Shepard-Ohta, who reminds parents to avoid weighted sleep products, such as weighted blankets or weighted sleep bags.
She notes that bed rails on a bed aren’t necessary. “To avoid injury from rolling out of bed, I like very low-profile mattresses and bed frames that are close to the floor,” she says.
As for what size bed to pick (toddler bed, twin, full, or bigger!), Shepard-Ohta suggests looking at your sleep style as a family.
“Consider whether or not your toddler may need you to sleep with them or lay with them from time to time. If so, you may decide that a full [or even] queen size makes the most sense,” she says.
From there, she suggests making furniture or linen choices a collaborative process.
“It’s a great idea to involve your child in the process to give them some agency and help get their buy-in, so bringing them along to pick out new sheets or a new stuffy to tuck into bed with them is a great idea to make them excited for the change,” she says.
4. How do I keep my child’s room safe?
For safety purposes, Shepard-Ohta says any bed should also be away from a wall “to avoid entrapment between the bed and the wall until at least age 2.”
The AAP also suggests clearing furniture and large toys, such as rocking horses, away from your child’s bed, potentially installing a safety gate across your toddler’s bedroom door or at the top of the stairs, taking steps to prevent dressers and other furniture from tipping over, and childproofing latches on drawers.
5. How do I encourage independent sleep?
A top struggle for parents of young children in the overnight hours: kids getting up and out of their beds (something that wasn’t possible with a crib!).
“With a new bed can come a new sense of independence, and some kids just need a little more help staying in their beds,” Shepard-Ohta says.
Some of her tips for helping children stay put throughout the night:
- Adjust your mindset. “Anticipate your child leaving the room and preempt it with closeness,” says Shepard-Ohta. “It’s easier to stay with them and/or do short separations at first than to repair their sense of panic or urgency if you are abruptly leaving.” In other words, make your child believe that you have all the time in the world for them.
- Stay with your child. “There’s no harm in laying with your child or supporting them to sleep,” says Shepard-Ohta. They might be in a “big kid” bed, but they’re still little.
- Be consistent. Try to do the same thing every time your child leaves their bed. “If they leave the room and come to yours, either allow them to co-sleep, set up a little space for them to sleep beside you, or escort them back to their bed,” she suggests.
The bottom line
You know your child best, and some pushback and setbacks are expected in the first couple of weeks with any big change, notes Shepard-Ohta.
“If they are really struggling and things feel like they are getting worse, don’t be afraid to bring back the crib,” she says. “You may then just wait until your child is either jumping out, requesting to be moved, or nighttime potty-trained.”
FAQs
How do I get my child to sleep in their own bed?
To help your child sleep in their own bed, you may need to stay in the room with them at first until they feel secure enough on their own. It’s also a good idea to be consistent and do the same thing every time they leave their bed. For example, if they leave their room and come to yours, you could either allow them to co-sleep or escort them back to their room.
At what age should a child fall asleep alone?
There’s no specific age when a child will be able to fall asleep alone. Every kid is different. However, most children start transitioning to independent sleep between ages 2 and 4.
Check out more helpful content for parents and families from Cassie Shortsleeve:
- 6 Common Questions About Room Sharing for Kids, Answered
- 7 Tips to Transition Your Child From Crib to Bed
- 6 Travel Sleep Tips All Parents of Babies and Toddlers Need
- 6 Nighttime Potty Training Hacks From a Pediatrician
- A Quick Guide to Safe Baby Sleep—Plus 3 Top Product Picks From a Pediatrician
- 6 Ways to Manage Multiple Bed Times as a Parent
- Children and Naps: A Primer for Parents