{"id":33633,"date":"2024-10-28T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=33633"},"modified":"2024-10-03T17:46:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T17:46:26","slug":"how-to-get-kids-to-sleep-in-their-own-bed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/how-to-get-kids-to-sleep-in-their-own-bed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare Your Child to Sleep on Their Own"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Infant sleep has become a category unto itself in the world of sleep. There are a plethora of readily available resources\u2014from Instagram accounts to courses, books, and programs\u2014all designed to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/baby-sleep-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">help your baby learn to sleep<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But once your baby outgrows the baby stage, you may have many questions\u2014about beds, safety, or bedtime struggles\u2014and few answers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you\u2019re in or teetering on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/web.saatva.com\/blog\/toddler-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">toddlerhood<\/a>, here are some guidelines for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/how-to-transition-baby-from-crib-to-bed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transitioning from crib to bed<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/transition-nursery-to-big-kid-room\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nursery to big kid room<\/a>&nbsp;and what to expect from nights with a big kid\u2014including how to get them to sleep independently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, as always, you know what will work best for your child and your family, so treat all guidelines regarding your child\u2019s sleep as just that: guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. When should I move my baby from a crib to a bed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, that depends on the child. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/aapnews\/article\/28\/3\/25\/21710\/Safe-and-sound-Help-young-children-get-a-good?autologincheck=redirected\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">notes<\/a>\u00a0that it\u2019s 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.\u00a0But again, all kids are different, and all families are different.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome [children] do well on a \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/montessori-bed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montessori<\/a>\u2019 or \u2018floor bed\u2019 from infancy, while others are happy as clams in a crib until they&#8217;re 3 years old,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/heysleepybaby\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rachael Shepard-Ohta<\/a>, founder of the baby sleep consultation company\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/heysleepybaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hey Sleepy Baby<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some questions she urges parents to ask themselves when it comes to outgrowing the crib include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is your child safe in the crib?\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are they still under the height and weight requirement per the crib manufacturer?\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are they climbing out or jumping out of the crib?\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are they restless, knocking their limbs on the bars, or getting stuck?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese are all important factors to consider, and each family will arrive at the decision to move to a \u2018big kid&#8217; bed at a slightly different time,\u201d&nbsp;Shepard-Ohta&nbsp;says. \u201cThere&#8217;s no one right or wrong across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. How do I prepare my child\u2014and myself\u2014for the transition from crib to bed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving your child\u2019s sleeping space is a big change, and, as with any big change, something you want to prepare for. Shepard-Ohta reminds parents that it&#8217;ll likely take longer for children moving to a big kid bed to fall asleep for a while.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing this, she suggests starting your bedtime routine earlier than usual; the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/healthy-living\/sleep\/Pages\/Big-Kid-Beds-When-To-Make-the-Switch.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AAP notes<\/a>&nbsp;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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shepard-Ohta also stresses the power of communication with your child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBefore the change, I always recommend prepping your child,&#8221; she says. &#8220;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&#8217;s coming once bedtime approaches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. How do I choose a mattress, bed, and sleep accessories?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s still a good idea for toddlers over the age of 2 to sleep on a firm mattress.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <span data-id=\"27718\" data-title=\"Youth Mattress\" data-text=\"Saatva Youth Mattress\" class=\"tooltip\">Saatva Youth Mattress<\/span>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cToddlers can also start using a small pillow and a blanket, or you can continue putting them in a sleep sack,\u201d adds Shepard-Ohta, who reminds parents to avoid&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/weighted-sleep-sack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">weighted sleep products<\/a>, such as weighted blankets or weighted sleep bags.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She notes that bed rails on a bed aren&#8217;t necessary. \u201cTo avoid injury from rolling out of bed, I like very low-profile mattresses and bed frames that are close to the floor,\u201d she says. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for what size bed to pick (toddler bed, twin, full, or bigger!),\u00a0Shepard-Ohta\u00a0suggests looking at your sleep style as a family.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cConsider 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,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, she suggests making furniture or linen choices a collaborative process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;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,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"saatva-product-slider bg-fuscous-gray text-white\">\n            <p class=\"bg-makara p-4 text-center\">Our best mattress for kids<\/p>\n    \n            <div\n            class=\"focus:!outline-0\"\n            data-flickity=\"{&quot;wrapAround&quot;:true,&quot;pageDots&quot;:true,&quot;adaptiveHeight&quot;:true,&quot;prevNextButtons&quot;:false,&quot;autoPlay&quot;:5000}\"\n        >\n                            \n                <div>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/mattresses\/saatva-youth\" class=\"block\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"515\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/saatva-youth-1024x515.jpg\" class=\"w-full aspect-video object-cover wp-post-image\" alt=\"saatva youth mattress\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/saatva-youth-1024x515.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/saatva-youth-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/saatva-youth-768x387.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/saatva-youth-1536x773.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/saatva-youth.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n                    <\/a>\n\n                    <div\n                        class=\"rich-text-level p-8 lg:text-base\"\n                        style=\"--spacing-rhythm: 0.75em\"\n                    >\n                        <h4>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/mattresses\/saatva-youth\">Youth Mattress<\/a>\n                        <\/h4>\n\n                        \n<p>This dual-sided innerspring mattress provides optimal support and comfort to children of all ages. Simply flip it over from the 3+ side to the 8+ side when your child is ready.<\/p>\n\n\n                        <p>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/mattresses\/saatva-youth\" class=\"btn\">\n                                Shop Now\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. How do I keep my child\u2019s room safe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For safety purposes, Shepard-Ohta says any bed should also be away from a wall \u201cto avoid entrapment between the bed and the wall until at least age 2.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The AAP also suggests clearing furniture and large&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/safety-prevention\/at-home\/Pages\/How-to-Buy-Safe-Toys.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">toys<\/a>, such as rocking horses, away from your child\u2019s bed, potentially installing a safety gate across your toddler\u2019s bedroom door or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/safety-prevention\/at-home\/Pages\/Stair-Safety.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">at the top of the stairs<\/a>, taking steps to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/safety-prevention\/at-home\/Pages\/Preventing-Furniture-and-TV-Tip-Overs.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prevent dressers and other furniture from tipping over<\/a>, and childproofing latches on drawers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. How do I encourage independent sleep?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A top struggle for parents of young children in the overnight hours: kids getting up and out of their beds (something that wasn\u2019t possible with a crib!).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith a new bed can come a new sense of independence, and some kids just need a little more help staying in their beds,\u201d&nbsp;Shepard-Ohta&nbsp;says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of her tips for helping children stay put throughout the night:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Adjust your mindset.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cAnticipate your child leaving the room and preempt it with closeness,\u201d says Shepard-Ohta. \u201cIt&#8217;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.\u201d In other words, make your child believe that you have all the time in the world for them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stay with your child.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s no harm in laying with your child or supporting them to sleep,\u201d says Shepard-Ohta. They might be in a &#8220;big kid&#8221; bed, but they&#8217;re still little.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be consistent.<\/strong>\u00a0Try to do the same thing every time your child leaves their bed. \u201cIf 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,\u201d she suggests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf they are really struggling and things feel like they are getting worse, don\u2019t be afraid to bring back the crib,\u201d she says. \u201cYou may then just wait until your child is either jumping out, requesting to be moved, or nighttime potty-trained.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I get my child to sleep in their own bed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;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. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">At what age should a child fall asleep alone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"isPasted\"><em>Check out more helpful content for parents and families from Cassie Shortsleeve:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/siblings-sharing-a-bedroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6 Common Questions About Room Sharing for Kids, Answered<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/how-to-transition-baby-from-crib-to-bed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7 Tips to Transition Your Child From Crib to Bed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/baby-sleep-and-travel-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6 Travel Sleep Tips All Parents of Babies and Toddlers Need<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/nighttime-potty-training-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6 Nighttime Potty Training Hacks From a Pediatrician<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/safe-baby-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Quick Guide to Safe Baby Sleep\u2014Plus 3 Top Product Picks From a Pediatrician<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/bedtimes-multiple-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6 Ways to Manage Multiple Bed Times as a Parent<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/when-do-kids-stop-getting-naptime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Children and Naps: A Primer for Parents<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Infant sleep has become a category unto itself in the world of sleep. There are a plethora of readily available resources\u2014from Instagram accounts to courses, books, and programs\u2014all designed to&nbsp;help your baby learn to sleep.&nbsp; But once your baby outgrows the baby stage, you may have many questions\u2014about beds, safety, or bedtime struggles\u2014and few answers.&nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":33634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,391],"tags":[],"coauthors":[430],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-33633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-family"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33633"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33638,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33633\/revisions\/33638"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33633"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=33633"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=33633"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=33633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}