Toddler Ready Bed
Babies sleep in cribs; toddlers sleep in toddler ready beds. That is the normal and hoped for progression in most families, but because all kids are individuals, things do not always go as planned. Whether you just want to get rid of the crib once and for all or you need to have the crib for a new baby, it is best to proceed carefully and make sure that it is a completely positive experience for everyone, especially the little one who is moving from familiar crib to the unknown of a bed.
Think of things from your toddler’s perspective: one day he is sleeping soundly in the only bed he has known in his short life time. It is one that surrounds him with bars, allowing him to feel safe and protected. One day, there is some activity in the home and his mommy leads him to his bedroom, but things are suddenly very different. Your crib is gone and in its place is some bed. There are no bars. Mommy is telling you that you will be sleeping here from now on. In the toddler’s head, a storm is brewing.
Before you move the crib out of your toddler’s room, especially in the case of needing the crib for a new baby, it is best to have a talk with your child about what is going to be happening. Explain that the toddler ready bed is the “big boy” or “big girl” bed so that the child is more accepting of it. Toddlers do not always react well to surprises, after all. Let the child help you pick out at least something, even if it is only a new blanket or the stuffed toys that he will take to bed with him.
A toddler ready bed should be sturdy and well made so that it can make it for the next few years. If you intend to have it be the transition bed for your second or third child, then you really want to buy quality. Some children do not mind sleeping in their little bed until their legs are right at the bottom of it, while others will complain that they do not have the same beds as their friends. If you are concerned about budgeting, it is usually better to skip this step and just go straight from crib to the big kid bed. If the budget is not a complete concern, a toddler ready bed can be a great way to ease the transition from one stage of life to the next.
