When do children outgrow cribs

They're eager to move from the crib, which is "for babies," into a "big-kid bed. To ease the transition, put your toddler's new bed in the same place his crib used to be. If you're using a twin bed, you may not want to make an immediate switch to grown-up sheets and blankets that are tucked in.

Your child may find it soothing to continue to sleep with his old crib blanket, even if it's too small. Don't forget to put up a guardrail to prevent your newly liberated toddler from falling out of bed. Get your toddler excited about having a "big-kid bed" by taking him with you to pick it out, if you're buying it new, or by emphasizing its previous owner if that person is someone your child knows.

For example: "This was your cousin't bed, and now it's yours! You're almost as big as him now! Another tactic, although it requires a little more work, is to throw a "big-kid bed" party.

Choose a date to unveil the new bed, and talk up the event a week in advance. On the big day, have a party and invite friends and grandparents.

Another strategy is the use of specific "toddler beds. Many come with built-in guardrails, and some are made in very appealing themes and shapes, such as cars, trains and pink four-poster beds. If you find that you've made the switch too soon and your toddler is upset, don't give up right away. Encourage your child to try out the bed.

If he's still distraught after a few days, bring the crib back. Some toddlers simply aren't ready for a bed. It takes a certain amount of cognitive development for your child to understand that a bed has imaginary boundaries that he must stay within. If your great sleeper all of a sudden takes a long time to fall asleep at night, gets out of bed many times, or wanders around the house, he's probably not ready for his own bed.

As with potty-training, sometimes it's worth taking a step back and bringing back the diapers — or in this case, the crib — and trying again later. Just be sure you don't present the reappearance of the crib as a step backward in development or a punishment. Making the switch anytime between 18 months to 3 years is considered normal. Wait for the time that feels right for your child and your family. Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia.

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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Updated September 17, Written by Danielle Pacheco. Does Your Child Seem Ready? Are You Expecting Another Baby?

Sign up below for your free gift. Your privacy is important to us. Was this article helpful? Yes No. Mindell, J. Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children: Sleep, development, and beyond. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 40, 93— Williamson, A. Caregiver-perceived sleep outcomes in toddlers sleeping in cribs versus beds.

Sleep Medicine, 54, 16— American Academy of Pediatrics. A nightly bedtime routine: Impact on sleep in young children and maternal mood. Sleep, 32 5 , — Learn more about Children and Sleep. Updated By Eric Suni September 24, By Danielle Pacheco September 17, By Alexa Fry June 24, By Danielle Pacheco June 24, By Tom Ryan May 25, By Elise Chahine May 19, By Danielle Pacheco January 28, Load More Articles. Other Articles of Interest Baby Sleep. There's no better time to start the journey to improving your sleep.

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So, you need to 1 childproof the room really well including electric outlets, curtain cords and sharp corners , and 2 keep her from roaming outside the room at night. Use a gate to keep her in her room. If she climbs over it, you may need to spend a little time training her to stay in the room or even close the door.

Gate…and he will help you stay safe and happy in your room all night. If your little gymnast climbs over the gate, you may need to close the door and put a doorknob cover on the inside of the door to her room.

Creating a bedtime routine can help your toddler wind down and learn they are expected to stay in bed. Here's some advice on bedtime routines. You can also try Twinkle Interruptus , my favorite toddler bedtime "trick" based on patience-stretching. Good luck! Have questions about a Happiest Baby product?

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