We ended up switching from a crib to a floor bed this past month our little guy is 15 almost 16 months old in this post i also offer some insights for transitioning a child from a crib to a floor bed.
Transition from crib to floor bed.
Others buy a toddler bed and many parents use convertible cribs that are ideal for a range of reasons.
Check joints screws or other hardware regularly to ensure they re not loose.
With over 10 years of experience working with families i recommend you try to wait until between 3 and 4 years old to transition from crib to bed.
First let s talk about when to transition your toddler from crib to bed.
The ages for making this transition vary from family to family.
This is what worked.
Some parents simply put their child s crib mattresses on the floor to ease the transition says dr.
Others spring for a toddler bed which is generally low to the ground and can accommodate.
As with all things parenting please do what is best for your family.
It can be a time of real excitement and a sense of growing up or it can be a scary and hard change for some kids.
Transitioning from a crib to a big kid bed is a big milestone in any child s life.
And i also share the completely unexpected consequence of switching our son to a floor bed at 15 months old.
Put a soft rug sleeping bag or pillows on the floor around the bed to cushion falls.
Tips to transition from a crib to a bed.
You see even if your plan is for him to quietly sleep in the lower bunk his temptation to climb to the top usually gets the best of him.
Our hands were tied and we had to transition at 18 months to get the crib cooled down for the new baby to take it.
In fact it s best to wait until your toddler is at least two to transition to a toddler bed or a twin but the closer your child is to three the better.
Some parents simply place their crib mattress on the floor as part of the transition.
There s no right or wrong answer.
If a child is comfortable in a crib there s no reason to move to a bed just because your child turns two or even three doesn t mean it s time to make the switch.
Here are 10 things you can do to make this transition a smooth and safe one.
Avoid having bunk beds in the home until your child is 6 years of age.