How do I know if my toddler is ready for a big kid bed?

You know what they say, the days are long but the years are short. One moment you’re trying to figure out why baby cries whenever you lay them in the crib, and the next moment you’re wondering if your “big kid” is ready to transition into a big kid bed.

It’s a big deal! I remember feeling pretty stressed when my littles were ready to make the move:

Sleep is going so good right now … is this going to screw it up? 

What if they figure out how to get out of the room and wander the house at night?

We’re never going to be able to have a date night again.

I hope they don’t fall out of their new bed. 

My advice as a sleep coach? Don’t make the switch until you have to. While transitioning to a big bed is nothing to fear (hypocrite, I know), it does remove the physical boundaries around sleep, and that can be a big deal for a little person who doesn’t have an understanding of boundaries or especially an understanding of how to fall asleep without help.

Here are reasons it’s time to move to a big kid bed right away:

A baby is on the way - if you need the space, you need the space. I’ve been in the position of having to make a choice to move my little one earlier to prevent buying an extra crib that we only need for a few more months.

Your little one has outgrown the crib - if your baby is able to reach both ends of the crib, they need more space so that their bodies have room to do some healthy moving around during sleep. No one wants their child waking frequently because they keep banging their head or getting a limb wedged in between the crib bars.

Your baby is climbing out of the crib - If it happens once, try not to react too much. But watch your little one closely to see if they repeat the behavior. If they do it again, try the strategies at the bottom of this blog post before making the move. 

In an ideal world, these are the “Big 5” signs that baby is ready to make the move:

They understand sequential consequences and you can adhere to the boundaries you place in regard to the big bed - “If you climb out of your bed, then stuffy is coming to sit with mommy for one minute.”

They understand their okay-to-wake clock - This helps them to connect that when the light is red, they are to stay in their bed, and when the light turns green, a parent is coming to get them from their bed. In other words: “Red means bed; Green means go.” 

Your child is age three or older - This transition is a big deal and we want to make sure that your little one is ready for it!

It is a secure time in their lives - it is always best to make one big change at a time. Try not to time this near a move or right after the arrival of a new baby.

They have good sleep skills already - if they don't yet sleep through the night, a big bed is very likely to increase bedtime problems. Check out our FREE toddler sleep class!

If your baby is climbing out of the crib, first try these strategies before moving to a big kid bed:

​​Reposition the crib - make sure the mattress is on its lowest setting. Turn the crib around so that the lowest part is positioned against the wall. Place mats around the crib for extra padding in case of a fall.

Keep baby secure - secure baby in their room. Put a child-proof cover over the doorknob. Consider installing a baby gate in front of the door. No one wants baby wandering around the house unsupervised while the adults are sleeping.

Set boundaries - remind baby in your own special baby-eese that we stay in our bed and climbing out can result in “ouchies.” Consider using an okay to wake clock to communicate the concept of time.

Baby-proof … All over again. Make sure that anything baby can climb on and pull out or apart, is safely secured (think cords, bookshelves, curtains).

Backwards sleep sack - you can also try the old “put on the sleep sack backwards” trick. Just make sure it’s a sleep sack that fits!

And that’s how you know if your little one is ready for the change, or if it’s necessary to make the move!

Sleep Sweetly,

Anna