Every parent knows that the day must eventually arrive when your child will make the transition from his or her crib to a mattress and box spring.  Changing to a bed can be hard on both the children and the parents, but there are some things you can do to make the switch much easier.  Below is a list of six tips for helping your child move from the crib to the bed…

1.     Prepare Your Child:  About a week before you plan on purchasing your child’s bed and mattress, you should begin to get them excited about the prospect of a new bed.  Some parents will say things like “In one week you will be getting your big boy bed” – this will allow the child to start to grasp the idea that a change is coming. 

2.     Take Them Shopping:  Bring your child along with you to the mattress store and let them explore.  Let them climb on the different mattresses and get acquainted with a variety of beds.  Give your toddler the impression that they are picking out their own bed and get them eager to set it up in their room when they get home.

3.     Buy New Sheets and Comforter:  Give you child a set of sheets with his or her favorite characters or play themes on them.  If you daughter likes Dora the Explorer – get her sheets and a comforter with the Dora characters on them.  Let them know that they can only have their new bedding if they sleep in their new bed.

4.     Forget the Frame:  When you set up the new bed, start with just the mattress and box spring on the floor in your child’s room.  You don’t want your child rolling out of a high bed and getting hurt.  Falling out could also cause your child to be fearful of getting back into their new bed the next evening. 

5.     Buy a Bed Rail:  It’s a good idea to buy a bed rail to help keep your son or daughter from rolling out of their new bed at night.  You can purchase a quality bed rail for less than $30 at any baby superstore.  You can remove this bed rail after a few months, when your child has gotten comfortable sleeping in his or her new bed.

6.     Commit to the Change:  Once you have gotten your child to sleep in the new bed, don’t let them revert to their old crib.  Waffling back and forth between crib and bed will confuse the child and may make them have difficulty sleeping at night.  The best thing is to stay committed to the change and do everything you can to comfort your child until the transition to the new bed is complete.

Written by Michael-John Wolfe