Saying NO to Toddler Beds
Apr 02, 2024
I don’t believe in toddler beds and here’s why –
Toddler beds are an unnecessary transition for your child and are a waste of money.
I remember when I had my second child and my oldest was not even 2 years old yet. I was already scheming how to move him to a bed so I could offer his crib to my newborn. He was sleeping so well in his crib, and I knew he was already thrown a curveball with the new addition of his sibling. Thankfully, we inherited a bassinet that allowed our toddler to mature before moving him to a twin bed (we still use this bed)!
Cognitively, toddlers show a very wide range of development. While some 2-year-olds have the ability to control inhibitions and impulses, in my experience most would find it difficult to stay in their bed all night when their parent is in the room next to them. I often ask my clients, “Does it seem like your child fully understands what you’re asking them to do?”
This gets tricky because a child coming out of their bed might seem like a sign of defiance. What might actually be happening is that the child is not quite ready to manage the responsibility of transitioning to a bed.
IDEA:
A crib provides security and coziness rather than confinement and restriction.
Sometimes, we rush to the next step because our child acts in a way that tells us they are ready. For example, a child may be potty training and call out that they need to use the potty. Sometimes parents fear their child will injure themselves by jumping or climbing out of the crib.
Moving from a crib to a bed however, may not solve the problem.
RESOURCE:
Here is a great blog on transitioning from a crib to a bed from The Sleep Lady.
TIP:
Create a Bedtime Agreement. The key word here is AGREEMENT. You and your child should sit down together (construction paper and markers work great!) and come up with guidelines. This is something that should be adapted to target the needs of your child and family. Here are a few simple points to consider. Note that they are concrete and specific!
- I will stay in my bed quietly all night.
- I will use the bathroom and get a drink of water before bedtime begins.
- I will tuck myself back in if the covers fall off.
- I will wait for the wake up light to turn to get up.