Transition to a Toddler Mattress

Shifting from a crib to a toddler mattress is a large milestone for youths and it usually comes with sleep challenges. Study the very best methods to deal with the transition to a toddler mattress for the very best sleep for everybody with ideas from a licensed pediatric sleep marketing consultant.

Transition to a Toddler Mattress

Shifting from a crib to a toddler mattress is a type of transitions that comes with a lot pleasure, however it’s usually a milestone that may have a large impression on sleep for your entire household. Whether or not it’s getting out and in of mattress, waking up too early, or one other problem, this information to the transition is right here to assist.

As a mother to a few children, I’ve made this transition 3 times and I discovered one key factor alongside the way in which—it may be a lot, a lot simpler if the kid is a little bit bit older than we initially assume is correct for this milestone. However since there could also be conditions the place we want the crib for one more child or we have to change the sleeping surroundings as a result of a toddler climbing off the bed, I’ve requested certainly one of my favourite sleep specialists to assist cowl the entire widespread challenges.

Alicia Birdsong, a licensed pediatric sleep marketing consultant and founding father of Hush Little Birdie Pediatric Sleep Consulting is right here to stroll you thru how one can do it. 

Indicators of Readiness

“Search for curiosity in a giant child mattress. Along with this, you too can search for indicators of your little one wanting autonomy with getting out and in of their mattress. It’s essential to notice that when on the lookout for indicators, curiosity within the little one getting out and in of mattress shouldn’t be in correlation with attempting to stall bedtime. For instance, when my oldest was nearly 4 years previous, she began telling us that she needed to get in her crib by herself. This was our signal she was prepared for a giant child mattress, and it wasn’t an try to push off bedtime.

Professional Tip: If you transition, if doable go for a crib-toddler mattress conversion equipment. That means if the transition doesn’t go as deliberate, you’ll be able to simply shift again to the crib if wanted.”

Finest Age to Transition to a Toddler Mattress

“The perfect age to make the transition is between 3-4 years previous. In fact, some mother and father do should transition sooner than 3 years of age as a result of needing the crib for one more child or crib climbing (there are methods you should use in these conditions earlier than shifting proper to a toddler mattress). I’ve labored with shoppers through which their 4 12 months previous doesn’t wish to transition from their crib, and in these instances we wait till nearer to 4.5. 

The explanation between 3-4 years of age is the very best timeframe for the transition from a crib to a toddler mattress is as a result of developmentally, kids can perceive the expectations are to remain of their mattress. In addition they have a neater time with managing the impulse to get off the bed, compared to kids youthful than 3 years of age. 

Oftentimes the transition is made too quickly. Consider it this fashion: Simply because your little one is within the toddler stage, it doesn’t routinely imply they’re prepared for a toddler mattress.

And, in case your little one is already having sleep challenges within the crib, shifting to a toddler mattress is not going to make issues higher,” Alicia says.

Transition a Youthful Toddler

There are in fact conditions the place we have to transfer a youthful toddler from a crib to a toddler mattress. If doable, wait till 18 months previous. Then contain the kid in establishing the brand new mattress, safety-proof the room, take away the vast majority of the toys to restrict doable distractions, think about a child gate or door lock, and share the household sleep guidelines persistently so the kid learns the expectations.

The transition at this early age could take a little bit extra time, so have endurance.

Some extra ideas from Alicia:

• “Use a sleep sack to assist stop them from making an attempt to climb.” 
• “Dropping the mattress to lowest peak and even the ground is an possibility, however this received’t work for all cribs. When doing this, we wish to make sure that there is no such thing as a hole between the highest of the mattress and the body of the crib. If there are gaps, the mattress can slide round and a toddler might get caught within the gaps, which is able to current as a security subject.”  
• “If there isn’t a secure choice to drop the mattress decrease, and/or the sleep sack isn’t working, and/or the kid exceeds the peak or weight limits of the crib, transition to a toddler mattress. And security proof the room, and put a child gate on the door.  Primarily flip the room right into a crib.”
• “In terms of a brand new child coming, if the household has the means, I might advocate getting one other crib. An alternative choice is to make use of a pack-n-play within the child’s room (as soon as they’re in their very own room) till their oldest is developmentally prepared for a toddler mattress.  We don’t desire a scenario the place mother and father are navigating new child sleep and now have sleep challenges with their toddler as a result of they transitioned out of the crib too quickly. If the crib must be used for child, the very best factor to do is what I shared above, security proof the toddlers room, and child gate the door.” 

Assist Children Keep of their Rooms

“The perfect place to begin is to verify your little one’s room is security proofed, and preserve your little one’s room freed from a lot of toys/issues they could be tempted to get off the bed and play with,” Alicia says.

So safe dressers and furnishings to the partitions. Take away any climb-on type toys. Take out favourite issues and transfer them to a different room. We usually pared issues right down to books and a basket of toys the children might play with in the event that they wakened within the morning and wanted to remain put till it was time to return out.

“And prior to creating the transition, begin speaking concerning the shift to a giant child mattress, and put “sleep guidelines” in place. The sleep guidelines ought to be reviewed each night time at bedtime in the course of the transition interval to assist set the expectation,” Alicia says.

Deal with Nighttime Potty Coaching

In keeping with Alicia: “I like to recommend separating the transition to a toddler mattress and nighttime potty coaching. These are two huge modifications for youngsters, and tackling them on the identical time might be overwhelming for them and oldsters. 

Have in mind, it’s okay to potty practice in the course of the day and wait to potty practice at night time. Even as soon as your toddler is in a toddler mattress, they could nonetheless not be able to potty practice at night time. Analysis exhibits that some kids could not be capable to maintain their bladder by means of the night time till between 4-5 years of age.”

(Your pediatrician ought to be capable to focus on this in additional element.)

Instance Sleep Guidelines

Listed here are Alicia’s pattern sleep guidelines, which we used with our second kiddo after we made the transition to a toddler mattress at 27 months.

1. When it’s time for mattress, I’ll lay down and let my physique relaxation.
2. I received’t preserve anybody awake.
3. I’ll keep in mattress till my gentle turns inexperienced (this refers to an okay to wake clock, which is tremendous useful for this transition.

Favourite Okay-to-Wake Clocks

Okay-to-wake clocks are clocks designed for youths that you would be able to set to show inexperienced at a sure time. So principally, it’s a method to visually present children when it’s okay to be awake or out of their room earlier than they’ll inform time.

Hatch Relaxation+ is a favourite okay-to-wake clock. So is that this one from Okay to Wake.

Observe that this is not going to work for each little one—we personally by no means had success with it after we tried with two two-year-olds as they considered the clock merely as a toy. However it’s useful for a lot of households.

It might additionally assist to learn the Placing Bungee to Mattress guide, which has comparable sleep guidelines in it and is a enjoyable story.

“Utilizing a video monitor to keep watch over your little one can also be useful for you. In the event that they get off the bed, allow them to realize it’s nonetheless time for his or her physique to relaxation, and their gentle isn’t inexperienced but, then stroll them again to mattress. Do that each time they get off the bed between bedtime and 6am,” Alicia says.

Child Gates and Door Locks

“For kids who actually battle to remain in mattress throughout this transition, placing a child gate on the door to assist them keep in mind it’s time for his or her physique to relaxation could also be useful. When utilizing this technique, we wish to go away the gate open initially to offer them the chance to remain in mattress. If they arrive off the bed, stroll them again and remind them that in the event that they select to get off the bed once more, the gate might want to shut to assist them keep in mind it’s time for relaxation. You possibly can open the gate within the morning or as soon as they’re asleep,” Alicia says.

Some households additionally select to make use of toddler door locks to soundly safe the children of their room and to restrict their capability to roam the home at night time. Relying on the persona of the kid, this may be useful.

Toddler Beds and Railings

Many cribs include toddler mattress conversion kits that embody a entrance railing. That may be a nice possibility. In the event you want the crib for one more child, search for a toddler mattress that’s straightforward to your little one to get out and in of, or many households go proper to a twin mattress positioned on the ground. You possibly can add a mattress railing (the sort that slides beneath) and put a mushy carpet subsequent to the mattress to cushion it because the little one learns to sleep on this new surroundings.

Toddler Journey Beds

Discover extra data on how one can safely arrange sleep on the go in my submit on toddler journey beds.

Toddler Blankets, Sleep Sacks, and Pillows

The transfer to a toddler mattress usually correlates to altering the remainder of the sleeping scenario. Listed here are some sources for the remainder of the sleep gear you could want:

Toddler Sleep Sacks

You possibly can preserve your little one in an extra-large sleep sack or wearable toddler blanket if that’s what they’re used to, or look a sleep sack with holes for his or her toes to allow them to stroll round as wanted.

Toddler Blankets

In the event you transfer to a twin mattress, the Beddy’s zipper comforters are nice since they match across the mattress like a fitted sheet and zip up like a sleeping bag. This ensures that the blanket will keep put whereas the kid sleeps. In a toddler mattress, search for a baby-size quilt, which is smaller than a twin.

Toddler Pillows

For secure sleeping, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that we keep away from pillows and blankets earlier than age two. After that age, search for a pillow that’s flat and agency. You additionally don’t have so as to add a pillow in case your little one appears tremendous with out one.

Protected Sleeping Reminders

For youths underneath age 1, it’s endorsed that they be put right down to sleep on their backs on a agency, flat floor with out pillows, stuffed animals, or blankets. Learn the total sleep suggestions right here.

After age 1, the American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s okay to introduce a blanket, toys, and a pillow—however many sleep specialists warning that it’s secure to attend longer till age 2 as a result of potential suffocation threat.

We didn’t introduce a pillow or a blanket till at 2.5 after which age 3.5, or on the age that we transitioned to a toddler mattress.

Finest Suggestions for Success

• Wait till the kid exhibits curiosity in a toddler mattress and is, ideally between 3 and 4 years previous.
• In the event you want the crib for one more child at an earlier age or the kid is climbing out of their crib, that’s in fact tremendous. The transition could take a little bit longer to stay. Consistency is essential.
• Child proof the room in order that all the things is secured. Keep away from pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals within the mattress till at the least age 1, and perferrably age 2.
• Follow a bedtime routine and share the household sleep guidelines usually.
• If the kid will get off the bed, stroll them again to it as many occasions as is required.
• Think about having a devoted basket of toys for them to play with within the morning in the event that they get up earlier than it’s time to depart the room.
• An Okay-to-Wake Clock could assist children visually see when it’s okay to be awake.

Thanks to Alicia Birdsong, licensed pediatric sleep marketing consultant and founding father of Hush Little Birdie Pediatric Sleep Consulting, for serving to present ideas all through this submit.

I’d love to listen to your suggestions on this submit, so please remark under to share.