Find out how to Transition to a Toddler Mattress

Transferring from a crib to a toddler mattress is a large milestone for youths and it usually comes with sleep challenges. Be taught the perfect methods to deal with the transition to a toddler mattress for the perfect sleep for everybody with ideas from a licensed pediatric sleep advisor.

Transition to a Toddler Mattress

Transferring from a crib to a toddler mattress is a kind of transitions that comes with a lot pleasure, however it’s usually a milestone that may have an enormous influence on sleep for the whole 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 3 children, I’ve made this transition thrice and I realized one key factor alongside the best way—it may be a lot, a lot simpler if the kid is slightly bit older than we initially assume is true for this milestone. However since there could also be conditions the place we want the crib for an additional child or we have to change the sleeping surroundings as a result of a toddler climbing away from bed, I’ve requested certainly one of my favourite sleep consultants to assist cowl all the frequent challenges.

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

Indicators of Readiness

“Search for curiosity in an enormous child mattress. Along with this, you may as well search for indicators of your youngster wanting autonomy with getting out and in of their mattress. It’s necessary to notice that when on the lookout for indicators, curiosity within the youngster getting out and in of mattress shouldn’t be in correlation with making an attempt to stall bedtime. For instance, when my oldest was virtually 4 years outdated, she began telling us that she wished to get in her crib by herself. This was our signal she was prepared for an enormous child mattress, and it wasn’t an try and push off bedtime.

Professional Tip: If you transition, if potential go for a crib-toddler mattress conversion package. That means if the transition doesn’t go as deliberate, you may simply shift again to the crib if wanted.”

Finest Age to Transition to a Toddler Mattress

“The most effective age to make the transition is between 3-4 years outdated. After all, some dad and mom do need to transition sooner than 3 years of age as a result of needing the crib for an additional child or crib climbing (there are methods you should utilize in these conditions earlier than shifting proper to a toddler mattress). I’ve labored with purchasers by which their 4 12 months outdated doesn’t need to transition from their crib, and in these circumstances we wait till nearer to 4.5. 

The rationale between 3-4 years of age is the perfect timeframe for the transition from a crib to a toddler mattress is as a result of developmentally, youngsters can perceive the expectations are to remain of their mattress. Additionally they have a neater time with managing the impulse to get away from bed, compared to youngsters youthful than 3 years of age. 

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

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

Find out how to Transition a Youthful Toddler

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

The transition at this early age could take slightly extra time, so have endurance.

Some extra ideas from Alicia:

• “Use a sleep sack to assist stop them from hoisting their legs over the aspect.  The sleep sack could should be placed on backwards if the toddler is unzipping it.” 
• “Dropping the mattress to the ground is an possibility, however this gained’t work for all cribs.  When doing this, we need to be sure 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 may get caught within the gaps, which can current as a security subject.”  
• “If there isn’t a protected choice to drop the mattress to the ground, and/or the sleep sack isn’t working.  Security proof the room, and put a child gate on the door.  Basically flip the room right into a crib.”
• “In relation to a brand new child coming, if the household has the means, I’d suggest getting one other crib. Another 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 need a scenario the place dad and mom 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 perfect factor to do is what I shared above, security proof the toddlers room, and child gate the door.” 

Find out how to Assist Youngsters Keep of their Rooms

“The most effective place to begin is to verify your youngster’s room is security proofed, and maintain your youngster’s room freed from plenty of toys/issues they could be tempted to get away from bed and play with,” Alicia says.

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

“And prior to creating the transition, begin speaking in regards to the shift to an enormous child mattress, and put “sleep guidelines” in place. The sleep guidelines needs to be reviewed each night time at bedtime through the transition interval to assist set the expectation,” Alicia says.

Find out how to 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 adjustments for youngsters, and tackling them on the similar time will be overwhelming for them and oldsters. 

Take into account, it’s okay to potty practice through 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 youngsters could not have the ability to maintain their bladder by way of the night time till between 4-5 years of age.”

(Your pediatrician ought to have the ability to talk about 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 gained’t maintain anybody awake.
3. I’ll keep in mattress till my mild 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 you could set to show inexperienced at a sure time. So principally, it’s a solution to visually present children when it’s okay to be awake or out of their room earlier than they will inform time.

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

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

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

“Utilizing a video monitor to regulate your youngster may additionally be useful for you. In the event that they get away from bed, allow them to realize it’s nonetheless time for his or her physique to relaxation, and their mild isn’t inexperienced but, then stroll them again to mattress. Do that each time they get away from bed between bedtime and 6am,” Alicia says.

Child Gates and Door Locks

“For youngsters who actually battle to remain in mattress throughout this transition, placing a child gate on the door to assist them bear in mind it’s time for his or her physique to relaxation could also be useful. When utilizing this technique, we need to depart the gate open initially to provide them the chance to remain in mattress. If they arrive away from bed, stroll them again and remind them that in the event that they select to get away from bed once more, the gate might want to shut to assist them bear in mind it’s time for relaxation. You’ll be able to 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 youngsters 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 could be a nice possibility. When you want the crib for an additional child, search for a toddler mattress that’s straightforward in your youngster to get out and in of, or many households go proper to a twin mattress positioned on the ground. You’ll be able to add a mattress railing (the type that slides beneath) and put a tender carpet subsequent to the mattress to cushion it because the youngster learns to sleep on this new surroundings.

Toddler Journey Beds

Discover extra info on learn how to 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 assets for the remainder of the sleep gear it’s possible you’ll want:

Toddler Sleep Sacks

You’ll be able to maintain your youngster 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

When 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 protected 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 youngster appears high quality with out one.

Protected Sleeping Reminders

For teenagers underneath age 1, it’s endorsed that they be put all the way down to sleep on their backs on a agency, flat floor with out pillows, stuffed animals, or blankets. Learn the full 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 consultants warning that it’s protected 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 outdated.
• When you want the crib for an additional child at an earlier age or the kid is climbing out of their crib, that’s after all high quality. The transition could take slightly longer to stay. Consistency is vital.
• Child proof the room in order that all the things is secured. Keep away from pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals within the mattress till not less than age 1, and perferrably age 2.
• Stick with a bedtime routine and share the household sleep guidelines often.
• If the kid will get away from bed, stroll them again to it as many instances 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 advisor 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 beneath to share.