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Alternative Sleeping Arrangements
Where Should Your Toddler Sleep?
By Shel Franco
Maybe she's climbing out. Maybe he's growing too tall. Whatever the reason, leaving the crib behind brings up all sorts of questions. Did you know that crib to toddler bed isn't your only option? Could your toddler handle a regular-size bed with safety modifications? Should your child share a room – and even a bed – with a sibling?
We live in a culture where some things are expected, for example the notion that babies sleep in cribs, and once they are big enough, they move to toddler beds. Some parents are bucking that tradition, though. The following alternatives are becoming more common:
- Moving the child directly into a twin-size bed.
- Moving the child onto a twin-size mattress, which is placed directly on the floor.
- Moving the child into a full-size bed, where Mom or Dad can also rest comfortably until the child falls asleep.
- Moving the child into a full-size or larger bed with a sibling.
Which way is the best way? That varies from family to family. "I believe that whatever gets the family the most sleep is the best way for the family to sleep," says Dr. Carrie Contey, clinical psychologist and nationally recognized early parenting coach. "There is no one right way to do it."
The Cionca family of Plymouth, Mich., discovered one of the more common alternatives to the toddler bed. "We never used a toddler bed with Myles and don't intend to with Carter," says mom Laura. "Myles was just over 2 when he crawled out of his crib. We immediately bought him a twin mattress and put it on the floor – with Lightening McQueen bedding of course. This worked perfectly for him because he learned the boundaries without hurting himself if he fell out of his bed. He also loved his mattress on the floor, because he could run and jump into bed on a whim."
