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Home › Articles › Toddlers › Bedtime Transition

Bedtime Transition

Is Your Baby Ready for a Big Bed?

By Carol Sjostrom Miller

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Other children may need the security of the crib while they get used to the idea of sleeping in a bed. "We set up the bed a few days before taking down the crib, and let him sleep in the crib for a few more nights while the bed was in his room," recalls Pearson.

Saying "Good Night"
Toddlers love consistency, so keep bedtime routines the same although you may want to incorporate the bed into part of the ritual. Snuggle on the bed with your child before tucking him in, or stretch out on the bed to read a story.

Mindell advises being careful what you say to your child on that first night in a big bed. "Don't tell your child he's not allowed to get out of bed," she says. "Getting up may not have occurred to him, so don't put the idea into his head." If your child does get up, however, return him to bed immediately and firmly.

Remember that all children eventually adjust to sleeping in a bed even if the first few nights, or weeks, are bumpy. "Don't force the issue," says Douglas. Let your child make the transition in his own time. Then before you know it, you'll be ready to move on to the next milestone.

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