Trying to Transition My 20 Month Old into a Toddler Bed

start by haveing her put her stuffed toys to bed in the toddler bed the power of illossan is great when she see they "slept" through the night safely she should be less hessante on sleeping there her slef as well as try to get her to nap in the bed and put the baby down in the crib tell her it is time for your sister to sleep in the crib and mommy needs you to be a big gril and sleep in your own bed so you can help mommy wacth your little sister

I made a big deal about the BIG KID BED! I was like oh my look at that big kid bed. I made sure to set it in the day time. So they had time to see it in thier room. I also took things from their crib to make it the same. My duaghter has a duck that if you pull the handle it plays music... she still has it one her big girl bed. I also found themed beds work. My son has a race car and my daughter has a princess bed. They have simple ones with picture on them you have to find one your child is excited about it makes it easier. My daughter sleeps better in her princess bed then her crib. Something to keep in mind is they have to feel safe in their bed. I read Dr. Spock (?) parenting book on sleeping, and he says if you reasure your child that this is a safe place then you will always have greater sucess. He says not to let them sleep with you when they get scared becuase that tellls them that they should be scared. He is kind of out of date on somethings but that made sense to me. I hope I could help.

Hi L.-

I too am wondering the same thing with my 20mos son. I haven't bought his new bed yet but I have a feeling I'll have a difficult time with the transition as well.

Maybe with Peyton you could do your suggestion and just take down the crib so she can't see it anymore but also maybe invest in those side rails for beds. Maybe she'll feel like she's in a kind of crib with those rails and transition a little easier.

I plan on trying both of these tactics whenever I buy my son's bed. I'm having my 3rd child in June so that's when I'll try the big boy bed issue.

Good luck!

-D.

I wouldn't rush the transition into a toddler bed, especially if your child loves her crib. My son was in his crib until he was 2 1/2 (he's now 5) and my daughter is now nearing 2 1/2 and still in her crib. Crib to bed is a very difficult transition and if you can hold out longer, and your child is older, it will be easier to reason with them and teach them to stay in the bed instead of wandering around the house and ending up in your bed. Why don't you just move the crib into the room she will share with her sister until she's ready. This is one transition you will not want to rush! If she loves it, keep her in as long as humanly possible! GOOD LUCK!

Our Pediatrician told us not to rush the transition to the big bed. Your daughter will part with the crib when she is ready. If you try and force her into the toddler bed it will backfire and she will want the safety of her crib even more. If you NEED the crib for your new baby, try and make the toddler bed a fun idea. Have her take a nap in the afternoon in it to get her used to the idea of sleeping there all night. We try and make a game out of what ever we want are two to do that they are not into doing. My oldest is 3 and she had the crib/daybed till about a month ago. My 20 month old doesn't want anything to do with the big kid bed. I also think he wouldn't sleep. He'd be out of bed playing wtih his trucks.

My son is 11 months and sleeping on his own bed. He has been since 8 months. What you might want to try is taking the crib apart and just putting the mattress on the floor in the same spot where the crib was. If you need to get those bed rails so it looks like shes still in a crib. Hope that helps.