As your little one transitions from infancy to toddlerhood, you'll face a whole new set of sleep challenges! Just when you've figured out how to soothe your baby to sleep and calm nighttime cries, your toddler will shake up your whole routine. Suddenly, they can satisfy their curiosity and push your boundaries by climbing, walking, and exploring in the middle of the night.
Toddlers are notorious explorers. This is the stage in their life when they're learning their boundaries, and yours! Bedtime is one routine they might start pushing against, testing how many times they can get up, how late they can push bedtime, and how far they can adventure into the house.
Besides interrupting a healthy bedtime routine, a curious toddler can also get into a lot of safety hazards. When we notice our children starting to climb and toddle around, we have to take steps to proactively safety proof sleep spaces. We have to think about toddler crib safety, when to transition to a toddler bed, and how to ensure your child has a safe bedroom.
Toddler Crib Safety
There will be a transitionary stage between infancy and the time to get a toddler bed. You'll probably want to keep your little one in their crib as long as possible for their safety and your nighttime sanity, so let's talk about how to do that safely.
1. Lower the mattress height
One of the first steps to toddler-proofing your baby crib is to put the mattress in its lowest position. This makes it more difficult to climb up and out, which reduces the risks of falls or unsafe nighttime wandering.
2. Turn the crib
You can also turn the crib so the high side is facing out and the low side is facing the wall. It's easier to put your baby in the crib when the low side is out, but when you're no longer lifting an infant, you can safely turn the crib around.
3. Consider a sleep sack
If you aren't already, consider using a sleep sack, sleep bag, or wearable blanket. All options are great for restricting your toddler's range of motion in their legs while leaving their hands free for safety. Another plus is that they're great for temperature regulation with their TOG ratings.
4. Remove stackable items
Limit the amount of plushies, pillows, and blankets that your toddler can use to climb. You'd be surprised how much height a little climber can get from their blankies!
5. Avoid unsafe solutions
Remember that your toddler's safety comes first, and if you've tried everything, it might just be time to think about a toddler bed. Pay attention to the height and weight limits on your crib. Also avoid any products marketed to keep your toddler in their crib, like pop-up mesh crib tents, because they aren't safety tested and often encourage parents to ignore their crib's recommendations. Products without safety seals are a no-go!
When to Transition to a Toddler Bed
A big part of crib safety is knowing when it's time to give it up. Transitioning to a bed is a scary change, for you and your toddler. It means they're growing up, and they may see the crib as a safe place and be hesitant to give it up.
So, when do you do it? Truth it, it depends on your little one's needs. Most tots make the jump between 18 months to 3 years old, and that big age range reflects how dependent the timing is on individual children. To make the decision easier, here are some signs that it's time.
1. Your toddler has outgrown the crib
This is the most straightforward sign of them all. If your tot is 35 inches tall, or the top railing of the crib is at about their mid-chest, then it's no longer safe for them to be in the crib. At this point, they're able to climb out super easily, which can lead to injury if they take a tumble.
2. Your child wants to transition to a toddler bed
Maybe your little one's friends, cousins, or older siblings have a big kid bed, and your child wants one now, too. Or maybe they're starting to feel trapped by the crib. If your child insists on a real bed, and you feel they're ready for it, then this can be a good indicator that it's time. When your tot gets their heart set on a bed, they may try escaping the crib even more.
3. They keep escaping the crib
Simply put, climbing out of the crib can be a safety hazard. If they take a tumble on the way down, they risk bruises, bonked heads, scrapes, and even fractures. A fall from a crib is much higher than a fall from a toddler bed.
4. They've shown signs of being ready
If your toddler is well-adjusted to their sleep routine and shows signs of maturity, then it might be time. Remember not to use a bed to try and fix poor sleep habits, because chances are it'll make the problems worse. If your toddler self-soothes, sleeps through the night, and follows other house rules, then they'll probably handle their first bed well.
5. You need the crib for a new baby
While this shouldn't be the main reason to transition your kiddo to a bed, it does happen. If you need the crib for a new baby, we recommend transitioning your toddler very early in your pregnancy so they don't feel like they're being pushed aside for their little sibling. We don't want any jealousy or resentment toward the new sibling.
So, if it's time to transition for your toddler's safety, how do you do it? We go more in depth in our blog post all about the crib-to-bed transition, so feel free to read more about it there! Try to make it a fun experience for your little one, but remember to also keep hard boundaries and rules for bedtime to make it easy on everyone.
How to Toddler Proof the Bedroom
Toddler proofing should start when your child escapes the crib, and go into full force when your kiddo starts using a toddler bed. You'll want to try to look at the bedroom through a little kid's point of view and see anything enticing that could be a safety hazard. Think dresser drawers to climb on, a window, any electric outlets.
When it's time to baby proof a room for a toddler bed, you'll probably start by making a list, reading articles, and obsessing over your little one's safety. We think it's easiest to break the room into sections so it's an easier task.
1. Toddler proof bed
We've already talked about how to safely keep your toddler in their crib and when to transition to a bed. Once you've got the toddler bed, you'll want to make sure it's low to the ground. And, you can consider a bumper bar to help avoid accidental falls during sleep.
Make sure the frame doesn't have harsh corners, and if it does, then get bumpers to avoid bruises. Place the bed away from heat vents, curtains or blind cords, and outlets.
2. Put away toys
Any toy that could pose a choking hazard needs to be put in an unreachable place. You'll also have to consider which toys you want to be accessible to your toddler during the night. They will probably get up and wander, if only in their bedroom, and you probably can't realistically keep every toy away.
We recommend keeping soothing toys, like stuffed animals, soothers, teethers, or pacifiers within reach. You could even let your child pick their toy out before bedtime and present it as a snuggle buddy. Whatever you decide, keep toys on low shelves so your kiddo won't be tempted to climb, and keep the floor clean.
3. Secure furniture
Furniture like dressers, shelves, changing tables, or chairs should be seen as a hazard. Your toddler might try to climb them, pull drawers out too far, or tip them over, all of which poses real risks to kiddos.
Make sure tall, heavy furniture is secured to the wall. Your little one should be able to put their full body weight on it and it shouldn't budge. Also put locks or another product on drawers to avoid pinched fingers.
4. Pay attention to windows
Unfortunately for gorgeous views and pretty curtains, every part of a window can be a risk. You'll want to remove long drapery and secure the cords to blinds, as they can be a strangulation hazard. You also don't want your toddler pulling the curtain rod down on them.
For the window itself, make sure it locks and that your toddler can't get it open. You window probably comes with a lock, but you can invest in extra ones to feel safer. We don't need any toddlers escaping their room or closing the window on their fingers!
5. Cover electrical outlets
An electrical scare is probably one of the biggest worries you'll face when toddler proofing. Cover outlets, shorten cords, and remove electrical items where possible to reduce exposure.
6. Outside the bedroom
When your toddler starts walking, that means they'll try to explore further than the bedroom. You'll want baby gates on stairways, covers on outlets, bumpers on corners, and more.
Some parents chose to put a toddler lock on their child's bedroom door. Depending on your household needs and budget, this could be the best way to keep your little one safe and discourage continuous nighttime wanderings. If you chose to do this, make sure to keep a baby monitor in their room so you can tend to them when they need it.
Safe Sleep from Cribs to Beds!
As your baby grows, they'll explore the world around them. It's how they learn, how they find their way in the world, and how they become adults. Our job as parents is to facilitate this growth in a safe, proactive manner.
Part of this adventurous learning is figuring out boundaries and rules in a safe way. Bedtime is one of the big ways children learn is by pushing boundaries and breaking rules. They'll try this no matter what we do, so we can at least make sure they're safe!
Create a safe sleep environment so your toddler can benefit from this key growth period safely. If we do everything we can to minimize hazards during exploration, our little adventurers will have a much easier time adjusting to their new bed. Consider shopping our curated collection of safe and gorgeous nursery furniture. Here's to many restful nights for you and your toddler!
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