When is the right time to move a child from a crib to a bed? When they climb out? When they turn 2? Many people seem to think that by 2 years old, you “should” make the transition from a crib to a bed.

2 years old is not a magic age to stop using a crib when it’s not a problem for you. And actually, 2.5 years old is the average age when toddlers start to understand the concept “stay in bed” and do well without the boundaries of the crib bars. Moving a child to a bed before they grasp this concept may put you in a position where you need to bring the child back to bed over and over and some children are actually uncomfortable without the boundaries before they are ready.

 

Listen to your gut. Listen to your heart. If that is telling you it’s not time, then it isn’t. Remind your family and friends who may be pressuring you to make the transition that it’s after 2.5, not 2 when you want to start thinking about it. You can even keep them in a crib past 3 if you want to. If the child is climbing out out of their crib, and it’s just not safe anymore, often a sleep coaching a. Can extend their crib stay or you can put the mattress on the floor and treat their whole room like a crib area. Talk to a sleep coach for specific advice for your situation. Every child is unique.

 

This is Ginger when she was 2. I remember the loud Thump we would hear when she started climbing out of her crib. I wish I had just own then, all the things I know now. Thrive, don’t just survive, with the help of a gentle sleep coach.