The thought of having my baby in a big boy bed is so mind blowing to me. It feels like we were just taking him home from the hospital yesterday. Where does time go?! Why can’t there be a pause button?? I’m not going to lie, the day we broke down his crib was a very emotional day for me. During his last nap in his crib I just couldn’t resist and jumped in with him! How can my baby no longer need his crib and need a toddler room already?!!!
I guess whether we like it or not, it happens and our babies grow up. My son just had his third birthday so we figured it was the perfect time for us to make the transition to a toddler room. It was part of his ‘big boy’ present. To our surprise, it was a very smooth transition. I will share some tips and helpful products that helped make it a happy experience. These include mental and physical prep work, the toddler room essentials and all the necessities that made it a painless process for all of us.
The good news was he was completely on board and helped with the entire process. His original crib converted into a full-size bed which was awesome so we didn’t have to buy a completely new bed. The headboard and foot-board were from his crib so it was a familiar piece of furniture for him.
There isn’t a definite age as to when you should make the conversion but if you and your tot feel it’s the right time, then here are some things to consider…
Build up excitement for your toddler months before. Speak to them about what is going to happen. Talk about how their room will look different and will have a lot of new exciting things in it. Allow them to help pick out the new pieces. Things like new blankets, stuffed animals, books can all be their choices. Make them a part of the process!
Make it a positive experience. Any time we spoke about the transition to a big boy room, we always kept things positive. We said things to him like “Wow, you are getting SO BIG now or guess what, you are ready for a bed like Mommy & Daddy’s!”
We allowed him to help with the actual transition process. He has a love for tools so we allowed him to (pretend) to help Daddy take apart his old crib and build his new bed. Making them a part of the process helped the transition to a toddler room.
Read books about the change. Anytime there is a major transition in your little one’s life, it is always a good idea to read them books about it. It will help them feel like they’re not alone in the process and help them better understand what’s happening.
Keep the exact same bed time routine from when he was in the crib. Kids like knowing what’s next. It’s how they feel in control. Especially during a big change like a new bed, this is vital to a smooth process. The only thing we did change was sitting in his room with him until he falls asleep. He wanted our presence in the room and we were ok with that. He is now gradually ok with us leaving while he is still semi-awake.
Disclaimer: This post may contain sponsored and/or affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
What are some of the toddler room necessities to make it fun and a bit more mature?
Crane Humidifier – We’ve always had a humidifier in his bedroom but felt it was time for an upgrade so we got the Ultrasonic Warm & Cool Mist Humidifier from Crane. The reason we chose this one is because there is a remote control shut off and a timer which is perfect for not having to walk thru his room and risk waking him up just to shut it off. This one also has a humidistat regulator and both warm & cool mist which is crucial for the upcoming change of season.
PBS Stick – The world’s first “kid-safe” streaming TV stick! The PBS Kids HDMI Streaming TV Stick connects to hours of preloaded videos, exclusive PBS Kids games and songs from the most popular PBS Kids shows. So whether they have a TV in their room or use the family TV, they can be in control safely. We had a movie night to celebrate him turning 3 and moving into his big boy bed and the part he was most excited about was he got to watch whatever he wanted and was able to work the remote control all by himself!
Star Light Projector Turtle – This definitely helped with the ‘cool factor’ and enticed him to let us shut the lights off. The colors change while projecting stars and a moon on his ceiling. It is mesmerizing and helps him settle down at the end of the day.
Toddler Room Monitor – This is a great alternative if you don’t want to put up additional gates in your house. It’s a simple gadget that you hang on their door and if they open the door it will immediately alert you via your phone and let you know they’re on the move.
Caddy Organizer – Anything to help me stay organized is a must. Kids need a lot of stuff and when its bedtime they need a million more things. So having everything in one central spot is a time saver. I store things like tissues, wipes, water bottle, lotion, etc. He also knows where to go if he needs anything in the middle of the night. Which equates to him being more independent and therefore less wake ups for Mommy & Daddy.
What are some things you have to think about regarding safety?
This is super important to think about as they will now have free range to pretty much everything and everywhere in their room. My Husband converted all the electrical outlets to tamper resistant outlets and put covers on all of them. We also put window wedges on the windows in his room so he can’t open them higher than a certain point. Securing the dresser to the wall is another must! If your tot is anything as adventurous as ours, you can never be safe enough but these are definitely a good start.
Hope this article helps to make it a smooth transition for you and your toddler.
