Making the big move as we call it in our house can be a scary thing for a toddler. For us, it came when my 16 month old discovered how to climb over the rails of his crib. Unfortunately, it was right about the time when we were able to lay him down and he would go to sleep on his own. Needless to say, we were scared!

This move can be a big deal for a toddler. You can make the transition much smoother by implementing these four tips to help make that transition easier for you and, more importantly, for your toddler.

Start with naps

Set up the toddler bed or big bed in the same room with the crib. This way, there is no pressure from you to sleep there. Encourage it but dont push it. Naps are a great starting point for your toddler sleeping in the new bed.

Have a routine in place.

One of the biggest mistakes that parents make regarding toddlers sleep is the failure to set a strict schedule. This is especially important when transitioning. For us, we do dinner, baths, books and then bed. Your toddler will feel secure knowing that the same things are taking place every day even if the bed is different.

New bed, new room

The great thing about children is that they are easily entertained. So make this transition an adventure by rearranging their furniture or painting their room a new color. You should be cautious with this since it can be a really good thing or a really bad thing. Make sure to talk to your child and involve them in the change. If they seem hesitant about it, then don’t do it however, if they seem excited about it, then shoot for the moon.

Don’t go overboard with rearranging the furniture. When you lay your child down to sleep, you want them to look at the same things as they fall into dreams. So try and position the new bed in the same location as the crib was in. This will allow your toddler to sleep more comfortably and fall asleep more quickly.

Don’t push it

You will likely encounter some resistance when you begin to put your toddler to sleep in his new bed. The best thing to do is to let your toddler sleep where he wants to sleep while continually suggesting that he sleep in the big kid bed. Another great tip is for YOU to sleep in the toddler bed. If you child refuses to sleep in the toddler bed, then go ahead and tell him that you are going to try it out for him and let him know how great it was the next morning.

If these things are still not enough to actually convince your toddler to sleep in his new bed, then by all means, feel free to resort to a negotiation. Since this isn’t mandatory, it is okay to tell your toddler “When you sleep in your new bed all night then we will do something extra special the next day”. It is important to be specific about what the reward is for accomplishing this new goal.

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