Say 'Hello' to the Grown-Up Bed!

Leaving the sanctuary of a cosy, familiar crib and sleeping in a huge, big kid's bed is something some toddlers relish. Others see it as an excuse to create havoc! No bars round the bed means freedom, surely?! How you handle the transition to a proper bed can impact how successful the move is. First, there is no right or wrong time to move a child to a big bed. If your little one has become a mountain goat and is climbing out of the crib, then it may be best to move them for safety's sake. If you are confident they sooth themselves back to sleep if they wake in the night, then this is a good sign they won't trouble you in the dead of night if they happen to wake up!

Roll up a spare duvet next to the bed if you are worried they might fall out. Or, invest in a rail. And, if you're concerned about night time wandering, perhaps put a guard across the bedroom door. Either way make the move exciting and fun! Choose a new duvet together, talk about how grown up it is to sleep in a big bed and give loads of praise each time you have a good night's sleep. You could print a ToucanLearn sticker chart and give stickers for good sleeping. Or, award a personalized certificate to celebrate a week of successful sleeping in a big bed. Good luck!