I’m on my third child with one more to go. I must have read something about the transition because this method worked in one night. The first two boys we moved into toddler beds at 15 months, both in one night – the third in two nights.
I’d suggest you transition your baby into a toddler bed when they are able to stand in their crib and are waiting for you in the morning. That worked for us. The technique works best if you start by removing the crib from the room without them there. Replace it with the toddler bed. Some might just be a matter of folding the crib or rearranging the crib pieces to make a toddler bed, or a twin bed.
In either case make sure there’s a short railing near the pillow and chest area of the child. They might not be ready for a straight mattress yet, but they are ready for the responsibility of staying in bed on their own.
So here’s the technique: Take time to make sure to introduce your child to the new “big kid” bed early in the day. Celebrate, and praise them for moving into the new bed. Let them climb on it, but no laying down unless they do it on their own. Then leave the room and wait until bed to go back.
Now go through your nightly ritual just as you normally would. After all only the bed changed. Put them in the toddler bed just as you would have put them in the crib. Music, juice. . . Whatever you normally use. The only difference is when you leave the room and close the door you stay there and listen. Listen for the first pitter-patter of feet hitting the
ground, then go back in immediately.
Make no noise, no chat, no eye contact, no talking. Pick up the child put them back in bed and leave and then listen again. Continue doing that forever. This one sacrifice will pay off for the rest of your life. Just make sure that you don’t stop until the child just stays in bed. Ignore pleas, crying, and everything else for one night. You’re training the child to stay in bed, so stay focused on that goal.
Once the child realizes you’re not giving up, the rule will be permanent. For our 18 month old, we had to put him back in a few times on the second night as well. That’s it – after that none of our children got out of bed again until they were much older.
Just Do it. Transition From Crib To Bed. Make the switch. It will pay you back in many dividends.
