How old is too old for a crib? This is a question a lot of parents ask. The short answer is that there’s no magic age saying your kid needs to be out of their crib. Cribs are designed to help you and your baby get through the first year as easily as possible. They eliminate the danger an infant can pose to themselves when getting in and out of bed, but cribs aren’t meant to last forever.
The transition from crib to bed might be stressful for both you and your kid
The transition from crib to bed might be stressful for both you and your kid. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try these tips:
Make it a gradual process. If you have a child who is ready to move out of a crib, but still needs some time to adjust to sleeping in a big-kid bed, buy a toddler bed that has rails on the side or top. This way, your kid can feel more secure as she learns to sleep without them.
Don’t rush the process. You can try moving your kid into her new bed before she’s ready, but that could backfire and make her regress when she goes back into her crib at night.
Don’t expect miracles overnight. When kids learn to walk, they don’t start running around like Olympians right away; it takes practice and patience from both parent and child before they master their new skill. Similarly, when kids learn to sleep in their beds independently (without falling out), it takes time for them to get used to it — so don’t expect too much too soon!
What age should you move your toddler out of the crib?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents move their child out of a crib and into a toddler bed no later than age 2. Some parents, however, worry about the transition and wonder at what age they should move their child from a crib to a bed.
The answer is simple: When your child can climb out of the crib, it’s time to transition him or her to a toddler bed. You don’t want your child spending too much time in an unsafe sleeping environment.
Many parents are concerned that if they move their child from the crib too early, he or she will feel abandoned or rejected. This is simply not true! Most children adjust easily to the transition because they understand that they are more grown up now and need more independence. In fact, moving your toddler out of his or her crib may actually help them develop self-confidence as they become more independent.
It may be scary thinking about putting your kid in their own room in their own “big kid” bed. However, there are ways to make this transition easier on both of you.
The first thing to keep in mind is that this is a big step for your child. They will still need some cuddling and comforting even though they are getting older and bigger. This is a good time to start making sure they get enough sleep at night so that they are well rested during the day.
Start by slowly introducing them to their new bed by putting them down for naps or bedtime in it. Make sure there are no distractions around, like books or toys on the floor near them, which can lead them to staying up longer than necessary because they don’t want to leave their “safe zone” by climbing off the bed and going into another room where the TV might be on and other people might be talking or moving around.
If they do fall asleep somewhere else and then wake up crying because they were startled by something (such as hearing a noise), pick them up gently, but quickly, and put them back into their bed so that they can go back to sleep.