Transitioning from crib to bed

Child Sleep Expert Kathy Sinclair, shares advice for parents on how and when to transition your toddler from sleeping in a crib to a toddler bed
When to Transition from Crib to Toddler Bed
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Transitioning from crib to bed

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The right time for transitioning a toddler from a crib to a bed is between the ages of 2 1/2 and 3 because, therefore, they are mentally capable about the responsibility of moving to his own bed. It is a huge responsibility that a toddler has to move into his bed. It's a new bed. It's totally different from his crib. He's able to get out and he's free. He can get out and play with his toys if he wants. He can get out and ask you for a glass of water ten times. He can come into your bed 15 times in the middle of the night. It's a huge responsibility. If your toddler is 2 1/2 and all of his friends are moving into a bed, don't feel pressure to move into a bed. Wait until he is three. There is nothing wrong with a toddler staying in his bed until he's three. The easiest way to do it, is to have the bed and the crib in the same room, so he can take naps in the bed and, at nighttime, sleep in the crib. Until he's sleeping in the bed for naps well, I wouldn't suggest you put him in the bed for nighttime. After he's be consistently sleeping for a week for naps, then I would from the crib to the bed for his nighttime. Don't ever use the crib in the way to say, "Oh, you are getting out of bed too much, I'm going to put you back in the crib." Don't use it as a disciplinary method. It's not good to do that. We want every place that they sleep to be a good, safe, happy place.

Child Sleep Expert Kathy Sinclair, shares advice for parents on how and when to transition your toddler from sleeping in a crib to a toddler bed

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Kathy Sinclair

Sleep Expert

Kathy Sinclair is a committed and dedicated baby sleep expert that has spent 2,856 nights without sleep so that parents of newborns could get theirs. During this time she has studied closely the secrets, nuances, and ins-and-outs of baby sleeping patterns. This study, along with her skill and knowledge, has enabled her to be known as the “Baby Whisperer of Los Angeles” by some of her clients, who know that she can get babies sleeping peacefully and easily within a very short space of time.

Kathy is a graduate of Australia's prestigious Charlton Brown Nanny College, a certified postpartum doula, lactation educator, and a certified Happiest Baby on the Block Educator. As the head of Baby Sleep Solutions, a sleep consultation service, Kathy does online, telephone and in person consulting to families who need to get more sleep quickly and without fuss.

Kathy currently spends her time between Los Angeles and Brisbane Australia, enjoying an endless summer and the best of both worlds.

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