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How to Transition Your Child to a Big Bed

Now that your little one is growing up, it seems like the milestones they’re hitting are coming way too fast. Once they’re ready to go from a crib to that ‘big bed’, you know your baby is becoming a big kid right before your eyes. Transitioning from a crib or a toddler bed to a twin sized bed can be a tricky one, but I’ve got some tips for you that will help make for a smooth experience.

One important part of the transition is picking out a mattress that will make the transition easy and last for years and years to come as your child grows. We were happy to partner with eve Mattress to test out their quality memory foam twin mattresses that fit just what we needed.

How to Transition Your Child to a Big Bed

Simple tricks and tips on how to transition your child to a big bed, including how to know if they're ready for the big switch!

Is your child ready to transition?
This is a big question to ask yourself before you make the move. While some people believe that children should be at specific stages by specific ages, that isn’t always how life really works out. No one knows your child better than you do. This is a move that shouldn’t be sudden; by planning ahead and easing your child into the new sleeping situation, it will improve the likelihood of an easy and positive outcome.

Talk positively and be upbeat about their new bed.
Sounding excited and happy when you’re talking about something, will leave that positive image in your child’s mind. The move from a toddler bed to a twin bed is a great thing, it’s awesome, they’re growing up! This doesn’t mean to oversell it or exaggerate about the new bed, but it should be something that your child sees as special for them. If you have older children or other family members around, encourage them to talk positively about the bed switch with your child.

Use the bed before making it the main sleep space.
If you have room, set the twin bed up somewhere in your house. Have your kiddo sit on the bed(or snuggle up there for reading time. Show your child that the new bed is fun and comfortable – look how great it is to read books with mommy in bed! Be sure to encourage good behavior as well as setting boundaries such as “no jumping on the bed”.

Put the twin bed in the same place their toddler bed was.
Everyone, no matter how old or young we are, get comfortable in our own areas, our own spots. We know what’s around us, the normal sounds we hear, and having that stability helps in making us comfortable. By keeping the bed in the same area as the crib or toddler bed, it won’t be a drastic change. Their room will still be how they are use to it and will feel more comfortable falling asleep in their ‘big bed’.

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Make the new bed a special place.
Let your child help pick out the bedding that their new bed will have. Let them pick out some stuffed animals to have in bed with them. This is a big change for a kid, so making the new space an exciting one filled with things they like, will help them in wanting to make the transition.

Remember to be flexible and show comfort and be supportive.
If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that not everything happens overnight. We all can make great plans and hope life sticks to them, but more often than not, you’re going to have some bumps in the road. It might be a hard few nights in the beginning, but by being there for your child, you can help comfort them, show them that everything is okay. Avoid getting upset with them, such as yelling and making them feel bad about not sleeping in their new bed. You don’t want this is come off as a punishment to your child. Remember, they’re young, they need to be assured that this is a good thing and isn’t a scary one.

The eve Mattress Difference

eve Mattress set out to design a mattress that was, “simply beautiful and beautifully simple” and they were able to achieve just that. When you land on their website, you might be surprised that all you’ll find in one mattress, available in all the sizes. When you get something right the first time, you don’t need to offer different tiers of comfort. They also pride themselves on offering their mattresses at reasonable prices, unlikely some massively inflated mattress stores.

The team at eve Mattress spent years fine tuning and taking feedback in from over 70,000 users to create the perfect mattress. They are so confident in their mattress you can try it at your own home for 100 nights before committing!

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The eve Mattress uses a new generation memory foam that can evenly distribute your body’s weight and pressure for an incredibly supportive and comfortable sleep but that also addresses concerns of early foam mattresses of overheating and lack of bounce and response to create a dreamy mattress that sleeps cooler while giving you the ultimate support and comfort.

Check out our unboxing of the eve Mattress to see just how cool this mattress is! It arrives compressed and rolled up in a box and is fully inflated in 4-5 hours.

Our eve Mattresses did have a very strong foam smell the first 2 days, which was overwhelming. Iwould recommend unboxing your eve Mattress and let it have a few days to air out, if you can. After the initial smell, though, they have been wonderful! The mattress is extremely comfortable and is both firm and soft, supportive, and comfortable for sleeping on your side, back, or belly. I joke that my boys beds are sleeping like kings!

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eve Mattresses are only sold online and delivery is free! Best of all, your mattress will arrive within 7 working days. Learn more about eve Mattress and get started with a comfortable night’s sleep today!

Share your tips for transitioning your child to a big bed in the comments! 

Petrina

Monday 12th of December 2016

These are wonderful tips! Transitioning to a big kid bed can definitely be a difficult process (just like potty training lol!) I feel your first tip is the most important. If the child is not ready, it isn't going to be smooth transition. It doesn't matter that your neighbor's child that's the same age is already sleeping in a big kid bed. Thank you for this great post!

Jocely Brown

Wednesday 7th of December 2016

Awesome tips. This is very helpful for me as I have 1 year old baby and soon we have to change his bed.

Autumn Reo

Wednesday 7th of December 2016

Great tips! I could have used these when mine made the switch, and possibly avoided lot's of sleepless nights!

Brianne

Wednesday 7th of December 2016

We are going through this right now with our daughter. She rather just sleep in our bed, but I will definitely try some of these tips!

dawn

Wednesday 7th of December 2016

omg what a big boy moment. and he looks so happy. love it.

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