This question comes up for all parents sooner or later. For some, the question doesn't arise because a sibling is already on the way and the crib is needed again. For us with twins, this pressure is not there; on the contrary, our children sleep very well in their cribs and we are anxious about changing something that works well.
Is there a specific age when you should get rid of the crib?
Signs that the bed can be changed include, for example, when the child climbs over the bars or keeps bumping into the sides at night. Furthermore, it is more practical for children who are already using the toilet if there are no more bars in the way.
I also kept checking at night to see how much the children were still tossing and turning in bed. As long as our children were still turning completely around in bed, I was always afraid that they could fall out of a normal bed entirely. In my opinion, there is no fixed age here when you absolutely have to switch. Simply observe your child to see how they sleep and whether they are already interested in big beds.
Which bed should you choose?
This question occupied us a lot. Should we get a big bed right away or a junior bed? My husband wanted to get an adventurous loft bed, preferably with a slide. As a worrywart, I didn't have a good feeling about that; I saw our offspring tumbling down the slide in the dark, sleepy at night. Besides, it is my opinion that a bed is a place to sleep, not to romp around in. Of course, everyone has to decide that for themselves and every child is different.
For us, the solution was to choose a flexible bed that now has a normal height for the beginning, and when the children are bigger and safer, it can be converted into a loft bed using extensions. The slide part is still being figured out. We also added a raised wooden border so that the children cannot fall out if they move around a lot in bed.
How should the move take place?
A delicate touch is required here too: some children don't find the move difficult, others struggle with it for a long time. It is best to take it slowly and place the bed in the same spot at first. Use the same bedding initially so that the changes aren't too much all at once. If the bed has no border, it makes sense to secure the bed at the beginning. Place a mattress in front of the bed or buy a mobile bed rail that can simply be pushed under the mattress. Also, pay attention to your own attitude; if you are skeptical about changing the bed, your child will notice and might even adopt that attitude.
When older children visited, I always pointed out our twins' big bed and asked if they wanted one like that too. We had the children with us when buying the bed and showed it to them. Then we ordered the bed and kept reminding the children that the big new bed would be arriving soon.
Assemble the bed together and let the child help decide where it should stand. I also think accessories are important; let your child help choose the bedding or the night light. Fill the bed with stuffed animals, then it will seem a bit smaller at first and be much cozier.
Anyone who wants to can also hold a small celebration where grandparents or friends of the child come to visit to admire the new bed.
You can find out what else you should look for when buying a new child's bed in this article.
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
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