Communication Is Key
“Start by talking about them getting a bed in their own room,” recommends Dr. Roseanne Lesack, a licensed psychologist, board-certified analyst, and director of a child psychology unit at Nova Southeastern University. “Have them be a part of that process.” Parents should make it clear to the kid what transitioning to a toddler bed means and let them help pick out the bed, the bedding, and the transitional objects that can help them self-soothe. Then, the sleep training begins. It’s a slow process and it has to be in order to preserve the trust kids have in their parents.
Transition to a Toddler Bed by Fading
The first night, a parent should sit on the bed with their kid after the usual bedtime ritual and stay there until the child falls asleep. Even with the comforting presence of a parent, the first night may be restless. After they fall asleep, the parent can leave. Once the child gets used to that, the parent should move farther away, perhaps to the edge of the bed, and stay until the child falls asleep. After the child is used to that, the parent can stand next to the bed, and so on. The point is to take small steps away from the kid and toward the door, and let them adjust to each change until the final step: leaving the room. The transitional technique used here is called fading, and it usually works — as long as parents take the time to let the child become acclimated to each new situation. “There are a million ways of dividing up these steps to be smaller for your child,” says Lesack. “It’s really based on what your child needs and what your family is comfortable doing.” The point is to be consistent about each step and stick with it until your kid is comfortable. “Before going on to that next step, I would have three nights in a row of success,” advises Lesack. “Success is when the child is not upset, is not crying, and falls asleep within a normal time frame. I wouldn’t move further away if the child is upset.”
When Your Child Wakes Up
Falling asleep is probably less of an issue for the child than waking up in the middle of the night alone in their own room. When that happens, it’s okay to enter the room, but try to repeat the bedtime process. If the kid fell asleep with Dad halfway across the room, Dad should return to that spot until the child self-soothes and falls asleep again. Note to parent: The final step may be the most difficult. That can be mitigated by leaving the room for a set period of time, and then returning until the child falls asleep. Start with three minutes. Once the kid can handle that, up it to five. Eventually, the child will fall asleep when the parent is out in the hall. And that’s when the transition is complete. “If you fade yourself out slow enough, there shouldn’t be any crying,” says Lesack. “If there is long, dramatic crying, or problem behavior, you either have to decrease that step, or consider the possibility that your child isn’t ready to give up co-sleeping.”
How to Help Your Child Transition to a Toddler Bed
Talk to your child about what it means to have their own room and own bed.Sit with your child at first as they fall asleep, and then slowly move closer to the door with each phase.Only move on to a new phase once a child has acclimated to the current one.After three days in a row of falling asleep without tears and in a normal amount of time, consider the child acclimated.The last phase is leaving the room altogether. If that is too upsetting, leave for a short amount of time, and then return until the child falls asleep. Keep the three-day rule before extending the time.
