When it is time for a toddler to move from the
crib to a bed, many parents fuss over the safety aspects of a twin bed.
At the same time, they feel that a toddler bed is a waste of money as
most kids would quickly outgrow such a bed by the time they are five or
even sooner.
If you are seriously thinking of skipping the
toddler bed stage and let your child graduate straight to a twin bed,
you can try considering the following methods to make the transition
safer for your child.
Put Mattress On The Floor
The most worrying factor for parents when they
move their toddler from the crib is the risk of their child rolling off
the bed while they are asleep in the middle of the night. One way you
can minimize this risk is to let your toddler get used to sleeping on a
twin mattress first.
Buy a twin mattress and put it on top of a foam
puzzle mat. You can make the mat slightly larger than the mattress to
ensure that your child would not land on the hard floor should he or
she happens to roll off the mattress. Alternatively, you can line the
sides with cushions and pillows to prevent the same.
Once your toddler has learned not to roll off the
mattress, you can then move him or her onto the bed. Of course, you can
always resort to a portable bed rail and it is indeed recommended to
keep your toddler safe and secure while asleep. But one other reason
why you should start by putting the mattress on the floor is the risk
of your toddler falling off the bed when awake.
Buy Yourself Some Time
You have to bear in mind that some toddlers may
have a habit of standing and jumping on the bed. Depending on your
child’s development, some toddlers may still have problem with balance
when standing on a mattress which can be unstable and soft. Others may
still require an adult’s assistance in getting on and off the bed.
Putting the mattress on the floor first buys you some time until your
child is truly ready for the bed with minimal risk of falling off it.
Step Stool And Low Beds
As twin beds are higher off the ground from
toddler beds, you can also get a step stool to make it easier for your
child to get on and off a twin bed unassisted. You can also try to get
one which has a mattress base which is lower to the ground. Different
twin beds have different heights and you wouldn’t want to end up with
one which is too high for your toddler to climb on.
Of course, how high it will eventually end up will
also have to do with the thickness of your mattress. So, do not be
tempted to buy an overly thick mattress that makes the bed higher for
your toddler.
Extra Wide Bed Rails
As mentioned, a portable bed rail is recommended
with a twin bed. If you are truly worried of your toddler falling off
the bed, you can try installing an extra wide bed rail to take care of
the problem. Some bed rails are up to 56 inches in width, securing a
greater area of the bed to keep your toddler from rolling onto the
floor.
At the end of the day, a toddler bed is not always
necessary. Once your child has grown too big for the crib, you can
always move him or her to a twin bed by assessing his or her readiness
and taking the necessary precautions to make it safe and secure.
Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/skipping-the-
toddler-bed-stage-how-to-make-it-safer-486843.html
About the Author
You can look for crib transition tips at http://www.babycrib-
toddlerbed.com
when you buy a toddler bed or a twin bed. Also read about sleepness
nights with a child which is a very common experience among all parents
here.
|
