Transition From Crib To Bed - Timing It Well

Q. Dear Bracha, I have a one year old and I'm wondering how I will know when he is ready to sleep in a bed. Some of my friends have their children in beds at age one and a half, while others have waited until they are three or more. How will I know what to do and when?

A. Like many things in life, you will have to make the best decision you can with the facts and the situation as you see it. None of the options you have outlined are wrong; they just involve different people and different sets of circumstances.

When deciding to move a child from crib to bed, the most important set of criteria parents consider is mobility. You should ask yourself what is going to happen when you transition your child from crib to bed. The answer is - he will be able to get out of bed at will.

This newfound freedom will, no doubt, be enjoyed by any child; at the same time, it poses risks and increased work for the parent, and may involve mean decreased sleep for parents. You need to expect that your child may come to your bed every night, and it may be difficult to settle him down, considering he can get out of bed whenever he wants to.

When you consider moving a child from crib to bed, you need to first consider safety, and then evaluate sanity. By placing your one year old in a bed, you risk both. Unless there is an additional factor that you are not telling me about, then you risk everything and gain nothing by putting a child into a bed before the age of three.

Why three? In general, the older a child is, the better he can follow instructions; therefore (hopefully) you will have greater success in teaching a three year old to stay in bed than you would a one year old. Next, at the age of three and child is getting a little heavy to lift and help down from a crib; lastly this is the age of toilet training. Once a child is toilet trained, you certainly would consider having him in a bed so that he has access to the bathroom as needed. I know that younger children may use ''pull ups'' at night, but that would not be considered a full toilet trained child.

There is no doubt that children mature at different speeds, but their curiosity is a little bit behind their common sense. Leaving them in the crib a bit longer doesn't hurt anyone, and it keeps them safe while allowing you a more restful sleep.

Wishing you and your family all the best - Bracha