Transitioning to the Toddler Bed

You just do it- I would recommend skipping the toddler bed and just going straight to a twin as it gives them more room to sprawl when they sleep. My kids didn't like their toddler beds - when we got them twin beds they were in Heaven.

For encouragement you can tell him now that he is getting to be a big boy it is time for a big boys bed - new comforter can make it fun or a new stuffed animal to sleep with too- I would let him pick them out though..

Hope that helps!

I took my daughter to pick out her own comforter and sheet set, then got her a bedrail. We went right to a twin bed since they outgrow toddler beds so quickly but they make super cute toddler beds that may help. Start with putting him there for naps and then transition to nighttime. Make it a big deal that he is a big boy and has this cool bed. I even got those decals for her wall and let her decorate by her new bed. She was so excited to be a "big girl" it wasn't difficult at all.

So far, I have successfully transitioned two of my 3 children into toddler beds. The oldest was 2 when we started her (same reason.. baby was on the way) and she had NO problem at all. I would lay with her, read her a story, kiss her goodnight, and that was it. The second one was only like 15 months old and had a little big of a rougher time. She was a restless sleeper, so she'd fall out of the toddler bed once in a while, and it was trickier to get her to fall asleep. I'm a SAHM (I only work weekends) so I had lots of time to help her fall asleep. What worked the best was when I would put a movie on in her room and lay in her bed with her until she fell asleep.. or we'd do the story thing. But regardless, I had to lay with her for a while.. the older she got, the easier it was for her to fall asleep on her own.

I have to agree with the mother who suggested going straight to the twin bed. Then you only have one transition rather than from the crib, to the toddler bed, then to the "big boy" bed. Just a thought.
Cold turkey worked for us when my son transitioned to the "big boy" bed. When we bought it, I left it the garage for a few days so we would just talk about it a lot with him using a lot of energy like it was so cool and exciting that we were going to set it up just for him. When we got it all set up (we tried to let him think he was helping us) we played on the bed all morning (reading books, talking, playing with his dinosaurs). We even pretended to put his favorite stuffed animal puppy to bed in this new bed. Then by nap time he had already spent a lot of time on the bed. It took him a little longer to fall asleep at first, but other than that- he did a-okay. Also, I was expecting at the time and since he was old enough to understand that mommy was having a baby, I told him he was going to be giving his crib to our new brother. This seemed to make him feel good and more willing to give up his crib. Hope that helps. Good luck!

we did a gradual move before our second was born:put the matress and box spring on the floor in our sons room. talked about the big boy bed, read books on it played on it ect. then we offered it for naps then we tried sleeping in it all at his own pace. he was out of his crib a few months before his sister came a long. beware you will have more wondering and getting out of bed at first so be prepared for this part of the transition. also we chose the gradual way so he would not feel like he was getting kicked out so his siter could have his crib. we wanted it to be a positive move for him GL