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Bassinets, Baby Beds and Toddler Beds:
When your baby is first born you may decide to put them in a bassinet, and then as they grow and get older, you will want to move them to a baby bed, and then it will be a toddler bed. How do you know when your child is ready to be moved, though, and how do you prepare your child for the big change?
• Bassinet—Bassinets can be a great little bed for newborns. Many parents really want their little one in the room with them, but they don't actually want the baby to sleep with them. Most bassinets have wheels on the bottom, so they can easily be moved around the house, which can come in very handy. While bassinets work great for small babies, it doesn't take them long to outgrow it. Usually, by the time a baby is around 4 months old, they have started rolling and scooting around, even in their sleep. Once they start doing this, they begin to run out of room. If a baby has scooted himself down close to the end, and then can't stretch out his legs, it will make him very mad. This makes it harder for your baby to go to sleep, and can possibly wake them up. Depending on how tall your baby is, this may even begin to happen a little earlier. Another sign that your baby is ready to be moved out of the bassinet is when he starts pulling up. Bassinets are very safe for babies who can't pull up yet, but once they start to do this, it can become a very dangerous bed for your baby. They are very shallow, meaning that once they start to pull up, it is very easy for them to lean over the side to look down. In fact, they are able to lean too far over the side, enough so that they can easily tip over and fall out. Luckily, at this age, you don't usually have to worry about your child having a tough time with the transition. Unless you will be putting your baby in a new room, they may not even really notice. Or, if they do, they may even like a baby bed better since they can see out without having to pull up. If your baby seems to be having a hard time switching beds (they aren't sleeping as well, they cry more when it's bed time, etc.), you can help him out by using the same blankets as you did in his bassinet. Bring other recognizable surroundings, as well, such as any stuffed animals or toys that were normally on or in the bassinet.
• Baby bed—Baby beds are a wonderful bed to put your baby in, whether you are starting your newborn in it, or are moving them from a bassinet. Most baby beds have side rails that can be lowered so that you can easily pick your infant up while still being able to support their head and neck. These same sides are able to be raised back up for when the child starts rolling, and can be raised even higher for when your baby starts pulling up. Another good thing about baby beds is that they can usually be used with a baby up to 2 years old. Some children, depending on how soon they learn to climb, can't use a baby bed for quite this long, but you can definitely use it until they are at least a year old. When using a baby bed, you will want to make sure and use a padded bumper that goes all the way around the bed, covering all the areas where the mattress meets the frame. The bars on a baby bed are set close enough together that you shouldn't have to worry about baby's head getting stuck, but what you do have to worry about is the baby sticking her arm through the bars near the mattress and getting it stuck. This is why it is important to make sure the bumper fits properly and if you ever see it slipping out of place, you will want to put it back immediately. When your baby is big and old enough to try to climb out, you will want to switch her to a toddler bed. To make this transition easier on your child, you will want to put the toddler bed in the same spot as the baby bed. You will also want to talk to your child in advance about the upcoming change. Letting your child help you pick the toddler bed can also help when it comes time for them to sleep in it. If you do this, they will often be more excited than they are afraid of the change, and the switch might not be so unsettling.
• Toddler bed—A toddler bed is a great thing for little ones, because it is safer than a baby bed for those children who could climb out, and it is more fun for them, as well. Toddler beds are great to use before a twin size bed for a couple of reasons:
They are smaller, so they aren't as scary for the child.
They use a crib mattress, which means you don’t even have to buy a new mattress, sheets, or blankets unless you want to.
Toddler beds are also much closer to the floor than a bigger bed, which means that if your child were to roll out of the bed, they wouldn't have as far to fall. This also means that they can get in and out of the bed more easily.
There are so many to choose from that you can very easily find one that your child will love, such as a racecar kind or a pink palace kind. This fun of a bed is hard for a child to resist.
Once your child starts using a toddler bed, you will want to make it as comfortable as possible. If your child ever rolls out of the bed, you will want to get side rails to prevent it from happening again.
Your child will be able to continue using a toddler bed until they are too big to be comfortable in it. If their feet touch
the end or their head touches the top, it may be time to move up to a twin or bigger bed. Another way to tell is when your child wakes up complaining of being uncomfortable.
Most children can continue using a toddler bed until they are around 3 or 4 years old. After that, it will have to be a twin size or bigger.
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