The transition to a toddler bed

Why we transitioned, how we did it, and my advice

Before anyone comes for me with the “I thought you were team crib till college!?!?” commentary, let me clarify and say - I still support that statement and belief!! But, what I believe the most and what I always try to hammer home, is that you should do what works for YOUR family, not what you feel pressured to do. And, to be fair, that is what the “crib till college” commentary was always coming from - it was in a response to people asking me why I hadn’t transitioned my 3 year old yet and me firmly believing that we were following his lead and doing what was best for him at the time (which we were!!!). So why did things change? I wish I had this lengthy meaningful well-thought-out answer for you, but I don’t. At all lol. Truthfully, it was a combination of going so damn stir-cray in the house during a snow-packed long weekend and our 3.5 year old suddenly asking for one that caused the change.

If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, you’re also in shock that the anal, type-A, perfectionist, overly obsessive and controlling former version of me transformed into someone who does this on a whim. Because if the version of me as a mom when I had my first could see me know she’d be utterly shook to her core at the difference. But, thankfully, with 3+ years under my belt I’ve really leaned into trusting my gut and following my intuition and, most importantly, quieting all the parenting noise from the outside world. Doing what works for my family and encouraging everyone else to do the same! If that means floor bed or cosleeping - go you! If that means crib til 5 - awesome! I truly do not care and other people shouldn’t either.

Now, let’s chat about the transition…