Skipping the Toddler Bed Stage – How to Make it Safer

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.