When my oldest child was getting too old for her crib, I looked into my options. Should I invest in a toddler bed only to have to purchase another bed later on? I'm too cheap for that, although some toddler bed are extremely cute! Should I just buy a regular bed and take my chances with that? Thankfully the decision was made for me. A friend gave me a beautiful twin bed that her daughter had outgrown. I was all set to purchase side rails so that my daughter wouldn't fall out, when I stumbled upon an idea that worked out great for me. No toddler bed or side rails needed. It was easy to transition and took about two weeks with very little effort. I am confident that this idea can work for most.
Step One; Mattress Only.
Room permitting of course, remove the top mattress off the bed and place it on the floor. Gather some pillows to place around the mattress for a soft landing in case your child rolls off. Put your child to bed in the very middle. I personally placed a bunch of stuffed animals around her on the bed to add a "wall" but I don't think this is necessarily required. You might be worried about your child escaping without the rails that once held them in place, but in my experience it wasn't much of an issue. After your child has stayed on the mattress for the entire night, you are ready for the next step.
Step Two; Raise It Up.
If you are confident that your child is ready to move up a bit, place the mattress on top of the boxspring on the floor. Repeat all of the precautionary steps including the pillows along the bed and possibly stuffed animals as a "wall". Place your child in the middle of the bed and prepare for a fall or two. My daughter fell maybe once at this stage, but the tears were short lived and it in no way inhibited our progress. After another few days of no falls, move on to step 3.
Step Three; Final Destination.
After your child has mastered the art of staying on just the mattress and both mattress and box spring, move both onto the bed frame. In my experience, in the beginning the bed should be placed up against a wall as to somewhat provide one side barrier. I placed my daughter as close to the wall as possible in the beginning to allow lots of rolling room. Pillows should be placed on the floor for awhile to cushion any falls until the worry is completely gone. I also placed a long body pillow on the edge of the bed for a long time. It should be noted that children of all ages fall off the bed at least once in a blue moon. They will survive.
And just like that, your child will be sleeping in a regular bed with no extra money spent or too much energy exerted. It's as easy as pie!
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