5 Tips to Get Your Toddler Sleeping in Their Own Bed

Since our kids were born, we've been a co-sleeping family. Now that our kids are older and have their own beds, we've got some tips for the transition process. I've partnered with Step2 to share how you can get your toddler sleeping in their own bed!

While I have LOVED co-sleeping with our kids, it's true that I'm ready to have a bit more space at night. The kids are constantly turning their bodies horizonal in the bed and I swear they take up more space than me and my husband combined! We've been transitioning them into their own beds and a few things have made it easier so I wanted to share those with you.

Tips to Get Your Toddler Sleeping in Their Own Bed

Start with Naps. Our son has always napped in our bed but lately I've been putting him down for his nap in his new Turbocharged Twin Truck Bed from Step2! Since waking up in that room after nap, it's made the transition easier when he wakes there during the night or in the morning also. He feels like it's a familiar environment which has seemed to comfort him.

Allow comfort items. Speaking of comfort, our kids have always had certain stuffed animals or blankets they like to snuggle with at night. They get to sleep with their comfort items and we've never tried to make any other big changes while we're moving them into their own bed. For example, I never would have tried getting rid of our son's pacifier the same time he was transitioning to a new bed.

Use siblings to ease the transition. If kids have older siblings, they can help younger brothers and sisters get used to sleeping in a new bed. Our son wants to do everything our daughter does! If she says he should sleep in a different bed like her, he'll give it a shot. She loves to "read" him stories in his new bed because she thinks it's so cool, too!

Be Patient. Probably one of the most important aspects of the transition is patience. Don't be surprised if your kids want to come back into your room some nights. I've never wanted sleeping in their own bed to have a negative connotation, so we don't force them. This time in their life is so short so I don't mind a few sleepless nights if it means they're comfortable sleeping in their own bed when they want to.

Make it fun! I'd say the easiest way to do this is by getting them a super fun bed to sleep in. We actually had a standard white toddler bed that we tried to get both of our kids to sleep in, but neither of them wanted to. As soon as we got the Step2 Turbocharged Twin Truck Bed, they both wanted to try it out immediately!

Step2 Turbocharged Twin Truck Bed

Our son is obsessed with anything that goes, and he has a bunch of toy cars and trucks. When he saw a life-sized truck in his room, his eyes got as wide as saucers! I actually wish I'd taken a photo because his face was priceless.

The details on this truck bed are stellar, and it was so easy to put together. With all the decals it looks so realistic! The headlights actually work and are a built-in nightlight which is great for kids like mine who are scared of the dark. You'll need four AA batteries for the headlights which aren't included.

One thing to mention is that you'll need some sort of support for your twin mattress in the bed. Step2 gives you three options but you do need to provide the support and mattress yourself. You can use wooden slats, a bunkie board, or a box spring under the twin mattress. With a box spring, your mattress will sit up higher. Our kids have a tendency to fall out of bed so we used a bunkie board so our son lays well below the protective sides.

This awesome bed also has a pull-out drawer underneath. Currently we store a couple books, pajamas, and my son's slippers in it. It's a great addition to the bed!

So far things are going well in our son's transition. I credit that mostly to the awesome Turbocharged Twin Truck Bed! He's excited to climb into it for naps and at bedtime. Plus, it's big enough that I can lay with him to read stories before he falls asleep. There's nothing I'd change about the new bed, OR our new sleeping arrangements! I'm really looking forward to getting more rested sleep.

You can purchase the Step2 Turbocharged Twin Truck Bed from Amazon! We're going to be the Step2 Turbocharged Room Organizer to pull together. I'm sure he'll fill it up quickly with his toy cars and trucks.

Do you have any tips to help get toddlers sleeping in their own beds?
Let me know in the comments!

Disclosure: I received this bed at no cost to talk about helping toddlers transition to their own bed. As always, all opinions are my own.