You should start transitioning to a toddler bed or a twin bed with a side rail when your little one gets to be 35 inches tall, or when the height of the side rail is less than three-quarters of his height. Ideally, you should make the switch when he's as close to age 3 as possible.
Like many milestones and choices we make for our kids, you won't find a one-age-fits-all rule for sleeping in a twin bed. Some kids sleep in their toddler beds through five-years-old while others were already transitioned at 18 months. That said, my toddler switched to a twin bed at three-years-old.
Toddler to Child (3.5–8 years)
Nonetheless, how to know if your child is ready for an adult-size bed depends on their individual growth. If your toddler is able to climb out of their crib, they're ready to make the transition to a twin mattress.
Toddler beds typically sit low to the ground, making it easier for little ones to climb in and out, too. The best age to move your child to a toddler bed is between 18 months and 3 years old, says Douglas A. Henning, M.D., pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.
Generally, it would be best to introduce a single bed to children between the ages of five and eight, so the bed isn't too big for them. Single beds are too big for small children because they are designed for adults. Additionally, young children need a side guard to stop falling out of bed.
Most children move from cot to bed when they're between two and three years old. There's no hurry, though. And there are some advantages to leaving your child in a cot if they're happy there. For example, your child can't fall out of the cot.
Some toddlers go straight into a single bed, whereas others make the move into a toddler bed that's smaller and usually closer to the floor. Toddler beds often have guard rails attached. If your toddler is moving into a single bed, you can attach a separate guardrail to prevent them from falling out.
especially if that twin bed happens to be racecar-shaped or princess-themed. But the difference between toddler and twin beds is simply size. A twin bed uses a twin-sized mattress, measuring about 38” x 75”. A toddler bed uses a standard crib mattress, measuring about 28” x 52”.
The easiest and best recommended age at a minimum to transfer your toddler to a big kid bed is 2.5 years old. I like to joke that you should keep a child in a crib until they are 18! This is not only for cognitive understanding of sleep boundaries and rules, but for safety reasons.
At 38 inches wide, twin beds are very comfortable for children. However, larger teenagers or adults may have trouble stretching out in them. If you're an adult and you prefer to sleep on your side, you may find that twin beds don't provide enough space for you to sleep comfortably.
Adults under 6 feet tall: Twin and single beds are 75 inches long, so if you're shorter than 6 feet and sleep alone, you should be able to sleep comfortably on a twin or single bed.
Obviously in this case, you will need a more spacious full bed to accommodate both you and your toddler. However, if you don't see a need to sleep with them, a twin bed is more than enough to fit their needs at this stage.
For instance, providing your child with a smaller bed can help them feel secure so they sleep better. These lower beds also help prevent injury in case your child falls. But a toddler bed won't fit your child forever. You'll eventually need to purchase a larger bed for them.
The standard toddler mattress size is the same as a crib mattress: 27 ¼ inches x 51 ⅝ inches. Many cribs—often called convertible cribs—turn into toddler beds using the same mattress. Some even convert into a twin bed or daybed as well. Toddler bed dimensions can vary if you're using a non-standard crib.
However, lots of families choose to move their toddlers straight into an adult bed (think twin, double or even queen sized!), so that they can avoid making the transition twice – first when their toddler moves to their toddler bed, and second when they grow out of that toddler bed.
While there's no hard-and-fast age for when to move your child to a bed, little ones generally make the switch from crib to toddler bed any time between 18 months and 3 1/2 years old, ideally as close to age 3 as possible, according to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Most children transition out of a crib around the age of 2 or 3 once they're able to put their leg at the top of the crib rail. It's around this time that Dr. Casares says it's safe to consider a floor bed.
A 2 year old has a hard time developmentally understanding "stay in bed" because their impulse control is so immature. This is why I recommend waiting until children are over 3-years-old for this transition. If your little one is under 3 and struggling, consider going back to the crib if it's a safe option.
Initially, their need for privacy may be met by changing in separate areas or at different times. However, by the time they reach puberty, the need for privacy and space must be respected and provided. If children are of the same sex, sharing a room as long as both children are comfortable doing so is just fine.
Follow a regular pre-bed settling routine with your toddler. Dinner, bath, PJs, teeth cleaning and stories are a great lead up to bed. Aim for a bed time of around 7 pm, but be flexible and look for your toddler's-tired cues. Tuck your toddler into their own bed and stay with them until they're calm.
Toddler Beds
These beds are constructed so that they are lower to the ground than a single bed. This means that it will be easier for your little one to climb in and out of and it reduces the risk of your toddler being hurt if they accidentally roll out of their bed during the night.
The comfort toddlers receive from co-sleeping actually helps them to stayed less stressed, and less stress equals healthy kiddo. According to the website for the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a study that measured the stress hormone cortisol in children found that co-sleeping children had lower levels of cortisol.
You'll be happy to know that babies who are put to bed earlier tend to sleep better. Quality sleep tends to happen before midnight for most babies (and adults!) so don't be afraid of an earlier bedtime.
Twin beds can be too small for some adults, especially in length. They're 75 inches long, which is 5 inches shorter than queens and kings. So, taller adults may need a twin XL at the very least, and larger bodies might need a queen or even a king if they share a bed with a partner.