There's a lot of trial and error that has taken place over the years on this topic, and it can be different for every child. But the things that I have seen work the best are putting the bed into the room a couple of months before you expect to transition the child to the bed. This allows time for the child to become used to the bed and feel comfortable with it as part of his room. I also might take the child over to the bed for reading time or other short play times to gain more comfort with the bed.

The next step would be to start with the mattress on the ground, because I have had several parents find out that the reason their child is having trouble moving to the "big kid" bed is fear of falling. A lot of times, bringing a new baby into the family who will need the crib forces parents to abruptly take away the crib and introduce the older child to the kids bed. Sometimes this shake-up with a new baby and new sleeping arrangements can also be traumatic. Luckily, children are very adaptable and can usually fit into the new situation with just a little time."

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