How to Potty Train Your Child while Going from Crib to a Big Kid Bed

Introduction: The Challenges of Potty Training Your Child and Going from a Crib to a Big Kid Bed

How time flies! It seems not long ago you have a little bundle of joy that depends on you for everything.  Now, you’ve got a toddler that is trying to test their boundaries and learn new things. With that comes the challenges for you and your little one.

You've got tons of questions on your mind right now. When should I start potty training? Should I potty train my kid while transitioning to a big kid bed? Is my baby even ready move out of the crib?

Potty training, bedtime struggles, transitioning from a crib to a big kid bed--oh, there's a just so much to deal with!

Take a deep breath. While there are no exact answers for these questions, you can use the experiences of other parents and the wisdom of experts to guide you in raising your children.  

How do you know if your child is ready for potty training?

Most kids are ready to start potty training from 18 to 24 months. But you must remember that every kid is different. 

If they can do most of the following, they might be ready to be potty trained. 

• They can walk and sit on the potty.
• They can pull down and pull up their pants on their own.
• They can tell you when they need to go. 
• They recognize that their diapers are wet or dirty and ask you to remove it.
• They seem to be interested in using the toilet.
• They can keep a diaper dry for two hours or more.  
• They can follow simple instructions.

Tips on How to Help Your Child Be Successful at Potty Training

Once you've determined that your toddler is ready for potty, you can start the training process. Here are some tips to help your child be successful at potty training. 

• Get a potty chair. Place it in the room where your child spends most of his time.
• Familiarize your toddler with the potty chair. You can try to make him sit on the potty with clothes on first and then bare bottom when he's accustomed to it. 
• Explain to your child what the potty is for. 
• Schedule potty breaks. For example, you can try to make your toddler sit on the potty right after waking up (with a dry diaper), and 30 minutes after meals.
• Ask your child to go to the potty if they show signs that they got to go like fidgeting and squirming. 
• Make sure that you dress your child in clothes that they can easily remove on their own.
• Praise your child for the successful use of the potty.
• Don't scold your child for accidents. Just say that they can try again next time. 
• Teach your child to wash their hands after using the potty.

How long will potty training take? It depends. For some children, it takes only two weeks. For others, it can take months before they can master going to the potty on their own. 

How Do you Know if your Child is Ready for Night-time potty training?

Night time potty training may take more time to master for toddlers. Here are some signs that your little one is ready for night-time potty training.

• Your child's nappy or pull ups are dry for three or more nights in a row. 
• They refuse to wear their pull ups at night or remove them during the night.
• They wake during the night and ask for help to go to the potty or try to go on their own. 

Tips For a Successful Night-time Potty Training

Here are some things that you can do to set up your child for night-time potty training success.

• Fit a waterproof mattress protector on the bed and have a spare set of pajamas and beddings nearby in case of accidents.
• Ask your child to go to the toilet or potty right before bed and right after waking up in the morning. 
• Place a potty near the bed so your kid can use it when needed. Having night lights is a good idea to help them go to the potty on their own.
• Tell them to use the potty during the night if they feel they need to go and they can ask help when needed. 
• Praise your child for successfully staying dry during the night.
• Avoid scolding your child for accidents. 

Remember that night-time potty training is more difficult to master. Don't be disheartened if your attempt to potty train your kid at night is not successful the first time. Try again after a few weeks as your kid may just need more time.

Is Your Child is Ready for the Transition to a Big Kid Bed?

Most experts recommend that babies sleep on a crib for safety reasons. But how do you know if your child is ready to transition to a big kid bed? Here are some things to look out for.

• Your child is trying to be an escape artist. When your little one is trying to climb out or have successfully climbed out of their crib, it may be time for a big kid bed. 
• They have expressed that they want a big kid bed. That's a big sign. Might as well jump into it before they change their minds. 
• They are too big for their crib. 

Tips for Transitioning from the Crib to the Big Kid Bed

Some toddlers may be eager to get into a big kid bed, while some are not. Here some tips you can follow to make transitioning to a big kid bed easier. 

• Make your child feel that it is an achievement. Tell them it's what big boys or big girls do.
• Make it fun. Help your kid build excitement by reading books or watching videos about moving into a bigger bed. Let them choose their bedding to make them more excited about the process. 
• Stick to your night-time routine. Bedtime routines provide structure to your kids. It helps them know when it's time to go to bed and help them develop good habits. 
• Reward good behavior. Praise them whenever they go to bed without a hitch. 

Safety Tips When Transitioning from a Crib to a Big Kid Bed

Now that your kid is not confined to a crib, it means that he might wake up one night and explore around the house. So you have to step up child proofing your kid's room and your home. Here are some safety tips when your kids are transitioning to a big kid bed. 

• Be sure not to place the bed beside the window and near anything they can get entangled in like curtain cords.
• Lock the in their bed windows. 
• Place a soft rug next to the bed in case they fall off the bed. 
• Put a bell on the door so you can hear when they try to get out of their room. 
• Put safety gates on the top and bottom of your stairs. 

Should I potty train my kid while their transitioning to a big kid bed?

Some people may advise trying to achieve two big milestones at the same time. This might be true for some kids who may find it overwhelming and frustrating to potty train and transition to a big kid bed within the same period.  But some kids may have no problem at all in achieving these milestones simultaneously.

It might even be advantageous for some kids who are night-time potty training to transition into a big kid bed. Because they are not confined in a crib, they can freely go to the potty in case they need to at night and in the morning right after they wake up even if the parent is not up yet. It can help them develop confidence to do things on their own and help build independence in the long run. 

But, like we have emphasized all through out this post, every kid is different. What works for one may not work for another. 

You can try potty training your kid while transitioning to a big kid bed and see how your child is dealing with it. If they seem to have no problem with it, then just go ahead.

If they are having a hard time in doing one or both, take a step back and reevaluate. See if there is anything else you can do to ease the transition to a big kid bed. Find out if there are there any other factors that may contribute to their resistance to moving into a big kid bed. 

Some kids may do well going to the potty during the day but can't stay dry at night. If this is your case, you might want to postpone night-time potty training and help your kid settle in their big kid bed first. 

Conclusion: Potty Training and Transition to a Big Kid Bed

At around 18 to 24 months, your little one is trying new things and testing their limits. It is also around this time that your child shows readiness for potty training and transitioning to big kid bed. 

Be in tune with your child and look out for these readiness signs. When potty training and transitioning your child to a big kid bed, try not to put pressure on your kids (and yourself) in achieving these milestones. Instead, provide them proper guidance and adequate tools to set them up for success.