Steph’s Cheers and Jeers/ Stephy The Spoonie Witch received an editorial fee to host this article on our blog.
Seeing your little one grow from a baby into a toddler is an emotional experience that comes with new practical realities. Now that they’re getting bigger, it’ll be time to say goodbye to their baby room and hello to their toddler room.
This step seems easy enough in the mind, but it can be more complex than many parents realize. After all, there’s a lot riding on making sure that your little toddler feels comfortable in their new room. With a comfortable and safe space, they’ll find it easier to sleep through the night and be in a better mood — and that’s something that’s just as valuable to you and everyone else in the household as it is for them.
Happily, creating a great space for your toddler doesn’t require anything complex. Mostly, it comes down to making sure that the room has the right pieces in place. With that in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to put together a handy guide on everything you’ll need for your toddler’s new sleep space. Let’s dive in.
The Bed Setup
The bed setup can be the star — or the villain — of the bedroom. The right one will fit well into the room, support your child’s development, and impact whether you’re having to change wet sheets at 2 am or you can wait until the morning.
The mattress is arguably the most important detail, since it influences essentially everything else. The question parents need to know the answer to is, how big is a toddler bed mattress? Once you have that information, you’ll be able to buy the right-sized sheets and protectors.
It’s also important to think about the firmness of the mattress. It’s tempting to buy extra comfortable, cloud-like mattresses, but they don’t support spines as well as slightly firmer options. Finally, make sure that the protector is sufficiently waterproof; this is a detail that can be tempting to overlook, but it can be a game-changer in how you handle those accidents.
Bed Rail
If you’ve ever watched a toddler sleep, you’ll know that they can be pretty chaotic when they’re in bed. Some nights, they’re forever twisting, turning, and moving their bodies in all sorts of directions. That’s no great problem, provided they’re unable to do themselves harm by falling out of the bed.
A good bed rail will keep them where they need to be, which is key to ensuring your child becomes comfortable sleeping on their own. A single fall out of bed can increase separation anxiety and set their sleep progress way back.
Nightlight
As parents, we can think it’s kind of cute that children are afraid of the dark — but if you think back to your own experience at that age, you’ll know that there’s nothing sweet and cute about the darkness. It can be genuinely terrifying, and what’s worse, it’s terrifying in the one place where you’re supposed to feel safe and secure.
A nightlight is the solution, but keep in mind that not all nightlights are created equal. Some parents buy the first or cheapest one they come across, not realizing that the wrong color tone can make it a lot more difficult for the child to fall asleep. Opt for an amber or red-tone nightlight, which is bright enough to keep the darkness at bay, not bright enough that your child will be up all night.
White Noise Machine
Investing in a white noise machine can be an excellent way to help support your toddler’s sleep, especially if you live in a loud environment. External sounds like the downstairs TV, conversations, or passing cars can keep your child from falling and remaining asleep. White noise machines, which are highly affordable, help to mask those sounds. They say that it mirrors the experience of being in the womb, which is another way of saying that they’re highly relaxing and sleep-friendly. In fact, once you’ve seen them in action, you might just decide you want a white noise machine for yourself.
Blackout Curtains
Did you know that children are more sensitive to light at nighttime than adults? That means that while you might be able to tolerate outside street lamps and other external lights without any issues, there’s a good chance that they interrupt your child’s sleep.
Investing in blackout curtains is an easy way to ensure that your child has the optimal sleeping environment. So long as you’ve chosen the right type of nightlight (mentioned above), your child should be able to sleep through the night.
Baby Monitor
Now, we know what you might be thinking: does my toddler really need a baby monitor? Yes, they’re called baby monitors, but there’s a lot of value in placing one in your child’s room. Investing in one that has video and two-way audio capabilities really can make a big difference to both child and parent. You’ll be able to see what they’re up to if you hear something from their room, while you’ll always be able to communicate that all is well and that they should go back to sleep in case they get disturbed. You might not think you’ll use it all that often, but you’ll likely find that it becomes a game-changer.
Storage
Like adults, children find it hard to wind down in cluttered spaces — and it’s very easy for a child’s room to become cluttered! Investing in storage ensures that you — and they — can easily tidy up their items once they’re not in use, helping to create a calmer environment that encourages them to sink into rest.
A Rug
Finally, look at investing in a good rug. Your child is becoming an age where they can really tell the difference between a cold and warm environment; placing a rug in their room ensures that they can step on a warm piece of fabric on those cold mornings. Plus, they’re just a nice style addition, and they can also help cover up those stains that will find their way onto the carpet at some stage!
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