Crib to Bed Transition

Making the switch from a crib to a bed can be a big step for your child. There is no set time when you have to replace your child’s crib with a regular or toddler bed, although most children make the switch sometime between ages 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 years.

Don’t feel that you need to go buy a new bed the day your toddler first climbs out of the crib. They may not be ready to move to a bed, and it may not be safe for them to be up and about during the night when everyone else is asleep.

Buy yourself some time by lowering the crib mattress as far as possible, so the side rails are higher and more difficult to climb over.

###Safely Making the Switch When it is time for your child to move from a crib to a bed, follow the safety tips below.

Make sure the bed is a safe height 
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting with a toddler bed or any bed that is as low to the floor as possible to make falls less dangerous. You can even start off with just the mattress on the floor, without a bed frame.

Use side rails to prevent falls 

Check to see if your crib converts to a toddler bed. These beds have removable side rails to prevent falls. You can also buy these side rails separately to attach to other beds and mattresses. Make sure the rails are as long as the bed and are installed on both sides, even if one side is against a wall. Your child might push the bed away from the wall and get wedged between the wall and bed.

Other ways to stay safe 
Make sure there is carpet or a rug below the bed to cushion a fall. Install a nightlight in your child’s room and in the hall, and continue to use an intercom if you are too far away to hear them.

Emergency Supply Kit

If a disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for some time. An emergency supply kit is a collection of basic items that you might need during an emergency. It’s good to involve whoever is going to use the kit, including children, in assembling it.

Assemble a kit 
Gather a 3 to 7 day supply of the following items to create kits to use at your home, office, school and/or in a vehicle:

• Water-l gallon per person, per day
• Food-nonperishable, easy prep items, such as canned or freeze-dried foods
• Manual can opener
• Flashlight, candles, and matches
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• First aid kit and batteries
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical paperwork
• Multipurpose tool (e.g., Swiss army knife)
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents
• Cell phone with charger
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Extra set of car keys and house keys

Q& A

Q: I have an emergency kit I made for my family a few years ago. Is this still safe to use?

A: Maybe. It is best to update and check your emergency kit a couple of times a year. Although it can take a while, freeze-dried and canned foods can eventually go bad. Be sure to check expiration dates on food, water, and batteries to make sure they are safe to use. Also make sure your emergency kit has current medications and personal documents stored inside, as well as updated family and emergency contact information. Double-check that everything is labeled and stored in easy-to-carry containers, and be sure to keep the kit where it is easy to get to.