There was a time when you could lay your child in his crib and go to sleep and not worry that he could possibly escape, however, if you have a walking baby, then those days are over! When your child can climb over the rails of the crib, then it is undoubtedly time to make the move to a toddler bed. Don't worry, this will actually help your toddler sleep better!

This move can be a big deal for a toddler. You can make the transition much smoother by implementing these four tips to help make that transition easier for you and, more importantly, for your toddler.

Leave the crib in the room.

Toddler sleep patterns are fairly predictable which makes it easy to start with nap time when making the move to a toddler bed. Use nap time to get your little one interested in the new bed and to get him used to sleeping there instead of the crib. To make this easy on you, simply leave the crib in the room with the new bed.

Preparing him for sleep

One of the biggest mistakes that parents make regarding toddlers sleep is the failure to set a strict schedule. This is especially important when transitioning. For us, we do dinner, baths, books and then bed. Your toddler will feel secure knowing that the same things are taking place every day even if the bed is different.

New bed, new room

The great thing about children is that they are easily entertained. So make this transition an adventure by rearranging their furniture or painting their room a new color. You should be cautious with this since it can be a really good thing or a really bad thing. Make sure to talk to your child and involve them in the change. If they seem hesitant about it, then don't do it however, if they seem excited about it, then shoot for the moon.

If you took the above advice about leaving the crib in the room, then you have no worries, however, if not, then it is a good idea to put the toddler bed in the same location as the old crib. This way your toddler will have an extra layer of *familiar* at night.

Be positive!

You will likely encounter some resistance when you begin to put your toddler to sleep in his new bed. The best thing to do is to let your toddler sleep where he wants to sleep while continually suggesting that he sleep in the big kid bed. Another great tip is for YOU to sleep in the toddler bed. If you child refuses to sleep in the toddler bed, then go ahead and tell him that you are going to try it out for him and let him know how great it was the next morning.

Keep in mind that this move is a big change for your toddler. Let your toddler sleep in his new bed when he is ready, but don't be afraid to bribe him in order to motivate him to make the move. Offering incentives such as a special breakfast or a trip to the toy store is never a bad idea!