Every child is different, but most toddlers are ready to make the transition to their very first big kid bed between the ages of 18 months and 3 years.  Many pediatricians advise that it is best to keep your toddler in a crib as long as possible, but if he or she starts to climb over the rail, is potty-trained, or repeatedly expresses a desire to move into a big-kid bed, it is time for the transition.

Here are several thoughts to make that transition easier on you and your toddler.
1.     Make the move a fun event for your child. Get your child involved in the selection of his bed as well as the new bed covers and sheets. The emotional reinforcement of being involved in the decision help to build self-esteem and satisfaction with the result.  You may have to guide their thinking to avoid something you know will be a short-lived fascination.  Thomas the Tank Engine can be the best thing ever for a two-year-old, but quickly become too babyish if teased by older siblings or friends.  Whatever design you decide on, a great way to reinforce the decision is to make a big deal about showing grandparents and guests his new bed.
2.    Choose a bed that your toddler will not quickly outgrow physically or emotionally. While theme beds designed for toddlers are colorful and fun to look at, your toddler can outgrow it quickly. If you choose a theme bed, look for something generic, like a race car or princess bed.  If you choose a twin or double bed, make sure you attach a guardrail so she doesn't roll out of bed. Bunk beds can be fun for children, but doctors suggest they should not sleep in the top of a bunk bed until they reach 6 years old.
3.    Consider buying a bed that adjusts in height as your toddler grows.  At A Room Of Their Own, we offer twin and full size beds from Young America by Stanley with a dual height adjustment.  Start with the bed at a low height.  As your child grows, the bed can be raised to a more comfortable height that will also allow room for a trundle or storage unit underneath.
4.    Time the move so that it does not coincide with other big events that are happening in your toddler's life. Too many changes at one time can disrupt a child and have an adverse effect on their sleep habits.  Try not to combine the move with other big events, like the first day of preschool or the birth of a new sibling. Instead, transition her into a big bed a couple of months in advance.
Once your new bed is delivered, make it a point to stick with their usual bedtime routine. While it is tempting to lie down with your toddler as he or she falls asleep, this habit is hard to break once started. Keep things as normal as possible to ensure a smooth transition into their new big-kid bed.

At A Room Of Their Own,  we have arranged the big-kid section of our store to showcase vignettes where your child can imagine how their new bed might look at home.  As always, we encourage you to ask questions and have your child “test drive” options before buying.  We’ve found that children are much happier with their new bed when they are actively involved in the selection and decision process.

Setting up the perfect baby nursery for the arrival of a baby into the house is a very exciting time.  But it can also be confusing and stressful to many soon-to-be parents as they are also faced with so many other issues relating to child rearing.

Fortunately, many parents-to-be begin planning their baby's nursery long before the birth of their child. By starting your planning early, you will give yourselves more time to search multiple sources for ideas and to organize your thoughts to create that perfect room.

Purchase a B-READY Stroller between now and June 30, 2011 . . .

 The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have just released new guidelines for car seat safety that are based more on size and weight of your child than on age.  Each year thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But with so many different car safety seats on the market, it’s no wonder many parents find this overwhelming.  The type of seat your child needs depends on several things, including your child’s size and the type of vehicle you have. The following information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers guidance on choosing the most appropriate car safety seat for your child.

Infants and toddlers should use rear-facing seats for the first two years.
These new guidelines recommend that all infants should ride rear-facing starting
with their first ride home from the hospital. All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Safety Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.  Many parents have traditionally used their child’s one-year birthday as a time to turn the car seat around, but studies have shown that most infants are still too small at this age to ride as safely in a front facing seat during a vehicle crash.

When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead. Studies have shown that a working smoke alarm can greatly reduce the likelihood of residential fire-related fatalities by providing an early audible warning, alerting occupants and giving them an opportunity to safely escape.

That's critical because 85 percent of all fire deaths occur in the home, and the majority occur at night when people are sleeping.