I remember the first night my child realized he could get out of bed on his own.
There was excitement.
There was wandering.
There was one tiny foot peeking out of the room every few minutes.

It wasn’t defiance.
It was discovery.

From the OT lens, that moment made perfect sense:
His body had new freedom, but his nervous system hadn’t yet learned how to settle with it.

Moving from a crib to a bed changes more than sleep—it changes how a child experiences their body and space.

Here’s what’s happening underneath:

In a crib, boundaries are clear.
In a bed, kids must learn where their body is in space—and how to stay put.

Having the ability to get up doesn’t mean having the skill to stay in bed.

The crib often feels like a cocoon.
A bed can feel exciting and unsafe until routines settle.

When regulation drops, sleep quality drops—even if your child was a great sleeper before.

None of this means you did the transition “wrong.”

From an OT lens, readiness is less about age and more about skills:

✔ Can climb in and out safely
✔ Understands simple boundaries (“bedtime means staying in bed”)
✔ Shows some impulse control during the day
✔ Has a fairly predictable sleep routine

Many kids are ready between 2.5–3.5 years, but that range is wide—and flexible.

Use:
• a toddler bed with rails
• floor bed with visual edges (rug, pillows)

Clear edges help bodies feel contained.

Freedom + stimulation = lots of wandering.
At bedtime, toys should be out of reach or out of sight.

Climb in and out together.
Practice laying down.
Practice staying in bed for short moments.

Daytime practice builds nighttime success.

Some kids need to stand, reposition, or get up once or twice before settling.
This is normal regulation—not misbehavior.

Consistency matters more now than ever:
• same order
• same words
• same rhythm

Predictability tells the nervous system it’s safe to rest.

This routine takes 10–15 minutes and supports regulation:

1️⃣ Heavy work (pushing laundry basket, wall push-ups)
2️⃣ Calming input (bath, lotion, slow hugs)
3️⃣ Story + snuggle
4️⃣ Clear phrase (“It’s time to stay in bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”)

Short. Calm. Repeated nightly.

Last week, we asked how snow days usually go at your house. Here’s what you shared:

❄️ 31% — Short bursts outside + lots of inside play
A few minutes in the snow, then back inside to warm up and regulate.

🏠 26% — Mostly inside (too cold or too chaotic)
Snow is exciting, but indoor sensory play ends up being the main event.

🌪️ 22% — A mix of fun and meltdowns
Big energy, big emotions, and a lot of regulation needed throughout the day.

🛷 14% — Full outdoor adventure
Layers on, sleds out, staying outside as long as possible.

🆘 7% — Survival mode
No judgment—snow days can be a lot.

A helpful reminder that snow days are sensory-heavy days, and how they feel depends less on the snow itself and more on how supported each nervous system feels going into it.

Where are you in the crib-to-bed journey?

1️⃣ Still in the crib, thinking about it
2️⃣ Just transitioned—sleep feels wobbly
3️⃣ In a bed but lots of getting up
4️⃣ Mostly settled now
5️⃣ We haven’t gone there yet

👉 Reply with your number.
Next week, I’ll share the results—and OT strategies tailored to each stage.