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There's nothing more magical than getting a full night's sleep after you've welcomed twins into your family.
Yes, the first few months are filled with chaotic schedules and endless loops of wake-feed-pump-sleep-repeat, leading to complete and utter exhaustion for parents—but once your babies are old enough to move into their own bedroom and you've done sleep training, you can win your nights back.
And once you drop those overnight feeds, you're golden.
Until…
…they learn to climb out of their cribs.
Sometimes, they figure it out on their own.
Other times, an older sibling teaches them.
Sometimes, only one of them knows how to make the great escape.
Other times, your twins might be really coordinated and crafty, and will figure out how to hoist each other up for a better reach and chance of getting out of their cribs.
Signs it's time to switch to a toddler bed
Normally, the rule of thumb is that when your toddler's armpits reach the height of the top rail of their crib, it's time to transition them into big kid beds.
The exact timing will vary for each toddler, but this point usually hits around two years of age (when they reach around 35-36 inches in height).
Some may hit the height threshold as early as 18 months; others may not get there until closer to three years old.
Our twins were ready to switch just before they turned two-and-a-half years old. When I saw them starting to give each other a boost to get that extra reach in their cribs, I knew it was time to start thinking about moving them from their cribs to big kid beds because it wouldn't take them long to figure out how to go from needing a hoist to getting out totally unassisted.
On the other side, there are children who are completely content to stay in their cribs and make zero effort to climb out. In those cases, you'll probably make it closer to their third birthday before having to make the switch to big kid beds.
Some kids might see their siblings or cousins have toddler beds and ask to have one of their own. If they show interest, then it could be a good opportunity to embrace the change.
Another sign your little ones might be ready for big kid beds is if they're fully potty trained at nighttime or are headed in that direction.
Reassess their room for hazards
Whenever it's time to make the switch, be prepared for anything and everything because once your twins can get out of their beds of their own free will, it's a whole new ballgame.
By the way, if you didn't already have baby monitors in their room, now's the time to invest in them because every little sound you hear, once they can get in and out of their beds on their own, will make you wonder what they're up to.
What used to be no issue in their bedroom (bookshelves, changing tables, fans or humidifiers) because they were safely in the confines of their cribs becomes fair game for your curious cuties, so be sure to childproof their area before they have free rein of the room.
Things to check for include:
- Covering electrical outlets Make sure all electrical sockets in their room have protective covers on them to prevent shock hazards. This outlet cover with attached extension cord was the perfect solution for our needs in their nursery, and these standalone socket plug covers were excellent for the spots where we needed to have a plug easily available.
- Eliminating cords Make sure there are no cords they can grab or pull at, including blinds, baby monitors, fans, or humidifiers** This might mean mounting baby monitors on the wall and then running cords underneath baseboards, so they can't be detected by your wiley ones.
- Securing furniture Mounting furniture to the walls and childproofing drawers will prevent tipping hazards and discourage your children from climbing things in the night. You may also want to pad any sharp corners on dressers or bookshelves in their room.
- Placing their beds in a safe spot Chances are that you'll place their beds in the same spots as their cribs, but when setting up your twins' big kid beds, ensure their placement is conducive for not getting stuck between the mattress and the walls and that there are no other hazards, like a fan or lamp that could fall onto their beds by accident.
- Lock windows, but not doors Secure windows in their room, so you don't have any potential fall hazards. Don't lock their bedroom door, though, because that can be a fire hazard. If you're concerned your escape artists may ditch their bedroom overnight, try adding a baby gate to the outside of their door. That way, you'll hear if they try to get out. You'll also want to make sure you install a baby gate at the top or bottom of any staircases near their bedroom.
Get them excited for the bed swap
Introducing major changes in your toddlers' lives, like starting daycare, welcoming a sibling (or siblings, if you're blessed with dual sets of twins), beginning potty training, or transitioning to big kid beds, can be stressful and affect their daily routine.
To help ease the transition from their cribs to their big kid beds, make sure to continue with your usual bedtime routine, so their familiar sleep cues are still present with the new set-up. You can also try making their big kid beds a spot for quiet play or reading books.
Other ways to encourage your toddlers to embrace their new beds include taking them shopping to pick out the sheets or bedding they'd like to use in their special beds or telling them stories about kids who move from their cribs to bigger beds and how well they sleep in them all night long.
When you install the side rails on their big kid beds, consider having your twins "help" with the process, so they can witness the front panel coming off of their cribs and watch as you put the finishing touches on their new, special sleeping area. This way, they won't be surprised or taken aback when they walk into their room and everything is different.
Pave the way for sweet dreams
Switching your twins from their cribs to big kid beds can be a huge change, but prepping them ahead of time can help make things go more smoothly.
It can be time to make the move from their cribs anywhere from 18 months of age up to three years old; the exact timing will vary between each child, but you'll start to see the signs somewhere in this window.
If you see your twins trying to escape their cribs—either by themselves or by helping hoist each other up, it's time to start thinking about making the swap to big kid beds.
If they aren't escaping but are at a height where the top rail is at or below their armpits when they're standing in their crib, that means the time has come for them to upgrade to the big times.
When did you switch your twins from their cribs into big kid beds? How did they do with the transition? Let us know in the Comments section below.
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