Transitioning your toddler from a crib to a “big kid bed” doesn’t have to be scary! Check out our tips for making the switch easy and fun. And learn more about the best organic mattress for kids too!
There are a lot of transitions happening for toddlers every day. From losing their pacifiers to potty training, maybe welcoming a new sibling and more, toddlers have to face their world changing on a regular basis.
This is especially hard for them as the toddler phase is when they start to fix the world around them. They have expectations and routine that they don’t want to change, and they can take it hard when things must change for whatever reason.
Because of that, it’s important to really think through the big changes before implementing them to ensure a smooth transition and acceptance by your toddler!
Click here to skip straight to the tips section.
Why We Chose an Organic Mattress
One of the biggest things we worried about when starting to look at the upcoming transition was the quality of mattress we were going to be able to afford. By law, mattresses are required to be “flame retardant”. This is achieved in most cases with harsh chemicals known as “PBDE’s” or polybrominated diphenyl.
PBDEs, which have been banned in Canada, Europe and several states, build up in your body over time, and what you absorb or inhale does not go away. This is concerning not only because of the health problems PBDE is associated with (brain and reproductive damage, decreased sperm quality, thyroid problems and even cancer at high levels), but also because of how pervasive these chemicals have become.
Read Source Here
Exposure to these toxins can have many affects, including:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Behavior issues in children
- Cancer
- Headaches
- Hormone issues/imbalance
- Poor learning abilities (PBDE alter calcium signals in the brain which are crucial to learning and memory)
- Poor sleep habits
- Reproductive problems
… and more!
Since we spend (hopefully) 8-10 hours a day sleeping, I knew I wanted a non-toxic mattress at the least, but really had my heart set on a completely organic mattress…
For years my husband and I have wanted an organic mattress for ourselves… but for years the price point was way too high for us! $3000+ for an organic twin mattress was just not going to happen and I figured that would never change.
However, much to my surprise when I began to research the best organic mattress for kids, I finally found a completely organic mattress that was also a truly affordable mattress option!
Happsy Organic Mattress Review
Though transitioning your child from a crib to a “big kid bed” can be stressful on everyone, knowing they are sleeping on an amazing mattress is easy. Happsy has not only created the best organic mattress for kids, but they’ll ship it right to your door!
Here are a few features that helped us decide that Happsy was the organic mattress for us:
- It’s completely made in the U.S.A.
- It’s truly organic, not just “natural”
* Organic Cotton
– Grown without pesticides, herbicides, or defoliants
– Processed without bleaches and dyes
– Non-GMO
* Organic wool
– Comes from an organic farm with free-roaming sheep
– Processed without bleach and toxic chemicals
* Organic latex
– Sourced from organic rubber trees in India and Sri Lanka
– No unnecessary processes or treatments
– Sustainably harvested by hand with fair wages and treatment of workers - It’s an amazingly affordable mattress option
- It ships right to your door!
With all of that in mind we knew we were getting an amazing organic mattress from Happsy! When it arrived on the doorstep we were all anxious to open it up!
Check out the unboxing below!
One of the first things my husband said when the plastic was removed was “There’s no smell!!” and he was right! No smell = no chemicals!!
Our experience with the Happsy Organic Mattress:
Our son did not have an organic crib mattress, because we didn’t think it was a big deal at the time (the Happsy crib mattress is on our list for any future children!). However, looking back I can see all the issues it was causing… for example, he couldn’t stay asleep for more than 2 hours at a time until he was 18 months old. And he couldn’t sleep more than 6-8 hours at night up until we got the Happsy mattress.
The first night with the new mattress he slept 15 hours.
I’m not joking. We cried with joy that he was finally getting the rest he needed! His behavior has drastically improved and he’s continuing to sleep soundly for 10-15 hours Every. Single. Night!
That’s a win in my book for SURE! And I can rest much easier knowing that I’ve given him the best possible mattress for his health. Another big win for mom and dad!
An Important Note About the Happsy Mattress
While we adore our Happsy mattress, there is one thing to note that I wanted to make you aware of before you buy!
Make sure that you order the organic topper with your mattress unless you like a really firm mattress. We grabbed the 2″ thick pillow topper and have loved it!
Here’s a photo of the mattress with the topper as well! Note that the mattress is much thicker than shown (see the video), but the rails on the base of the bed are very deep.
We never slept on the bed without it, but there are quite a few reviews saying that the mattress is a bit too firm without the topper.
If you are a side sleeper, this topper is a must. We also considered it a must for our son, even though he sleeps on his back, because kids tend to enjoy a more plush and comfortable sleeping experience.
As a back sleeper, this might not be an issue for you, but just keep that in mind when you are ordering.
Get Your Own Happsy Organic Mattress
If you know that you are ready to put your health first, I recommend getting your own Happsy Organic Mattress today! They have a 120-night trial period. If you don’t love the mattress at the end of 120 nights they will take it back – no strings attached!
But enough about this amazing organic mattress – here are the tips for making the switch as smooth as it can be!
Tips for Switching to a Big Kid Bed
While there is no “perfect” time to make the move from a crib to a regular bed, these tips are meant to act as a guideline for an easy transition.
1. Avoid other major changes:
As I mentioned before, toddlers face a lot of big shifts during this phase of their life, so it’s best to isolate the changes to one at a time when possible.
So avoid the big kid bed move if you also need to start potty training or something else soon. Let this move be a special and distinct event.
2. Get your child excited!
This shouldn’t be something that your child should dread! Get them excited about the idea that they are growing up and getting to do something that mommy and daddy do too! If you have older siblings or beloved family members, remind your child that those people also get to sleep in big kid beds!
You might even grab a few books that cover the idea of moving to a new bigger bed.
3. Involve your child in the process:
Instead of taking the crib down suddenly and presenting them with a new bed, get them involved in the make-ready process by letting them pick out their new bedding – even if it’s just the color of sheets you’re going to buy.
This helps them take ownership of the new bed and will likely result in them accepting the change much easier.
Our son picked out his sheets, a new larger quilt from ones we already owned, and helped with the unboxing of his new organic mattress! The whole time he kept jumping up and down saying “That’s my big boy bed!!”
4. Keep other bed time routines intact:
If you normally read a book and sing a song before bed, make sure you maintain those routines so as not to overwhelm your toddler with too many changes.
5. Ensure their safety:
Going from the relative safety of a crib to the wide open spaces of a big kid bed can be scary for mom and child alike! Make sure that everyone feels and is safe by getting side rails for both sides of the bed.
Even with one side pushed up against a wall a child can still become stuck.
The side rails are a good idea even if you are transitioning from crib to a low to the ground toddler bed as children can be overwhelmed by the openness of their new bed.
Also, consider the health of your child when choosing a mattress. It’s a much bigger deal than I thought it was before having kids! Read more about the organic mattress we chose and why, here.
6. Give them grace:
During this time, your child may experience some big emotions that they aren’t necessarily equipped to deal with. Emotions such as fears and insecurities.
This may seem “silly” or like an overreaction to you. But for them, this is a big BIG deal! Give them extra grace, love, and attention during this time while reassuring your child that you still love them and that they are safe. This will go a long way in helping them adjust quickly.
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