From Crib to Big Kid Bed: All About Moving Our Toddler into His First Big Boy Bed

They always say don’t blink — and it’s true. One minute you’re rocking your baby to sleep in a crib, and the next you’re setting up a real bed for your toddler who suddenly feels so grown up.

When we first started talking about making the transition from crib to big kid bed, I wasn’t sure how it would go. Would it disrupt his sleep (right when he was FINALLY sleeping well!)? Would it feel too soon? When was the right time to move him from crib to bed? Like most parenting milestones, it came with questions, emotions, and the overwhelming desire to do it “right.” But what I’ve learned — especially through traveling with my kids, when everyone said it was going to be impossible), doing things OUR way, and watching them adapt with way more resilience than we give them credit for — is that these moments can be beautiful if we lean into them with the right mindset.

For us, that meant making this change feel exciting, cozy, and safe for our son! I wanted his first real bed to feel like something special. A space that felt grown up but still totally his. A place for bedtime books, post-beach-day naps, and those quiet, early morning moments before the house wakes up. And a bed that would grow with him throughout his childhood.

So I did what I always do — researched, asked a BUNCH of moms, and came up with a game plan.

And I’m happy to report a couple weeks ago, we made the big move — and Harrison is officially in his first big kid bed. And honestly? It’s been such a sweet and surprisingly seamless transition, thanks in large part to how much he LOVES his new bed. He’s sleeping PERFECTLY and we love it!!! So here are all the details on everything we chose for his ‘big boy bed’.

I did a TON of research before choosing this mattress. And everything confirmed what I already knew – Saatva is the best of the best. We already use Saatva on our own bed, so using their mattress for Harrison felt right. I wanted something that felt high quality, safe, was organic, and built to grow with him — because we all know how fast toddlers change.

Here’s what we love about the Saatva Youth Mattress:

Dual-sided design: One side is made for toddlers, the other for older kids. It’s designed to last through years of growth.
Organic, breathable, hypoallergenic materials: A clean, non-toxic sleep surface was really important to me.
Supportive comfort: The perfect balance of firmness and coziness for a growing body.
It’s genuinely luxurious: It feels like a little five-star bed, just for him.

If you’re shopping for your toddler’s first big kid bed, I really recommend the Saatva Youth Mattress. It’s one of those purchases that checks every box — comfort, quality, safety — and gives your child a bed they’ll grow into for years to come.

We also added this Waterproof Mattress Pad just in case of toddler accidents in the middle of the night!

THE BED:

We chose this bed for Harrison because it has room for all of his books, is a low-bunk profile, and is a great way to use our small space in the nursery.

THE BEDDING:

We love this shark bedding, as well as these balls / sports themed sheets! Both of these high quality kids sheets make it cozy and comfy for him to sleep every night. And I added this washable quilt as well!

Alt image 6 for Heritage Shark Organic Sheet Set

How to Move Your Toddler to a Big Kid Bed (Without any Midnight Meltdowns)

If you’re about to make this transition, here’s what worked for us:

Create a cozy space with soft bedding, a favorite pillow, and comfort items from the crib.
Build the excitement in advance. We talked about his new bed for a few days beforehand so it felt familiar and fun.
Stick to your regular bedtime routine, but make it feel a little special — a new book or nightlight helped ease the shift.

Big Dreams, Big Boy Bed

Harrison has been climbing into bed every night with so much pride. I keep catching myself watching him sleep, wondering when exactly he got so big.

This stage of parenting is full of transitions, but this one felt like a milestone in the best way. I’m so glad we chose a mattress and bed and bedding that made it feel like an upgrade (to him as well as us!), not just a switch. He has been LOVING his bed.