It’s 2 a.m. and you’ve just heard “THUMP!” coming from your toddler’s room. It’s the tell-tale sound of your young kiddo as they’ve figured out how to jump out of their crib.
Fortunately, your kiddo wasn’t hurt in their nighttime fall, but it made you realize that you no longer have an infant but rather an adventurous, growing toddler who is ready for a room upgrade.
While you decided on the decor for the nursery, you can have your toddler help out with some of the re-decorating — after all, it’s their space and they should have at least some say in the matter.
To help create a fabulous toddler bedroom that you will both love, check out the following ideas:
Update the crib to a toddler bed
Since you now have a little escape artist on your hands, you should start by taking the crib out of your little one’s room and upgrading to a toddler bed, along with a new mattress. Take your toddler to several local stores so they can try several out; this way you can make sure it is comfortable and is a good fit. Once you have an idea of what they like, head back home and order it online, where you’re likely to find a large selection of toddler mattresses all at great prices. For example, the Transitions Baby & Toddler Mattress features two firmness levels: an extra firm side for babies and a softer side for toddlers. Once you have the new mattress and bed, have your little one help you pick out a new sheet and comforter set.
Create more floor space
Toddlers love to spend time on the floor playing and reading books, so now is the perfect time to see what furniture you can remove from the nursery to free up valuable space. For example, you can probably take out the bulky glider rocker and ottoman and replace it with a soft child-sized chair that is in one of your child’s favorite colors or character themes. Other items that might get the boot include play mats, exersaucers and — depending on how your toddler is doing with potty training — the diaper changing table and diaper pail. Once you clear out the unneeded items, you will probably be pleasantly surprised at how much floor space you have. As SFGate notes, keep any remaining furniture up against the walls, as this will not only keep the playing space as open as possible, it will also make it easier for you to bolt the bookcase and other furniture to the studs to prevent them from toppling over.
Add in some storage options
Most toddlers love to pull out as many stuffed animals, blocks, trains, dolls and books as possible when playing. To help make clean up as easy as possible and encourage your little one to start learning to pick up after herself, invest in some new storage bins that are low to the ground and easy to access. For example, this personalized and toddler-friendly toy box from Etsy is made from durable fabric and comes in a variety of colors. When ordering, you can personalize it with a monogram or your child’s name.
The toddler stage goes by fast, so enjoy!
The exuberant and energetic toddler stage goes by in a blink of an eye, so it’s best to figuratively hang on and enjoy the ride. By working with your growing child on the updated toddler bedroom, you will create a space that your kiddo will love to play, read and sleep in, and where you will both enjoy hanging out together.
