Some posts on Spruceprints may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I personally use and love.
We skipped the toddler bed—and it completely changed bedtime in our house.
Here’s what we did instead that made the transition so much easier the second time around.
If you’re skipping the toddler bed, these are the only 3 things that actually made the transition work for us.
Our Exact Crib-to-Twin Setup
We tried to keep it simple—but these ended up being non-negotiables for sleep, safety, and sanity:
👉 Bed rail we used (perfect for active sleepers and much easier for sheet changes)
👉 Waterproof absorbent pads (a lifesaver for nighttime potty-training accidents)
👉 Toddler pillow that worked for us (comfy, washable, and the perfect size for little kids)
I linked everything we use here so you can recreate this setup easily.
If you’re also trying to make everyday life easier (not just bedtime), I shared everything that completely changed our summer routines here:
→ The $200 Summer Essentials That Made Mom Life So Much Easier
Let’s face it, parents: one of the most pivotal—and stressful—transitions in the toddler years is moving from crib to bed.
We love the crib for emotional reasons (the baby stage is fast and fleeting) and practical reasons (kids are safe and contained). Eventually, though, we all hit that “it’s time” moment. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be met with dread.
With my first daughter, I listened to everyone else’s opinions about moving her into a bed. They thought she was ready—and that it would free up the crib for baby #2.
As a new mom, I followed advice and opinions instead of my own instincts.
A total mistake.
My daughter wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready. Bedtime and nap times were a nightmare. Crying, tantrums, separation anxiety—you name it, we struggled with it.
I vowed I would do things differently when it was time for my second daughter’s transition.
Listening to my intuition—and paying attention to my daughter’s cues—made all the difference round two.
That’s when we simplified everything—and used just 3 products to make the transition easier.
The #1 Piece of Advice I Got: Skip the Toddler Bed
My mom and my daughter’s babysitter both said it: skip the toddler bed. At the time, I didn’t realize it was golden advice.
Instagram “mom-fluencers” and my search algorithms screamed toddler bed, perfectly curated big-kid bedrooms, and matching everything. It all looked picture-perfect.
I went down the rabbit hole researching beds before transitioning my older daughter. They all started to look the same—and the price tags were overwhelming: $50–$300 and beyond. So many options, so few stores to actually test them.
Toddler beds felt like a waste of money. Why buy something she’d sleep in for 1–2 years when a twin bed could last 15+ years?
Eventually, I listened. I skipped the toddler bed. Walking through that first transition was scary—but it ended up being one of the best mom decisions I’ve made.
Both of my daughters have loved their big-girl beds. And with a few crucial steps, my younger daughter’s crib-to-bed transition has been night and day compared to my older daughter’s.
What We Did Differently the Second Time
1. Wait Until She Was Ready
Our younger daughter was 2.5 years old (older than her sister, who had just turned 2). Being the youngest, she also had someone to model after—her big sister. Waiting for her readiness made a huge difference.
2. Time It Around Potty Training
Potty training marked the perfect timing for the crib transition. We skipped Pull-Ups and overnight diapers. With a few accidents along the way, she’s been sleeping through the night for weeks.
We knew it was important to move her out of the crib so she could get to the bathroom on her own—or come get us for help—without risking an accident while trapped.
Nighttime accidents are part of the parenting deal. This time, I bought a reusable, washable absorbent pad to put over the fitted sheet. It has a fun pattern she loves and gives me peace of mind: if she has an accident, I don’t have to strip the entire bed in the middle of the night. I can just toss the pad in the wash and start fresh in the morning.
Reusable absorbent pad we love—fun pattern, easy to wash.
Unboxing the absorbent pad and showing how we put it on the bed.
Skip it: With my older daughter, we used old-school chuck pads. They worked, but they often slid around, weren’t the most effective, and required strategic placement under the fitted sheet. The result? When she had an accident, we were stripping the entire bed in the middle of the night… then she had nowhere to sleep. (Just kidding—we ended up co-sleeping that night.) Total night disruption.
What Actually Helped With Nighttime Accidents
We didn’t buy my younger daughter’s bed new. Her babysitter generously gave us her old twin bed—and even included a set of sheets that still fit perfectly. It was such a lifesaver and made the whole transition feel less overwhelming (and way cheaper).
Hand-me-downs may not be glamorous, but they work—and honestly, kids don’t care about brand-new furniture. What mattered was that both girls had a comfortable, safe place to sleep. Pair it with a fun, reusable absorbent pad and bed rail and we were ready to go.
What Stayed the Same
Toddler pillow: The perfect size for my girls. Washable, comfy, and travel-friendly. I’d recommend them over and over.
Bed rail: Non-negotiable for active sleepers. For my older daughter, we had one on the side and one at the foot of the bed until she got used to her twin bed. For my younger daughter, we use a fold-down bed rail that makes sheet changes much easier—no wrestling with a cumbersome rail.
Final Thoughts
And honestly? Fixing bedtime was just the beginning.
The biggest shift for us wasn’t just sleep—it was creating simple systems that made our entire day easier.
If you want to see the exact things that made the biggest difference in our daily life (especially summer with kids), I put everything here:
→ The $200 Summer Essentials That Made Mom Life Easier
Skipping the toddler bed felt scary at first—but trusting my gut, paying attention to my daughter’s cues, and planning ahead made bedtime calm, manageable, and even enjoyable. Kids don’t need a perfectly styled bedroom or a brand-new bed—they just need a safe, comfy place to sleep and a little support while they learn the ropes.
If you’re debating the crib-to-bed transition, remember: it’s not about Pinterest perfection. It’s about what works for your child—and your sanity. And sometimes, the best decisions are the ones that save money, stress, and sleepless nights (I’m looking at you, hand-me-down twin bed
If you’re in the crib-to-bed stage and want to skip the toddler bed, I linked the exact products we used below. This setup made bedtime easier, safer, and much less stressful for us.
Shop Our Crib-to-Twin Setup
- Reusable Absorbent Pad – This saved us during potty-training accidents. Instead of changing the whole bed in the middle of the night, I could remove the pad and deal with the rest in the morning.
- Fold-Down Bed Rail – This is the product that made the twin bed feel safe for us. I especially love that it folds down, which makes changing sheets so much easier.
- Toddler Pillow – This has been the perfect size for both of my girls. It’s comfortable, washable, and easy to bring in the car for naps or travel.
- Twin Bed / Hand-Me-Down Setup – A comfy, safe big-kid bed doesn’t have to be brand new. Consider hand-me-downs from family or friends, like we did! (Photo inspiration above.)
What Worked
✔ No toddler bed purchased
✔ Saved $100–$300
✔ Easier sleep transition
✔ Less nighttime disruption
Sweet dreams!
Want More Systems That Actually Make Mom Life Easier? Start here!
If you’re in the thick of little kid life, these are the exact systems that have made things so much easier for me:
Spruceprints 
One response to “Skip the Toddler Bed: How We Got It Right the Second Time”
[…] And if bedtime has been a struggle too, this is the exact setup that made nights so much easier for us:→ Skip the Toddler Bed: What Actually Worked for Us […]
LikeLike