Right Time for a Big Girl Bed?

I think that'd be too many changes at once. My son was super excited for his big boy bed (a double, much taller than his toddler bed). It was all assembled, he was happy for 3 minutes, then got really upset & wanted his old bed back! So, my husband disassembled it & reassembled his old bed. What a pain! I think the size of the bed was a little overwhelming.

Maybe you could put both beds in her room if there's enough room. Encourage her to sleep in the big one, but if she doesn't want to, she can go to her old one. Whichever one she doesn't use can be for her dolls or stuffed animals, or something... Until she is used to the big one and the small one can be taken out.

We didn't have any issues changing to a big boy bed for our twins. I say give it to her with the new house. I agree with you. Do all new changes at once instead of drawing it out.

She might be great about the move right now, but she probably doesn't understand exactly what that will mean. EVERYTHING will change for her and they handle this much differently than we do as adults.

My children are ages 4-8 and they're still mad at us for moving across town this last summer. (My youngest daughter turned 4 right in the middle of the move). Our new place is much better but they miss the kids they played with, the playground they used, etc. We were at that house for so long that it was all any of them remembered so it was a huge shock for it to be gone. They too were excited about the move at first, until we actually moved. So right now, to them, everything about the old place, in their minds, is better because that was their whole world.

You want this move to go well but moving is often very stressful on our little ones; just take it slow. At her age, I would hesitate about too much change at once. It may be too much for her and you wouldn't want that while trying to settle into your new house. You could either put both beds in her room to let her get used to the idea and then let her switch when she's ready (Trust me, that would happen. When our children are ready for something, on their own, they have no problem accepting it whole heartedly. I certainly was not expecting the day my youngest daughter informed me that she was moving out of my bed and into her sisters bedroom but it was completely her initiative and she never came back.) Or you could do is put her current bed in her new room but with the knowledge that she will outgrow it soon and start getting her excited about a "big girl bed" while she settles into the new house. When she has obviously outgrown her bed (and had time to settle in and get used to her new digs) take her shopping for a new one. Make a special day of it. In all of this though, no matter what decision you choose, make her a part of it. She's the one that has to sleep on the bed so her comfort, happiness and feelings of support (not just your convenience) have to be the first consideration.

What about talking to her....ask her if she's ready for a big girl bed...

I would tell her that she has the option to choose and let her think about it. I bet if she gets comfortable with the idea, the transition will be simple.

I honestly can not remember when we changed my daughter's bed from toddler to twin, and she is only 4 1/2 years old (oh what children do to our minds). I believe we switched around 2 1/2 or 3 years old.

If possible maybe have both in the room, to help with the switch if it does become an issue. If not make the switch and be ready for comforting and reassuring more, just in case.

If you wait a few months after you move she will have time to become comfortable in her new room, then change the bed when she outgrows the toddler one. I always like to make slower transitions with my daughter because I know she likes to know what is coming, think about it for a while then make the change.