Knowing when to transition from toddler beds to twin beds for your twins can be a tricky situation. You want to be sure that they’re developmentally ready, that they have say in the change, and yet do it without disrupting their bedtime routine and sleep!
Knowing the Right Time
There are many factors that go into knowing the right time to switch to a twin size bed from a toddler bed. Remember when they switched from a crib to a toddler bed? It won’t be as shocking as that was to you because they are already ‘free’ from the crib, so this shouldn’t be as big of a deal, hopefully.
Common concerns include if they’re going to feel comfortable enough in a larger bed or if they’ll feel not secure enough in a larger bed. It’s typical for children to make this transition around ages 3-4 though of course, your child may want to at a different time.
Here are some Twin-specific questions to take into consideration:
- Are both twins wanting a twin bed or just one of them? This is a good thing to know going into this. Keep in mind, even if only one says they want a bigger bed, the other will likely change their mind once their twin has one.
- Do you have the space for two twin beds?
- Do they share a room currently? Will they be able to with larger beds?
Other Considerations:
- Are they approaching the weight limit of their convertible bed or toddler bed?
- Are they curled up or seeming scrunched in their toddler bed, showing the need for a big bed?
- Is there a younger sibling who is aging out of their crib who needs the toddler bed?
- Are they waking in the middle of the night more often than before or having trouble settling down?
These may all be reasons that switching to a twin-size bed is the right choice.
Making the Switch
Ensure that you involve your twins in the decision to make the switch from their toddler bed or crib to a big kid bed. This helps them get on board with the decision and not be resistant to it.
With twins, if just one twin wants to switch and the other doesn’t, that’s ok. Just keep in mind, like I mentioned above, that the twin that originally didn’t want to get a bigger bed may change their mind once the process is underway.
You can use a bed rail if you’re worried about your twins falling out of their new big kid bed and have the other side against a wall.
If your twins have convertible cribs that they’ve been using as toddler beds you can use those for big kid beds but keep in mind, the convertible cribs typically end up being for a full-sized bed with their conversion kits.
We had convertible cribs for all 3 of our kids and used them as cribs and toddler beds but when it came time for twin beds, we opted to buy completely new bed frames.
Ensure that you don’t have your twins make the switch during a time of big change in their lives such as moving to a new house, potty training, starting the school year or a new school, etc. Though we’re always in times of transition it seems, trying to not schedule it during times of big change can help with a smooth transition to a bigger bed.
Logistics of the Difference
When looking at the size of toddler beds to twin beds, they are larger and last longer. Some people even forgo toddler beds and go straight to a twin-size bed. It would be cheaper to go directly from a crib to a twin-size bed but your twins may feel insecure in such a huge bed when they’re so young. It all depends on your child or children and your own situation.
| Feature | Toddler Bed | Twin Bed |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 27″ x 52″ | 38″ x 74″ |
| Safety Rails | Often built-in | Need to be added |
| Longevity | 2-3 years | 5-10+ years |
Make it Special & Their Own
Ways to make it special to help with a smooth transition for your twins to their twin-sized beds are to:
- Include them in the process
- Let them pick out their new sheets and comforter
- Let them have a say in the type of bed: whether they want a headboard and footboard, bunk beds (if you’re willing), a floor bed, etc.
- Ask them if they’d like to keep a bed rail up for now as they get used to the new bed
- Let them pick out a new bedroom decor, if that’s in the budget
- Include comfort items like their favorite blanket and stuffed animals on their new bed
For our twins, they wanted new beds around the time their older sibling did so we did all three at once. They all wanted half-loft beds so they aren’t super tall but tall enough to store toys and such underneath and have a fort area. They each got to pick out their new sheets and comforters.
The way I did this was to ask them the general theme then go online and pick out several different options for them to choose from, then they chose from that list.
Below is a picture of one of our twins in their new twin-size bed mattress on the floor. The mattresses arrived before the bed frames so they all got to sleep on the floor for a few days if they wanted to. He thought it was pretty cool.
What You’ll Need
When it comes to getting your twins twin-sized beds, here are the basics you’ll need.
Bed Frames
You’ll need two twin-size bed frames for your twins, assuming they both want the upgrade. Other options include getting a floor bed / full size mattress to put on the floor. I’ve heard of people doing that for twins who want to sleep in the same bed.
Personally, our twins have their own beds and their own rooms. I don’t think they’d sleep well otherwise.
When we let our 3 boys have ‘sleepovers’ downstairs with the 3 of them, they stay up a couple hours past when they usually do, so I’m guessing that’d be typical of if they were sharing a room. When our twins share a room when we stay at a cabin for a week in the summer, they stay up too late half of the time we’re there and then are grumpy, which is no fun on vacation!
However, your twins might be different and might be just fine sleeping in the same bed or the same room. Do whatever works for your family.
Twin Mattresses
When they’re helping you pick out the style of twin-size bed, you’ll see whether you’ll need a box spring or not. Many twin-size bed frames don’t require a box spring, which is nice not to have that extra expense.
A new mattress is essential, of course, for each of your twins. We all went to the local mattress store and tried out mattresses. My husband and I actually were overdue to a new mattress so we got one as well! All 3 of our kids picked the same twin mattresses, which made things simple for when they were delivered, so that was nice.
New Bedding
Their new bed will be bigger than their old one so you’ll need a new set or two of sheets for each child. When our twins were babies we’d have multiple sheet sets for them in case of overnight accidents but now we just have the one and have been fine so far (watch, now they’ll need a middle of the night change since I said this).
- New Sheets: Fitted and flat
- New Blankets
- New Comforter or Quilt
- Optional: Waterproof mattress protector. I think these are always a good idea.
As a mom of identical twins and a son two years older, I have gained invaluable experience in the realm, and chaos, of parenting. With a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology, I spent years as a school psychologist, helping children navigate through their educational and emotional challenges. Now as a stay at home mom and professional blogger, I combine my areas of expertise to help you in your parenting journey.