Transitioning from baby to toddler

Updated: April 2026

Written by Meg — mom of three (ages 5, 3, and 1) in Atlanta. I've navigated the baby-to-toddler transition three times now, and here's everything I set up at home, the resources that actually helped, and the books worth reading. 🫶

Not sure what changes when your baby becomes a toddler? This post covers everything — babyproofing your home, setting up each room for toddler independence, the Montessori-inspired changes we made, the parenting resources I swear by (Big Little Feelings is #1), and the books that changed how I think about raising kids. This is the practical guide I wish I'd had before Tripp hit toddlerhood.

My #1 resource recommendation for this stage: BIG LITTLE FEELINGS

If it's in your budget, I would HIGHLY recommend the Big Little Feelings online course: Winning the Toddler Stage. It is $99 but I truly think it is worth its weight in gold. You can get a feel for them and their philosophy on their Instagram, where they share tons of free resources and goodness.

• I do not want to "scoop" their course but I will say that their methods, known as gentle or positive parenting, have really resonated with me personally and have REALLY worked with my toddlers. It's an ongoing journey but wow do I feel more prepared with the tools and scripts from their courses.

• If this is not in budget for you, spend some time on their Instagram and website. They offer tons of free insights so you'll be able to get the vibe before deciding to put down any $.

• More on why I love BLF can be found in this post - Mama Meg toddler parenting suggestions

Instagram follow suggestions.

• Parenting style

  • @biglittlefeelings

  • @drbeckyatgoodinside

  • @nurturedfirst

  • @curiousparenting

  • @theconsciouskid

• Food

  • @solidstarts - introduction to solids and baby-led weaning

  • @feedinglittles

• Activities

  • @busytoddler

  • @happytoddlerplaytime

  • @halfway_montessori

  
  

I'd never have guessed before becoming a parent, but there is A LOT of great, free information all over Instagram. As always, take what works for you and ignore what doesn't. We are a "positive parenting" family that aims to be intentional with how we talk to our kids about emotions, food, diversity, body positivity and setting boundaries, with a sprinkle of Montessori in there as well. It's what is working for us today, but it could look different a year from now. And that is just fine by me.

And some book recommendations.

• Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Dougleff, PhD

• Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy

• The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being by Simone Davies

• The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel

• To Raise a Boy: Classrooms, Locker Rooms, Bedrooms and the Hidden Struggles of American Boyhood by Emma Brown

• How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

• UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Michele Borba, Ed. D.

• The Memory Making Mom by Jessica Smartt

I'm an unapologetic nerd and love reading. If that's not your thing, or you're literally laughing at me for having the audacity to suggest you have any spare time, that is entirely okay too. Many of these are available on audiobooks and have podcasts by the authors that would break down the key points for you.

Babyproofing your home.

If you haven't done a thorough babyproofing of your home already, now is the time. Here are some of my favorite babyproofing items that we used to secure things around our house.

• Furniture straps - this kit has everything you need to anchor dressers, bookshelves, mirrors, etc.

• Door lever lock - for any doors that you want to keep them from opening (pantry, storage)

• Cabinet locks - we use this on all of our bottom kitchen cabinets & bathroom cabinets

• Child proof door latch - we use this on a door in our son's room that we don't want him to open. You can also use it to keep doors mostly closed but still allow cats to come in to use a litterbox.

• Outlet covers

• Baby gate for stairs - we installed these inside & outside!

Setting up your home for a toddler.

Regardless of whether you subscribe fully to the Montessori method concept, IMHO it's important to set up your home in a way that gives your toddler some independence. Toddlers love control and doing things themselves! Giving them control to do things independently also REALLY helps minimize tantrums.

A few ways we did this in our home:

• Entryway

  • Setting up a stepstool by the door for each toddler to sit on and put on socks and shoes

    • We put a little storage bin underneath that holds all of their socks and hats/gloves

    • Call me boring but we just got two packs socks to start and outside of a couple random pairs for special occasions, that's what our boys wear until they need to size up. So nice to not have to hunt for matches and I promise they do not care!

  • Placing a hat rack at their eye level for hats and jackets when they come in the front door

• Kitchen

  • Designating a low drawer in the kitchen for all of their dishes, so they can access

    • This dish set has been great for us - unbreakable and made of wheat straw instead of plastic

    • Toddler silverware - stainless steel, so it looks like ours (which they of course love)

  • Toddler Tower so toddler can help with cooking, baking, washing dishes - this was a gift for Tripp's 1st birthday from his Birdie & Pop Pop (grandparents)

  • A toddler table where they can sit and eat snacks or play

    • IKEA also has great toddler tables at a good price

  • Age appropriate kitchen tools, only for use with adult supervision:

    • Toddler Knife Set

    • Strawberry Slicer

    • Grape Slicer

• Bathroom

  • Placing a stepstool in his bathroom so he can access the sink to wash his hands

    • Faucet extender helps make this a little easier!

  • Hanging bath towels at eye level, so they can pick the ones they want

  • Moving from changing diapers laying down, to standing up on a bathmat

• Toddler's bedroom

  • Setting up a cube storage shelf so they can reach and pick out their own clothes

    • Anything out of season is out of their reach

    • My mom made labels with pictures & words for each drawer using her Cricut - you could easily DIY this, or check Etsy!

  • Setting up a bookshelf and toyshelf at their level

    • We love these and they've lasted well but I've since learned IKEA has a lot of great options for this type of furniture at better prices

  • Converting his crib to a toddler bed, so he can get in and out by himself

    • I am not linking our toddler bed/crib because Birchlane doesn't make it anymore!

    • Note, the second that you do this, you have to make sure that absolutely every item in your kid's room is safe for them to have access to. Which can feel scary! We have organized all of my boys' toys with this in mind and removed any hazards (i.e. anything with small parts, stuffed animals with hard eyes, toys with batteries, books with button batteries etc.). Anything else is either in the closet (with childlock) or downstairs.

      • Once you're past that part of it, we have LOVED the toddler bed era for both of my older boys. They usually wake up and grab a book or toy and quietly play until we come get them. It's the best!

  • Creating a visual schedule to help demonstrate daily routines. This really helped us before my oldest started at his school, to start practicing this and establishing some consistency on the morning routine.

    • I got this digital one off of Etsy and printed and laminated the pages (laminator from Amazon) and used these velcro dots to put up the individual activities - super easy!

    • We have this hung at their eye level would go through it together each morning and evening. "First, we'll change your diaper, then we'll brush your teeth, then we'll brush your hair, eat breakfast, get dressed and get in Mommy's car to go to school."

    • Repeating this often REALLY helps - toddler brains crave consistency

FAQ

When does a baby become a toddler? Technically around 12 months, though every child develops differently. The bigger shift is behavioral — increased independence, strong opinions, big emotions, and lots of "I do it myself" energy. That's when the toddler parenting resources and home setup changes in this post become really useful.

How do I babyproof my home for a toddler? The non-negotiables: anchor all furniture to the wall (dressers, bookshelves, mirrors), install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs, add cabinet locks on all low kitchen and bathroom cabinets, put outlet covers on every outlet, and add door lever locks on any rooms that are off limits. Once you convert to a toddler bed, every single item in their room needs to be safe for unsupervised access — do a full audit before that happens.

What is the best resource for toddler parenting? Big Little Feelings — full stop. Their Winning the Toddler Stage course is $99 and worth every single penny. It gives you actual scripts for real toddler situations, teaches you how to manage your own emotions during meltdowns, and covers everything from tantrums to introducing a new sibling. Check out their Instagram for free content before buying.

How do I set up a Montessori-inspired home for a toddler? The core idea is giving toddlers independence and real responsibility. Start with: a stepstool at the door for putting on shoes, a low drawer in the kitchen for their dishes, a hat rack at their eye level, a cube shelf in their room so they can choose their own clothes, and a stepstool in the bathroom to reach the sink. A toddler tower in the kitchen for cooking together is a game changer. These small changes dramatically reduce tantrums because toddlers feel in control.

What are the best toddler parenting books? My top picks: Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff (changed how I think about raising kids with a village), Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy, The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies, and The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel. Most are available on audiobook if you're laughing at the idea of having time to read.

When should I convert a crib to a toddler bed? Most families make the switch between 18 months and 3 years — usually when baby starts climbing out of the crib or a new sibling needs it. Before converting, do a full room safety audit — everything in their room needs to be safe for unsupervised access since they'll be able to get up freely. The upside is that once you're past that adjustment period, the toddler bed era is genuinely wonderful. Both of my boys wake up and quietly read or play until we come get them.

What is a visual schedule for toddlers and does it work? Yes — it really works. A visual schedule is a chart with pictures showing the daily routine in order (diaper change, brush teeth, get dressed, breakfast, school). Toddler brains crave consistency and walking through the schedule together each morning and evening reduces transitions fights significantly. I got a digital one from Etsy, printed and laminated it, and used velcro dots to put up each activity card at their eye level.

→ See my full toddler parenting tips — Big Little Feelings, positive parenting phrases, and Montessori at home here

→ Introducing solid foods and our approach to feeding toddlers here

→ Questions to ask when researching daycares and Montessori schools here

→ See my full baby registry checklist for what to have before baby arrives here

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Your friendly reminder that this blog is not medical advice! This blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if they seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment for you or your family.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you click through and purchase — at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I only share products I genuinely use with my own three kids.