Emilia's Big Firsts · Story 9
About “Emilia's Big-Girl Bed”
- Ages: 2-4
- Season: Emilia's Big Firsts, story 9
Emilia gives her crib to the new baby and gets a big-girl bed with a quilt full of stars. When the dark feels big, a moon nightlight, a snug quilt and counting stars carry her all the way to morning.
This is the quietest story in the series, made for the end of the day. The baby needs a crib, so Emilia hands hers down and moves to a bed of her own with a quilt covered in stars. Her evening follows a steady order, a bath, pajamas, brushing, two books, a lullaby and a hug, and then the light clicks off and the room suddenly feels huge. A lumpy shadow looks like a monster until her moon nightlight shows it's only her robe and slippers. When she wakes in the middle of the night, she remembers to stay snug and count the stars on her quilt until morning.
- moving to a big bed
- bedtime routine
- fear of the dark
- staying in bed
- sleep
This story comes out on YouTube on October 23. You can read it below and print its coloring page now.
The three big words
- snug
- Tucked in, cozy, and warm.
- drowsy
- Very, very sleepy.
- lullaby
- A soft, sleepy song.
Tips for grown-ups
- Keep the bedtime routine you already have after the switch, as the AAP recommends. Emilia's follows the AAP's Brush, Book, Bed pattern: brushing, a book or two, then bed at a regular time.
- If the dark is the hard part, Zero to Three suggests a night light, or a hallway light with the door open. You can also tour the room together with the light on, the way the story shows the shadow is just a robe.
- Choose a bedtime buddy. Zero to Three suggests making a special stuffed animal part of the routine, and Pip sleeps right on Emilia's pillow.
- Talk about what to do on waking up at night. The AAP suggests telling your child to stay in bed until you come, and calmly leading your child back if needed; Emilia's star counting gives her something to do while she stays put.
- Make the room safe now that your child can get up at night. The AAP recommends anchoring furniture so it can't tip, clearing away anything that could hurt in a fall, and gating the stairs.
Talk about it
After watching, ask:
- What did Emilia give the new baby?
- What was on Emilia's new quilt?
- What was the shadow, really?
- What did Emilia count when she woke up?
- What does drowsy mean?
- Who sleeps on Emilia's pillow?
Try this together
Cut out a few paper stars and tape them near your child's bed for counting at bedtime. Then draw a picture list of your own bedtime steps, like Emilia's bath, pajamas, brushing, books, song and hug.
Free coloring page
Emilia's Big-Girl Bed: print it (US Letter or A4) or color it on screen.
Read the story
The new baby needed a crib, small and sweet,
so Emilia gave hers. What a big-sister treat!
And for Emilia? Look! A brand-new bed,
with a quilt full of stars, and a pillow for her head!
No bars! A big-girl bed, all her own!
She bounced just a little. How big she had grown!
At bedtime, first came a warm, bubbly bath,
with duckies, and bubbles, and a splashy laugh!
Then on went pajamas, all cozy and new,
and brush, brush! Each tooth, through and through!
Then two books in bed, with Pip close beside,
about pirates, and puppies, and a rocket ship ride!
Then one song, a lullaby, soft and slow,
a sleepy-time song, singing sweet and low.
And one great big hug, and a kiss on the head.
Goodnight, big girl, in your big-girl bed.
Then click went the light, and the room was dark.
So dark! Not a twinkle. Not one little spark.
The bed felt so big. The floor felt so far.
And what was that shadow? A monster? A car?
Then she tapped her moon nightlight. Click! A glow!
A soft golden moon, shining sleepy and low.
And that lumpy old shadow? Not a monster at all!
Just her robe and her slippers, hung up on the wall!
She wiggled down low in her quilt, warm and snug.
Snug means tucked in, cozy, and warm, like a hug.
With Pip on her pillow, and the moon shining near,
she felt safe and sleepy. Goodnight, Pip, dear.
Her eyelids felt heavy. She felt drowsy and slow.
Drowsy means sleepy... so sleepy... oh...
She counted the stars on her quilt: one, two, three,
four, five... and her eyes closed, as sleepy as can be.
In the middle of the night, Emilia woke up. Oh...
Should she climb out? Call out? Should she go?
Then she remembered: stay snug, nice and still,
and count the stars. One... two... three... until...
Then sunshine peeked in. It was morning! Yay!
She'd slept the whole night in her big bed! Hooray!
Her very first night in her big bed! Let's sing,
and clap, and dance, and do the She-Did-It thing!
Then off to her chart, for the very last spot:
a moon sticker! Nine big firsts! She did a lot!
A potty, a dentist, a haircut, a school,
a baby, new food, a bike, a friend, a bed! So cool!
Big words today! Say them with me!
Snug!
Tucked in, cozy, and warm.
Drowsy!
Very, very sleepy.
Lullaby!
A soft, sleepy song.
Every big first starts out wobbly and new,
then one day you do it! Hooray! Look at you!
Now here's your lullaby. Goodnight, big girl.
Questions parents ask
When should a toddler move from a crib to a bed?
The AAP says that once a toddler can climb out of the crib, it may be time to move to a big-kid bed. If you're not sure, ask at your next checkup.
Is it normal for a toddler to be afraid of the dark?
Zero to Three says fear of the dark is quite common at this age. A night light and a favorite stuffed animal in the bedtime routine can help, much like Emilia's moon light and Pip.
Is this a good story to watch right before bed?
It was made for that: it is the calmest story in the series, with dim colors, slow pictures and soft sounds, and it ends with a lullaby.
Sources
Our tips follow these pages. They are general information, not medical advice: ask your child's doctor or dentist about your child.
- Big Kid Beds: When to Switch From a Crib, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Brush, Book, Bed: How to Structure Your Child's Nighttime Routine, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- My 2-year-old Son is Suddenly Afraid of the Dark, Zero to Three