Jenna Bush Hager Discusses Her 4-Year-Old's "Big Kid Bed" Transition

Jenna Bush Hager, former first daughter and TODAY co-host, is opening up about one of those big parenting moments—the big kid bed transition. While chatting with co-host Hoda on January 18, Jenna explained that while quarantining with COVID-19 recently, her husband Henry Hager heard their 4-year-old son announce: “'Daddy! Daddy! I’m ready … I need to move into my big boy bed.”

Hager went on to mention how worried she was that perhaps she was a bit too overbearing when “Hal,” short for Henry Harold, made the transition without her. “It [the bed] has been in the room for about two years — and there he is,” explained Jenna, showing a photo of her son sleeping. “But it all happened without his mother’s help. And that leads me to wonder if I’m too overbearing when it comes to him. Just to him. The others I am fine,” she jokingly added about her two older children Mila, 10, and Poppy, 8.

“It is funny, because sometimes when we are out of the picture, we think nothing, no changes are going to happen without our urging or cheering or guidance,” said Hoda. Jenna joked that she had been “shamed” for allowing her son to continue sleeping in a crib as he approached 5 years old in August. “And I said, 'OK, Hal, I think it’s time … and he was not ready, he was scared.” And just like Mom guessed, he knew when it was time, even if she wasn’t there to help.

"I love that he really did tell you he was ready,” noted Hoda, “And what difference does it make if he’s in a crib or a bed and when he’s 20 he’s not going to remember that he was in a crib until he was a four and a half.” Hager joked, “He will remember because this will live on the internet!”

Worried about your toddler’s transition? Learn how to know when it’s time to transition your baby to a toddler bed and get the lowdown on the best toddler beds and safety railings before you embark on this challenging journey. And remember, as tough as the transition may be, baby is growing and thriving, and that’s a lot to be thankful for.