When to switch to toddler bed?

Jaiy - posted on 08/18/2010

We transitioned the toddler when he turned 2 before he tried to climb out. I was a little concerned, because we'd check him through the night while he was in the crib, and he was all over the place - sometimes with various limbs hanging out of the bars. To my surprise, though, he only fell out once or twice, before he got the hang of it. We had a little trouble getting him used to it at first, but then we used a technique we had seen on Super Nanny and he was having tear free nights in a matter of two days. If you're having trouble with the bed training, or want to know the method, send me a message and I'll give you the details. As for him getting into things, I put a baby gate in front of his door and take it down once I'm awake.

Ashley - posted on 08/14/2010

I got my daughter a toddler bed almost as soon as she turned 2. She wasnt yet able to get out of the crib, I just felt she was ready to come get me in the morning, instead of the other way around. Once in awhile she doesn"t want to stay in bed, but honestly I just give her the look and tell her to go back to bed, and she does it. She may whine a little bit, but then she falls asleep. As for falling out, I've never had that problem.

Cheryl - posted on 08/13/2010

I put my son in a toddler bed as soon as he started climbing out of the crib..I was afraid he was gonna break a bone..we tried the toddler bed with the rails and he didn't like it..so then he started sleeping on the sofa..finally we got tired of him wanting to sleep on the sofa and got him a twin bed..we didn't put up rails and hes only fallen out once..he can get in and out just fine..and for the first few nights we put pillows next to his bed incase he did take a tumble..but they do sell bed rails for toddler beds and twin beds.

Christine - posted on 05/31/2010

hi,my son William has been sleeping in a full size single bed since his 2nd birthday.He fell a couple of times but then children do remember what happened to them and dont usually fall again! He does get out of bed but he's got a stair gate on his door so cant come out.Hope this is helpful for you.Good luck!!x

LeAnne - posted on 05/30/2010

My son has been in a toddler bed since he was 20 months with no problem, but at first I was worried too. For a while I put up a baby gate in the hallway every night so if he got out of his room he could only go into our room. Or you could put it in the doorway so he can't leave the room at all!

Louise - posted on 05/30/2010

We tried a completely different concept. We put the cot mattress on the floor, rather than buying a toddler bed, to get him used to not having the sides of the cot there. That way there was only a very small distance to roll, rather than fall, and you don't have the expense of buying a toddler bed for the transition period.

For about the first week we'd find him in a range of areas on the floor in the middle of the night, but after that he'd adjusted to keeping himself on the mattress. After about six months we put him in a standard sized single bed, with no guardrail, and he has only fallen out once (after being in it for about 3 months).

Aimee - posted on 05/30/2010

i think my daughter was around 18months as well wen she went in a toddler bed...id be more worried of him climbing out of the cot and hurting himself than falling the 30cm or so off a toddler bed. a bed guard should stop him falling anyway. hope the transition goes well

Stacey - posted on 05/26/2010

We've just made the change for my little girl. She had no interest in climbing out of the crib so we just left her until I got tired of having to either listen to her screaming to get her out while I nursed my other little girl or had to leave my other one while I went to get her. Her crib is one that transitions from crib to toddler/day bed to double head/footboard. It has no side rails on it. The first time we tried it, we piled blankets on the floor, just in case. She rolled out of the bed, that didn't wake her but then a little later she rolled off the blankets onto the cold floor, you'd have thought she fell off a bunk bed lol. We made it back into a crib for another week before we tried it again. This time we rolled up a blanket and tucked it under the sheet at the edge, it's just enough to stop her from rolling out. So far she's stayed in the bed until morning and still calls out for me to tell her she can get out and come into my room. She can only go into our two rooms or up the stairs at my house so I don't have to worry too much about other ways she could get hurt. Yet . . .lol!
Good luck!

Elizabeth - posted on 05/24/2010

we have a mesh tent for the top of the crib that we zip up at night. it is really awesome actually and we have even convinced him that he wants to have it shut! we got it at a used baby stuff store so not sure where you could pick one up. maybe walmart?

Rebecca - posted on 05/14/2010

My little one was 18 months when we moved her to a toddler bed. It came with little rails on the sides but she still managed to fall out a few times. A big comfy blanket on the floor helped, although I'd often have to sneak in before I went to bed and lift her back in :) We put a safety gate across her door and just made sure that she could have the run of her room without hurting herself.

Good luck xx

Hollie - posted on 05/12/2010

my daughter was 10 months wen i put her in a toddler bed as she didnt like sleeping in her cot and would scream every night she is nw 2 and never fell out and sleeps so much better

Carla - posted on 05/11/2010

My son was fifteen months when he started using a Toddler bed, He's done great all that time. I'm planning to do the same with my daughter in four months.

Allison - posted on 05/07/2010

i tried the toddler bed with my son he is now 5 they do come with side rails but he was afraid of the sides so we decided to get him a big boy bed when he was 2 years old he has fallen out of it lots but what kid hasn't. With my little girl we put her in a big girl bed when she was 18 months she is now 2 didn't put the rails up and so far only one fall

Micaela - posted on 05/06/2010

I just moved my daughter after her yelling for help and being stuck on the side rail of the crib. I am so thankful she didn't fall, and switched her that very same day. Within a few days of the switch she figured out how to open her doorknob and we've had a little bit of difficulty with keeping her in bed and her bedroom. Nights have been a little tough this week, but we're working on consistently just putting her back in bed and sitting close to keep her there. She's only been found on the floor once and I'd rather her fall out of the toddler bed than the crib. I know she'll come to the point of going to bed quickly again with a little time and consistency, and I just feel so much safer with her in the toddler bed than her crib now. Good luck!

Emma - posted on 05/06/2010

We moved my son into a big bed at 18mths due to needing the cot for our second child a few months later. We bought a safety guard for the side of the bed that wasn't on the wall & haven't really had any dramas. As for the child getting up early in the morning before you are awake, if he cannot yet reach the door handle to open the door just make sure you shut the door at night. My son used to just bang on the door to let us know that he was up, unfortunatley he can now open the door himself but we usually hear the handle turning. If he can reach the door handle Brittany's suggestion of the baby gate would be the go.
If the child keeps getting out of the bed you just need to be consistent in telling them that it is bed time & putting them back to bed. We didnt have any problems when we first went into the bed but had some days later on when it just turned into a game.
Good Luck

Brittany - posted on 05/04/2010

oh and just put a babygate in his doorway that way he can only be in his room. if u have a moniter put it where cord can not be reached and turn it on if he wakes up youll hear him and he will be safe

Brittany - posted on 05/04/2010

he is deffinatly ready in my eyes, My son was 19 months and was doing the same thing, climbing out of his playpen and i figured he couldnt get out of his crib... WRONG 2 days later he had a broken arm from falling out of his crib at 4am. just get the toddler bed up and put him to bed as usual. he might play for a bit but he will eventullay go to sleep just be prepared for him to be on his floor a couple of mornings! good luck.

Sonya - posted on 05/04/2010

I have a two year old too and she has been in a transitional toddler bed since she was 18 months . we have never had the falling out problem but maybe once. I know you get a toddler bed and they normally come with side rails half way doen the bed to prevent that or if you going to get twin bed they are rails you get for them too. Check out walmart for a cheap toddler bed.

Carolyn - posted on 05/03/2010

This is my first and only child as of right now so everything is new to me