toddler bed vs. crib

Suzie - posted on 05/02/2010

we put are daughter in a toddler bed at 2but being a summer baby we did not think about the humidifer untill late fall she has never played with it and knows that she should not she is more concerned in the morning about getting to the baby gate and calling mommy

Jessica - posted on 04/25/2010

Morgan has been in a toddler bed for over a year now, as a matter of fact I just got her a full sized bed wednesday. Your little one should be able to handle it!! Good luck!!

Heidi - posted on 04/09/2010

Our triplets will be 3 in July and we just converted their cribs to toddler beds a week ago. I was planning to wait until they turned 3 but decided I didn't want to take the pack-n-plays on vacation with us this year.

Jennifer - posted on 04/08/2010

My son, Julian, was in a toddler bed by time he was 1 1/2. When he really started talking good he used to tell us he wanted the big boy bed. If we had him in the crib he screamed 'bed for baby, bed for baby!!' We have him in a twin bed now. My stepbrother made the frame for Julian and it sits on the floor so if he falls out during the night he wont get hurt.

Outi - posted on 04/08/2010

My daughter came out of her crib right before she turned two. She took naps and went to bed on her own. Once in toddler bed she stopped taking naps because she would just run up and out of her bed all afternoon and I had to sit next to her until she fell asleep at nights.. a pain.. but the crib was falling apart and not safe anymore so it wasnt an option..lol. Within a couple of months though she started to be ok to be left in her bed and going to sleep alone at nights and now we actually upgraded her to a twin bed which she loooves. (its a fancy little girl bed)
My boys also switched to toddler beds when they were just around two with no problems or running issues

Audra - posted on 04/07/2010

I hope not! My 2.75 year old daughter is still in a crib. We have several reasons - some hers, some ours. Mainly, she is up and down all the time. We don't think she is ready to settle down yet with the freedom of getting out of bed. She needs a little more maturity and control. The other reasons are more lagistical, but an be solved when we are certain of the first.

Allie - posted on 04/07/2010

You are not the only one, just until recently my daughter was in her crib and I didn't change it to a toddler bed because I was concerned about how she would handle it, so I think your reason seems to be a little better! :) Anyways, my sister told me that it actually isn't safe to have a child in a crib over the age of 2, the warrenty won't cover it if something were to happen. So I think its just a safety thing, instead of a "am I supposed to" kind of thing. If that makes sense? p.s my daughter is 3 months and 1 week shy of 3 yrs old.

Crystal - posted on 04/07/2010

My daughter is 2y, 8mo and we just switched from her crib to the convertible toddler bed - she hates it! We actually have been letting her sleep on an air mattress until we decide which bed ensemble we want to get her. They're all on their own timeline; I know parents who needed the crib by the time their child was 1-1.5yrs old and their kids have done fine in the toddler beds. It's all up to them :) If she's okay in it, why rush it?

Katharine - posted on 04/06/2010

i just switched My daughter to a toddler bed about three weeks ago... and she's 2 years 8 months

Rachel - posted on 04/02/2010

My daughter will be 3 in July also. And I have her in a crib and have a toddler bed. But I am afraid of letting her sleep in the toddler bed because my husband and I are living with his parents in their basement and her room is the pantry and there are plastic tall shelves with canned goods and whatever else we store on there; so I am afraid that she might try climbing on the shelves and get hurt really bad or worse.

Jennifer - posted on 04/02/2010

We moved our first daughter into a twin sized bed at 14m when it was time to give the crib to her sister. She never climbed out of either of them. Kara was moved into a twin when she was 12m and climbed out of her crib and hit her head. She still has side rails at 2y 8m due to constantly rolling out of bed. (she is a fussy sleeper).

I think that as long as your child is not climbing out of the crib, falling out of the crib and within the weight limits, its not a big deal to keep them in the crib. I wish mine has sat still!!!

Brandi - posted on 03/30/2010

Michelle, I totally understand! I just switched my son to a toddler bed a few weeks ago and he was born July 2007. I was worried that he wouldn't stay in his bed at night and stay up playing. lol But he really surprised me! He took to it no problem, however, sometimes it takes a movie on to keep him there if he's not tired yet. lol Now, he LOVES climbing into his own bed when I say it's time to lay down! So, really it's whenever you and your daughter are both ready.

Michelle - posted on 03/27/2010

We moved our son into a twin size bed a month after his 2nd birthday. We had a newborn and needed the crib for the baby. I have friends that their almost 4 yr old is still in a crib. No worries...do it when you are ready. :)

Joanne - posted on 03/27/2010

I moved my son into a full sized bed just after he turned a year and started walking. It's a low racing car one with no side rail and he has always loved it.

Jennifer - posted on 03/25/2010

My son started sleeping in a toddler bed shortly after he turned 1, but he was also able to climb out on his own. He did/does just fine in it.

Michelle - posted on 03/24/2010

Thank you so much for your input Ladies, this is so helpful. It seemed before that everyone had their child out of the crib by the time they were 2 or so. I guess I'm not the only mom with her almost 3 year old still in a crib. Our Chicago weather is crazy, I'm hoping we won't need the humidifier anymore come April and then I can start to get my little girl ready for a "big girl" bed :)

Shannon - posted on 03/19/2010

I think if she's not trying to get out then don't worry. The only difference is the side rail right? About the humidifier...She may need it during the winter for a few years eventually you'll have to have it in the room when she is able to get out..maybe you can switch to a cool mist if your worried.

Sinda - posted on 03/18/2010

I think both parents have to be comfortable with it, as well as your daughter. When that happens it's the right time. We have a new baby so we needed the crib and my daughter did great switching to a toddler bed. She was excited about it. That was about the age of 2. It did however take a couple of nights to get used to it. so we let her fall asleep in the crib and moved her to the toddler bed and after waking up in the bed for a couple of days she did fine going to bed in the bed. But I know your situation is a little different. lf the side of the crib comes off easy you might try pulling it off and putting some pillows on the floor in case she rolls out, but wait till she's asleep before you pull it and then when she's used to it you can put the guard up and put her to bed that way.

Elizabeth - posted on 03/18/2010

If she is not climbing out, then no worries. My son climbed out when he was about 18 months old, maybe even a month or 2 before that. We had no choice in waiting.

Erika - posted on 03/18/2010

Hi Michelle, my name is Erika Russell and my little girl Annah olso still sleep in her crib. The reason why she still sleeps in her crip is because she is little and still fits in her camping cot. I said I will move her to her own bed when she does not fit in the camping cot anymore. So I don't think it's a bad thing. She loves her camping cot and she sleeps good there

Shelly - posted on 03/16/2010

My daughter is still in a crib. Family friends have told us to keep her there as long as you can. SHe is 2 1/2 and hasn't tried getting out of it yet. So we say what the hey, she is sleeping and so are we.

Lisa - posted on 03/12/2010

I have just moved my son out of his cot at 2yrs 7mths as he was getting to big for it and have moved him in to a full sized bed. He has been fine in it and see's it as a good thing and that he is a big boy.

I would move her asap

Robin - posted on 03/11/2010

My son is still in a crib as well (born July 2007) and he will be in it until he starts climbing out. Night time is already such a problem with him fussing and not wanting to go to bed that I'm scared of the thought of a toddler bed where he can just get up and "roam".....because that boy will.

Karen - posted on 03/09/2010

we moved our son out of the crib at 19 months but only because he was climbing out and thought that to be more dangerous than falling out of bed. our daughter was 2 and we moved her as we knew we were going away when she would be 2 1/2 and would be in a bed so wanted her to get used to it long before we did actually go away. i know of some children who didnt move until they were around 3 and it did them no harm.

J'Lynn - posted on 03/06/2010

i switched my son to a toddler bed a year ago and it worked out great he was more then ready for it and we haven't had any problems but i know of people that waited until their child was three and it worked out great too so i just think its a matter of personal opinion :)