toddler bed time??

Sherri - posted on 02/16/2011

My daughter is 18 months and has been in a toddler bed for three months. She does great when it comes to bed time and nap time..There should be no hurry to get her into a toddler bed if you think that she is safe in a crib.

Simone - posted on 02/07/2011

Our son was out of his crib and into a toddler bed by 16 months. He had a couple days of adjusting, but he loves it now! He, like me, loves his sleep, so I will find him in there on his own taking a nap on most days! I love it! At night he crawls in when we say "bed time", he loves to pray and then falls asleep! We haven't even had an issue with him getting up and playing with his toys.

Amanda - posted on 02/07/2011

My son just turned 19months and we just put him in a toddler bed. He was doing pretty well with the crib but is starting to climb on everything and is quite strong also! So far it has been going well (only has been a few days) but I know friends who have kids in cribs til 3 and some who had their kids in beds by 15 months. I think it is best to do what works for you! Every lil one is different ♥

Lexi - posted on 02/06/2011

I moved my son into a big boy bed at 14 months or so, but not cuz I wanted to! He kept trying to climb out and we were afraid he'd hurt himself. If I could have I would have kept him in the crib as long as possible. Of course side benefit of the big boy bed is that he stays quiet in his room longer in the morning cuz he can just get himself up and play with his toys.

Trish - posted on 02/06/2011

I'm in no hurry to move our 18 month old son into a bed. He is still perfectly happy in his cot, doesn't try to climb out and there is still plenty of room for him to grow. With our daughter (eldest), we moved her into a bed at around 21 months because our son (middle child) needed to be moved into the cot at 3 months. He stayed in the cot until he was 2yrs 4mths and that was purely because we thought it was time, but he could have stayed in it longer because there was still enough room and he wasn't trying to climb out or anything. When we do finally get our son (youngest) out of the cot, he will be going into the same bedroom as his brother, so that we bring a whole new set of issues to deal with, particularly because our older son is a difficult child to get to go to sleep.

Alison - posted on 02/04/2011

we put our son into a proper bed at 12months, it took bout a week or 2 for him to finally understand it was a bed lol. he slept on the floor and he was gradually getin close to it, and now he knows its bed. its a car shape to so its fun to be in as well. hes almost 19months now and hes so used to it, im now glad we did it earlier

Olga - posted on 02/04/2011

I used a crib with my eldest until about 26 months. My youngest is 19 months and will be in a crib until the summer, at least

Jodie - posted on 02/03/2011

My son is still in his cot and my other three children were on the cot until they were about two. There is no right or wrong answer to your question. Whatever suits the child and the situation.

Lisa - posted on 02/01/2011

My son is 18 months old, and sleeps just fine in his crib. Until he can climb out of it, that is where he will sleep. Then, I'll put the bed rail on it and convert it to a bed for him. Until he outgrows it, he'll sleep in that. Right now, I have no reason to put him anywhere else. I am like some of the other posters - I know where he is, he can take his time playing to get to sleep for his nap (he takes great naps, but sometimes he plays for an hour before he falls asleep). We have had to put him bed with us when we travel, and we hate it. You can't leave him until he's asleep for his naps, and so on. We actually dug out a pack and play on our last trip, even though he physically is too big for it if he gets sideways.

Erin - posted on 02/01/2011

My son is 18 months and still in his crib I have thought about going to his toddler bed. I don't know that he will stay in the bed yet. I moved my oldest when he was 17 months.

Lucy - posted on 01/31/2011

my little girl was about 18months when we put her into her own toddler bed and she LOVES it!! she now puts herself to bed... climbs up, pulls up her covers and says book! she hasn't quite got the hang of getting out of it in the morning and stands up crying waiting for me to go get her! hehe - i think, you can get out lola but she forgets!!

Amanda - posted on 01/31/2011

it depends on each kid! My daughter went to a toddler bed at 11 months because she climbed out of her crib. She climbs onto and out of everything! She doesn't eat in a high chair anymore, because of it. She can't even eat in a booster, because her need to not be confined has almost gotten her hurt several times! She eats in a grown up chair while sitting on her knees and she's fine. The bed thing... it was a struggle making the transition, but after about 2 to 3 weeks, she would go down fine. The trick is, let her tire herself out. I put my daughter in when she's tired and cranky, and let her go at it as long as she can until she fell asleep. Some days it was 20 mins, others it was an hour. If she fell asleep on the floor I'd transfer her to the bed. If she woke up while moving her, I did not let her know I noticed. She usually fell right back asleep. Eventually she learned to fall asleep in her bed. Just make sure the room is SUPER baby proof! Nothing that she can climb on or that can fall on her. It's tough... but you know when she's ready... every kid is different. If you're not ready and she doesn't care, then it might be easier to teach her when she's older. If you're ready, then go for it! =)

SHANA - posted on 01/31/2011

MY SON JUST TURNED 18 MONTHS OLD AND IT HASN'T EVEN OCCURED TO ME YET TO MOVE HIM INTO A TODDLER BED YET. HE IS STILL IN HIS CRIB AND UNTIL HE OUTGROWS IT PHYSICALLY, I WILL KEEP HIM IN THERE. IT IS SECURE AND SAFE AND UNTIL HE IS AT LEAST 2 OR 2.5, I WILL HAVE HIM SLEEP IN THE CRIB.

Melissa - posted on 01/31/2011

thanks for all the comments ladies! she is not trying to climb out...but like Christines baby she does kick and shake the crib ALOT so much so that it feels like the whole house is shaking sometimes and its very loud. i did try to put her into the bed the other day for a nap and she snapped on me! ...she was quickly put into her crib after that. my trouble is space...this is why im very antsy to get her into her big girl bed. we have 2 kids and they have 4 beds! 2 big beds, one toddler bed and a crib! i feel she is still safe in her crib and looks like she'll be staying there for a while longer now. thanks everyone!

Blythe - posted on 01/30/2011

With my son, who is about to turn 5 in March, we waited until he was 2 1/2 to put him into a bed. We skipped the toddler bed and went straight to a regular bed. He never tried to crawl out, however. Our daughter is now 18 months and isn't trying to crawl out, either. I'm guessing we'll wait and just put her into a regular bed as well.

Tracy - posted on 01/30/2011

My son is nearly 19months and he is still in his cot...he seems happy in there at the moment and I'm not in a hurry to move him into a bed. As soon as he trys to climb out of the cot then I will think of putting him in to a bed. Also my son dosen't sleep in one position for long he sleeps through the night but I'd say he moves at least 10 different positions a night so at the moment it maybe hard to keep him in a bed at the moment. Only you know when she is ready to be moved.

Sarah - posted on 01/30/2011

My 5 yr old daughter began climbing into our 18 mo. old's crib a couple times, so we think he figured out how to put his foot up on the railing by watching her...One night we had put him to bed and all of a sudden he was in the kitchen....we were shocked! We snuck into his room and watched him go up and over and hang like a monkey then drop down....we took the front railing off his crib which transformed to a day bed....at first he liked it w/o the railing but I slept on the floor for 3 nights while he got out of bed 900 times....so back we put the railing back up and he has not escaped once since then. We put a gate up in the doorway of his room, just in case he escapes in the middle of the night, at least he won't end up in the kitchen again! We kept our daughter in her crib as long as possible..there is no right age....i'll keep him in there as long as I can too.

Beth - posted on 01/29/2011

My son is 18 mos and still in his crib. He is happy in there and never tries to get out or anything. We wanted to move him into a bed at 15 mos but we are living in Spain right now and moving back to the states in just 3 weeks that I decided the 3 months wasn't worth trying to figure out how to make the crib into a toddler bed. So, when we get settled in our new home in a month we will do it then. My son is very easy, like your son and I can change anything up and he doesn't care, he takes change very easily so I figured it made more sense to do it when it is better for me. We have a baby girl due in May, so I think I'd rather get him into his bed before she comes. Seems normal from what everyone else is saying that their 18 mos olds are still in their cribs. :)

Cori - posted on 01/29/2011

my daughter is in her crib still and she will be 2 in July. i know with our boys we waited until they started trying to climb out of their cribs and then we switched them over

Franchesca - posted on 01/28/2011

My daughter is still in her crib at 18 months. Her one friend who is 22 months is still in his crib but the other co-sleeps or is in a pack and play. Another friend who is 21 months also co-sleeps but will be getting a toddler bed shortly now that her room is now finished. Just go with what works for you. My daughter doesn't have a problem with it. The baby who is in the pack and play can crawl out of our crib, but my daughter won't even try. So do what you need.

Bridget - posted on 01/28/2011

My 18 month old is still in a pack and play too! We had the same trouble- a recall and then we just never fixed the crib. He loves the Pack and Play and until he tries to get out he is staying in there! He loves his little area we call it Freddie's nest! Freddie is the youngest of our 5 kids our oldest is 15! Don't rush it they are only little once enjoy this time!

Danielle - posted on 01/28/2011

I am going to use keep my daughter in her crib until she starts trying to clmb out. She is my first child, so I don't know how everyone else does. I am still rocking my little girl to sleep at night. It is kind of our quiet time together. Because nap time she still cries for 20 mintes before she falls asleep and I know won't stay in bed if it were just a toddler bed. I would be happy that my little baby isn't tryig too hard to grow up. But no matter what you decide to do, I wish you all the luck in the world.

Christine - posted on 01/28/2011

I moved my 18 month old into a toddler bed a month ago. She was starting to destroy her crib by shaking it so hard that the screws were pulling loose (she's a strong kiddo). My first daughter was transferred to a toddler bed when she was 15 months after she jumped out of her crib. I think it just depends on the child. I have heard of children being in cribs until they were 3, and they never tried climbing out. Then I have also heard of children being moved to toddler beds when they barely a year because they figured out how to get out. I think you should switch your daughter over when she needs it. Kids give you signs, as I am sure you saw with your son, and I think they are the best gauge for what they are "ready" for.

Tonya - posted on 01/28/2011

My daughter is 18 months and in her crib and hasn't even tried to climb out of it. She sleeps all night and I have no problem with her trying to climb out. I'm not going to put her in a toddler bed until I see her trying to climb out of it. Every child is different, but if you are not having problems with her trying to climb out, why mess up a good thing. If she is comfortable and sleeping all night, I see nothing wrong with her still in a crib.

Jackie - posted on 01/27/2011

My son is 18 months he has been sleeping in his toddler bed for about 2 months! He does great he did not like being stuck in his crib, very independent little guy! My daughter co slept with us until she was 4 so this is a nice change for us! He still wakes up at night wish I knew a trick for that, any suggestions would be very helpful! Good luck all!

Jessie - posted on 01/27/2011

my son is 18 months and in his crib. to be honest he just started sleeping in the crib a month ago. up until that time he slept in a pak and play (playpen). He slept in the pak and play in our room until 10 months and then in it in his own room. The crib we originally bought was recalled so we had to take it back and we just never bothered to put the new one we got up until over christmas break, LOL. I don't think he is going to be ready for a toddler bed anytime soon.

Caitlyn - posted on 01/27/2011

My son is 18 months too & is still in his crib. He absolutley loves his crib, he's really little so isn't getting too big, he doesn't try to climb out. I really want to switch him to a toddler bed, but that's just because I'm excited. But I think it's better to wait since he's still doing well in his crib. We are moving in April & then we're gonna switch him to a toddler bed!

Julie - posted on 01/26/2011

My son hated his crib so we got him a twin bed at around 17 months and he has slept much better since then. Our now 18 month daughter LOVES her crib and I'm not sure she would like a bed right now. If she is trying to climb out of her crib it is best to transition to a bed for her safety, but if she is not trying to climb out it is normal to have a child in a crib as late as the 3rd birthday.

Jenn - posted on 01/26/2011

My 18 month old daughter is still in her crib as well and she's fine in there for now :) We don't have any plans to move her just yet, especially since she hasn't tried to climb out yet! I like having her in her crib because she tends to move a lot in her sleep and this way I know she can't fall out. Gives me peace of mind. However...we will have to start thinking about moving her in the next 6 or 8 months or so as we have baby #2 due in May (but the new baby will be in a cradle for a while first...)

Ruth - posted on 01/26/2011

My 18 month old is also still in her crib. We plan on moving her soon because she is almost too big for her crib and can almost put her leg over. I also heard month 18 is one of the best times to change to a big kid bed. However, for now I'm happy that she can't get into things while she's in her crib and I don't have to worry about her falling out.

Amy - posted on 01/24/2011

i'm in no rush to move our 18 month old daughter out of her crib...she sleeps 11 hours at night no problem and naps great...she actually likes her crib and so far hasn't tried to climb out. she never throws a fit to get out of her crib. and with the crib i know she's not going anywhere or getting into anything so my plan is to keep the crib as long as possilbe!! though i think once she starts trying to get out we will turn it into a toddler bed. but i am hoping to get anohter few months out of the peace of mind of knowing she can't go anywhere in the crib!

Natasha - posted on 01/24/2011

my daughter is 18months and still in her cot. i was quick to move the boys out of theres but now i figure that she can stay there till she can get herself out of the cot. i know she safe in there and she loves her cot