Toddler Bed Questions?

Michelle - posted on 01/18/2010

Thanks everyone!!

Kirstin - posted on 01/18/2010

my son was born on the 18th may and for the most part he still sleeps in his cot, he is a climber but has not yet attempted to climb out of his cot, we have a toddler bed set up in his room and we use it occasionally, if he wakes during the night i will generally get in the toodler bed while he is in the cot untill he goes back to sleep or if he is very unsettled i will put him in the toddler bed and sit beside the bed. he is going through a stage at the moment where he will not go to sleep unless some one is in the room it gennerally only takes 10 mins and he is asleep but if you try to leave the room before he is asleep he will chuck tantrums and kick and scream until you come back. i would like to keep him in the cot untill he is around 2 yrs so he understand the changes better and can settle in to a new routine.

Rachel - posted on 01/16/2010

Our daughter was born May 9 2008 and is still sleeping in a port a crib. We will probably switch her to a toddler bed by the time she is 2 since she is getting a little too big for the port a crib. We haven't moved her sooner because there has been no need. She sleeps perfectly fine in her crib and doesn't attempt to get out or anything. We were also talking about waiting and skipping the toddler bed and putting her straight into a twin. We shall see when the time comes. Makes me very nervous! :)

Ashley - posted on 01/15/2010

My son has never really slept in his crib. I was terrified of SIDS for so long that I had him sleep with me most of the time and now I can't break him of it. I worked in the ER as a CNA and watched a baby close to his age pass away from the syndrom and was tramatized. I bought him a toddler bed last weekend and he crawls out of it around 2:30am and into our bed without us even knowing. He just wakes up there. I don't know how to fix it, but it's something we're working on.
I think it's an okay age to switch them...but if your child IS NOT climbing in and out of his or her crib, leave it up as long as possible! If you're looking to transition them to the toddler bed...buy it and just put it up on the opposite side of their bedroom so they may get aquainted with it. Some babies find their cribs to be a comfort object and feel uncomfortable when transitioning to something else. My son was never attached to his crib, but most of the moms I know and his pediatrician suggested it.

Emily - posted on 01/15/2010

I put my daughter in a toddler bed when she was 18 months old, I just thought that she was old enough no other real reason. It did take a few days to get her to stay in her bed, but she does pretty good now.

Chantiell - posted on 01/14/2010

My daughter was born may 4th 2008 and i just put her in the toddler bed. mostly to get her out of the crib before my other child is born. lol. but she loves her bed, i have no problems. actually she goes straight to sleep where as if i put her in the crib she'll cry forever. I moved her out of the crib b4 she learned how to climb out...

Heather - posted on 01/14/2010

I switched my kids all when they started to walk...all 5 of them. I too feared the dreaded fall from the crib while climbing out! I agree he probably will play a bit and may even take some time to fall asleep in his bed instead of on the floor...but he will transition to the bed as long as you follow the same routine that you do with the crib to prepare him for bed. I found that ignoring the fact that they were playing in their own room where everything was safe and making sure they were actually tired when they went to bed made the transition easier. Good luck!

Kristen - posted on 01/13/2010

my son was born the 3rd of may. we have yet to put him into a toddler bed. he has just started to put his leg on the railing of the crib, however he isn't tall enough yet to get over and out. once i see that he is getting the leverage we are going to try a toddler bed.
if your uncomfortable with the crib, try out the toddler bed or even a mattress on the floor. GOOD LUCK!!

Cardhia - posted on 01/13/2010

My son has been sleeping in a toddler bed since he was 17 months old. He started sleeping in the bed first at my job (a home daycare) because if the child is 12 months old they have to be in a toddler bed. So since he did so great in it at work I went out and bought one for him at home and he loves it.
Now I have to say that I too was worried about him getting up and playing when he should be sleeping or falling out of the bed. But I didn't have any trouble if he gets out of the bed I just tell him to go lay down. Now if you end up getting a toddler bed make sure you get a wooden one that has the safety rails on both sides, they are great. I would go a head and start transitioning to the toddler bed because kids don't normally warn you that they are going to start climbing out of their crib and yes that fall is not fun at all.
I wish you luck and a smooth transition!

Jessica - posted on 01/13/2010

My daughter was born May 8th and is now 20 months old. Her crib is dropped to the lowest setting and she can still climb in and out of the crib as she likes. I have not switched her to a toddler bed yet however because I am afarid of her getting up in the middle of the night and getting into trouble. However after reading the above posts thinking I am going to switch her to her toddler bed this weekend and just put a baby gate up at night so she has to yell for me to let her out =) I think when you put them in a toddler bed is something you just need to decide for your self and and your child as to when is going to the best time.

Angela - posted on 01/12/2010

we put our baby girl in a toddler bed at 16 months,and is 20 months now. she starting to pull herself up on the bars so i new then it was time i didnt want a trip to the ER in the middle of the nite with a broken arm,leg ect,it was hard at first to keep her in the bed and still is she will play for almost a hour befor she will fall a sleep.at first i was taking all her toys in her closet but that just gets old pulling them out and puting them back hrs later for nape, but onces she is sleeping she will sleep all nite up to 10hrs and 2 to 3 hrs for nape,when she gets up she plays and yells mama when she wants out.so its just up to u if u think it is time.just rember it takes time i tell myself everyday.

Meg - posted on 01/12/2010

Not using a toddler bed yet. My son is a climber, so we got a crib tent instead. I am just on comfortable with the idea that he could get out of bed in the night and get into mischief. Suppose he figures out how to open the knife drawer (he has his eye on those knives) while everyone else is sleeping? What a nightmare! So we use the crib tent for now.

Jenna - posted on 01/12/2010

Personally I was pretty nervous about it, my husband is the one that talked me

Marilyn - posted on 01/12/2010

Don't move him into a bed until you know for sure that he crimbs out of his crib ALL the time. My son does it once in a while and trust me kids are monkeys your son would figure out a way to climb out without getting hurt I'm sure. I've watched mine do it, it's amazing how they figure out where to put their feet and when to let go. I think that 19 and even 20 mths is too young for a child to be moved into a bed.

Tracy - posted on 01/12/2010

im thinking of putting my 19 month old daughter into her "BIG" bed....what we did with my son is we took a blanket and rolled it up into a sausage and put it under the sheet on the side of the bed not against the wall....this help him feel not caged in and it helped if he rolled around it would prevent him rolling off. My daughter is at the stage where she fights sleeping in her cot but if we put her on her brothers bed then she falls asleep there, then we move her t her cot.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/11/2010

My daughter was born on the 4th of may 08, and she hasnt been in a toddler bed at all... She went straight into a single ensemble (with no wheels) a couple of months ago becuase she could get out of her cot and I didnt feel it was safe... I also didnt want o spent $200+ on a toddler bed that she would only use for a year or so and we already had an ensemble... Later this year when I think she is ready I will get her a nice girlie bed that will last her hopefully a good 8-10 years for around the same price as a toddler bed :) As for when you child is ready only you will know that...

Misty - posted on 01/11/2010

Kennedy was born May 25 08 and is still in her crib and has no desire to climb out. She is just to quiet and sneaky to be able to get up out of bed any time she wants. I don't know when I'll make the switch, but I guess I'll know when the time is right.

Rebecca - posted on 01/11/2010

No bed for us yet, our 20mo still sleeps in a grobag in his cot with no probs, 12 hrs, no climbing.
We are looking at putting him into a bed but not sure whether or not to put him into a big bed in his bag or just stop use of the bag and ue bed. Any suggestions?

Tammy - posted on 01/11/2010

My son is 1 1/2 and I put him in his crib at the age of 4 months. Before the toddler crib he was in his bassenet. But he out grew it quicker then I thought. So thats how he began sleepin in the toddler bed. I refuse to piy him in the bed with me and his father unless his sick, because Ive heard soo much about toddlers not gettin use to thier beds when its time. And besides our bed is only a full size bed, and I was always scared of rolling over on him. My advice would be to put him in his bed at bedtime with a bottle so that he falls asleep with the bottle. And also leave a nighlite on.

Kayleigh - posted on 01/11/2010

hiya there my baby was born 3rd msy 2008 he is 20 months n we have him in a bed with a stair gate at top of the stairs as he was gettin to big for the travel cot and wasnt likin a cot he felt trapped in xxx

KRYSTAL - posted on 01/11/2010

oh, by the way...I have the railing so he doesn't fall over the bed

KRYSTAL - posted on 01/11/2010

My son was born at the end of May. We are currently expecting another one in 3 months, that's the reason for the switch. We started him in his own bed about a month or so ago. He did really well in his crib sleeping at nite, even though he would cry for 5-10min before finally falling asleep. I now have him in a "big boy bed" in his older brother's room (4yrs old) The 4yr old sleeps with us most of the time. I use to just lay down with both of them but I had to break them of the habit. Now, I just tell him (20 month old) that it's nite-nite time and I'm going to go out of the room and shut the door. (I have a nite light and I leave the TV on, but working on taking that part out..) He cries like he did in the crib for 5-10 min and drifts off to sleep.
So, really it's just up to you if you want to transition him into his crib. I would definately say yes if you plan on having another sometime soon. But if not, I would just let him be in his crib until he's ready to move on to the bed.
GOOD LUCK!

Sharma - posted on 01/11/2010

My daughter was born on May 28, 2008 and she got a toddler bed from gramma for christmas. We put it up right away and she sleeps all night in it. She had started to climb up the side of the crib and I didn't want her to fall out of it...... she naps in it very well also. I have a baby monitor in her room, so if she wakes up I can hear her moving and talking to herself. I am a light sleeper.

Meredith - posted on 01/11/2010

My son was born May 24, 08 and I put him in a twin bed with railing at 13 months old. I was really nervous about that but he has done great. He is now 20 months old and I still have no problems.

Cherie - posted on 01/11/2010

My son was born May 31st. He is still in his crib and has not even attempted to climb out. But our crib has extra high rails as an added safety feature. So I plan on keeping him in there for as long as I can.
My son won't sit in a time out chair. So we put him in his crib and call it "Jake's quiet time" rather than time out.
So I don't have any advice really.. but you're not the only one out there who hasn't made the switch!!

Leanne - posted on 01/11/2010

we did it at 1 year because scarlet could climb on to a camp bed and of again on her own but some say it was to soon but she has been fine with it we also put a mattress down next to it so if she did fall out it would not hurt she only fell 2 times but ahe just went back to sleep the part we had problem with was if she did not wont to sleep she would go to sleep on the floor somewhere after playing but that was fine we also had a kids gate up at the door for a while now she gets her self up and comes in and wakes us up she also brings a nappy with her lol so do what you fill is ok try the camp bed thing because that is a good way to find out if thy can get in and out of bed saftly good luck

Steffane - posted on 01/11/2010

It's very interesting, all theses posts. I have a three year old whom I got a toddler bed for when he was 15 months...new baby on the way and he climbed on everything!!! He did so-so. My May 08 baby is still in her crib. She doesn't climb. She loves her crib! she can snuggle up with her babies and it is the only place in the house that is only hers. My son (dec 06) he has this toddler bed but chooses to sleep in his play pen...every night!!

Stacie - posted on 01/11/2010

Well.... this child isn't my first so, he's been out of his crib for a while. Probably just a little after he turned one we moved him to a twin bed because he wasn't sleeping well and we had moved his older brother in our bedroom because he had been waking so much in the night. NOW, both boys are back in their own room and we have put two twin beds (set on the floor) right next to each other, so they have a "mega" bed in which they sleep together. The May baby has a bed rail on the outside and does just fine. BUT.. he has an older sibling to help show him what to do.

With our first boy, we didn't move him out of his crib until a few months after he turned two and then we moved him into a twin bed. I just didn't see the sense in a toddler bed I guess. We also used the bed rails with him and he did fine.

Jennie - posted on 01/10/2010

My daughter was born 24th May 2008. Started jumping up and down in her cot, and wouldn't sleep in her cot at either grandmother's place.

Because we bought a trundle bed to use instead of a change table as she got bigger we started training our daughter in the lower trundle bed, we put her safety sleep ( what we used also in her cot) on to get her used to the bed, and then she started climbing up to the big bed. We started with day time sleeps about Nov, just to see what she would do, and she loved it. After a couple of weeks because we had both bed and cot in the bedroom, we let her choose at night time, and it soon became apparent she wanted the bed. Over Christmas with Zoe home, she helped us dismantle her cot and move the bed. Now she sleeps in the main bed and we pull the trundle bed out before we go to bed, in case she gets out of her safety sleep too - mattress to fall on or step to climb down to. She made it easy for us because she showed the interest first.

Theresa - posted on 01/10/2010

Well my daughter has been in her bed (a normal single bed) since she was 14 months old. We decided to put her in there when we moved house. She took to it very well and we haven't had any dramas. The only thing is that she still wakes up sometimes during the night and comes into our room, but she is quite ok with me taking her back and putting her back into her bed. I actually had the non-pleasure of my daughter falling out of her cot (before we moved) and I felt terrible : ( She wasn't hurt and didn't even have a problem going back into the cot afterwards. I think that putting the bed up (if it's separate to the cot) is a good idea. It gives your son time to know it's there and get used to it. Maybe even try putting him there for his daytime sleeps? Hope this helps : )

Diana - posted on 01/10/2010

thats a great way to keep them in their room. although, this isnt my home so i cant fully baby proof the house they way id like it to b. i live with my mom n step dad so its kinda hard to do that lol but that's a great way to tell them they need to stay in their room after dark. although... i would suggest if they have a window... child proofing that too. i keep hearing bout toddlers walking around in the middle of the night outside with no parents around

Emily - posted on 01/10/2010

My son was 15 months when we moved him into a big boy bed. It took a while but he stays in it. Just make sure his room is baby proofed and that he can't get out of it (we used the doorknob covers on the inside). If he does get up and play he will go to bed when he is tired. My son used to fall asleep on the floor after crying it out, now he gives up after a few minutes and climbs back into bed to go to sleep.

Diana - posted on 01/10/2010

My son whos 2 showed us signs of him behaving more which got me n my fiancee thinking he's ready to go into a big bed. He used to get out of his crib alot but if i put everything off to where there was no light, hed stay in his bed and he let us tuck him in. that was a sign for us to know he was ready to b a big boy. so now hes sleeping on a twin mattress which he loves to just hop in and he gets up when he wants but he wakes me up to let me know that hes up and ready to go downstairs to play. My daughter who was born May 2008, still is in her crib, n not willing to climb out of it. I think the best way to know they are ready to switch is if you try to switch them. if it doesnt go so well then go back to the crib and stick with your origional routine. my kids dont sit for anything so its hard to put them in a time out when they wont sit still

Christian - posted on 01/10/2010

My son was born may 9, 2008, he has been in a toddler bed since he was 11 months old... (when he learned how to walk) I guess it all depends on how you want to do it. I put him in his bed since I knew there arent a whole lot of things he could get into in his room besides toys, and he doesnt ever get up at night, so it just made sense to me, do what feels best to you.

Erica - posted on 01/10/2010

My daughter was born on May 30th and she is still in a crib. I was actually talking to my husband about moving her into a bed as we are talking about having another baby and will need her crib. She has never tried to climb out, in fact when i put her in she lays down i cover her and she is out within a few minutes and when she gets up in the morning she stands yells for one ut of us and we get her out. I would say if you are nervous about him falling out then move him before he does but if he has not shown signs that he is able to then i would leave him in as long as you can.

Philana - posted on 01/10/2010

We moved Andrew (born May 9) into a toddler bed at 12 months because we needed the crib for a new arrival, who came when he was 15 months. We thought we were going to have a hard time transitioning him, so we did it in stages. We put the bed in his room assembled (It's a fire truck toddler bed), let him explore the bed for a few weeks while he was awake, but he still slept in the crib. We left the crib in there but started putting him in the bed at night with a gate at the door. Took 3 nights for him to stay put in the bed all night. Then we graduated to having him nap there. By the time the baby was born, Andy was sleeping in the bed only-didn't want to be near the crib! When Gracie was 1 month old we moved the crib out (her room wasn't complete until then) and we had no hassles. My oldest son stayed in the crib until he was 2 1/2 years-he never climbed or anything. So it really depends on the child and the circumstances-I would have kept Andy in the crib until about age 2 or he started climbing-whichever came first-had we not had another child on the way...

Rendy - posted on 01/10/2010

I have 2 children; one is 3 and one is 20 months. I didn't put my 3 year old in a "Big Girl Bed" until she was 2 1/2 or so for the reason you mentioned earlier. She showed no interest in climbing out. Yes, I knew she could but why would I make that change when she didn't need to. Fewer problems for me, is the way I looked at it. When we made the change she was older, she stays in her bed, she's only fallen out once. I think if we'd made the change, unnecessarily, earlier we'd have many more problems. --Just a thought for you to think about.

Syvannah - posted on 01/10/2010

We had to move our son out of his crib because he started to climb out 2 months ago. Which is rediculous because the crib was set so low i had to drop him in because i couldn't reach. Not only is he on a mattress on the floor, he can open doors and climb over baby gates. He also climbs into our bed which was too high for me while i was pregnant and i had to take it off the frame. He has become quite the challenge. If your son isn't climbing around the house on other things then he is probably not secretly trying to climb out of his crib. Our baby is always climbing and has been since before he could walk. I think that each childs parents are the best judge of what is good for them, and what they can do.

Tiffany - posted on 01/10/2010

My son does know how to crawl out of his crib, but we lowwered the side down, it has an attachment that is half the height, so it keeps him from falling out but he can get out safely if he wants to. He does not climb out now, he just plays in there and asks for help. I was worried that he would get out all the time by himself but he does well. The only time he lets himself out is when his sister goes in his room in th emorning before I get him.

Amy - posted on 01/10/2010

Jessilynn was born May 2 and shes still in her crib she hasnt been trying to fall out or anything and we tired the toddler bed at great grandmas and it didnt work so well so we will try again later.

Ariel - posted on 01/10/2010

Danica was born May 15th we put her in a toddler bed at 15 months because she is a monkey. Yeah she gets out of it still but we just put her back in eventually she falls asleep. Kids are going to have bumps and bruises "our job is not the prevent from falling down but to pick them up when they do" (baby Blues). When your little one starts to climb out that is when he is ready for the move. If you are worried put lots of pillows and comforters around his crib to cushion the fall if he does climb. As for him getting in to things when you do move him over as other have said put up a baby gate ( although Danica can get those down or climb over them it makes alot of noise when it hits the ground) and baby proof everything in his room. If he gets up then put him back in. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

Susan - posted on 01/10/2010

both my son and daughter went in a toddler bed around 18 months there were a few small falls but because they were close to the ground a small cry and back into bed they go consistency is the key be strong and if worried about the toy situation i put all toys in a closed box and they do get used to when its bed time and if they do just keep going in and put them to bed its more scary for us then them.

Danielle - posted on 01/10/2010

i just put my son in his own toddler bed with the sides on just last week he just went in without any problems since it's one of those low disney car beds and i put a soft rug on the side incase he falls out i also have the bed away from the windows and one side next to the wall.

Louise - posted on 01/10/2010

when he is able to climb our of the cote on his own, they know how to do it without hurting themselves, then you put them in a bed, i know cause i had twins doing it at the same time, i think you have a good four months left before you need to switch

Bobbie Jo - posted on 01/10/2010

My daughter is 20 months old. She is in her crib and I hope it stays that way. I didn't move my son into a toddler bed until he was almost 3 1/2. I felt better knowing that he was safe in his crib and not wondering the house in the middle of the night. If my daughter does decide to try and climb out of her crib I will get her crib tent so she will not be able too climb out. I live pretty close to a very busy road and the thought of her some how wondering out there scares me to death.

Glenna - posted on 01/09/2010

My son is now 19 1/2 months old and we switch him to a mattress on the floor because he wasn't quite ready for a bed yet we switched him when he was18 months because my daughter's crib was recalled so we had to put her in my son's crib and him on a mattress on the floor.
My son was already climbing so we have been talking about switching him before my daughters crib was even recalled, we just didn't want to wait until he could climb out and get hurt

Kristen - posted on 01/09/2010

My daughter hasn't climbed out yet, and she doesn't seem to mind her bed, so we are going to leave her there as long as possible. We are hoping to get pregnant again soon, so when the next baby needs it is probably when she will move. She is such a good sleeper in her crib I really don't want to rock the boat until i have to. And when I do I am putting a twin mattress on the floor and calling it good until she is older!

Deidre - posted on 01/09/2010

To add to everything else, I moved my daughter over at 15mo. It was the BEST decision I ever made and I'm so thankful I did it when I did. Doing so also got some of my mommy friends thinking about it and another switched her daughter about a month later (her daughter is just over 1mo older than my daughter, so switched her daughter at about 17mo). And both of our girls do GREAT in the toddler bed! You just have to think if you think your child will be able to learn that bedtime is really bedtime and it isn't time to get up and play. You may have a few difficult nights but, isn't it always that way when you add something new to a routine or take something away? There is an adjusting period. And honestly, my daughter didn't even get out of her bed the first few mornings lol and I actually knocked her down one morning rushing in and opening the door not thinking she'd actually be right there! Poor kid, we both know better now though.. I know not to swing her door immediately open first cry she makes in the morning anymore. She is now able to put herself back to sleep when she wakes up at 3:30am (mind you, I do find about half her dresser emptied out when I get her a few hours later lol, but whatever, it's just clothes) and I was never able to get her to before. My daughter didn't sleep horribly, but not great either, in the crib and it has been amazing since switching her over. I want to move her to a full-size bed soon but I feel that I want to get the use out of this toddler bed first. So, I've decided the full-size bed will be coming in August, when my hubby comes home from deployment :) Timing works for me lol.

Just follow your gut. It is scary switching them over but it can definitely be a blessing!

Tracey - posted on 01/09/2010

Hi Michelle

My little girl was born 8th May 2008 and we moved her to 'big girl bed' when she was 15 months for same reason you are talking about,she had not climbed yet but I knew it was coming. I got a few negative comments about being too soon but my parenting approach is the mum knows their baby better than anyone else, on this note, you will know when its time. Do not be pushed to do anything if it feels not right or bad timing. You will know when he is ready. Also when you do move him, does the cot convert to a toddler bed? If so these beds are really low to the ground so he wont hurt himself if he does fall out. On Lucys bed I rolled up a towel and inserted it under the fitted sheet and she has never fallen out. Its a cheaper option than buying the bed railings.

Cheers Tracey

Natalie - posted on 01/09/2010

Our little girl has been in her bed since 16 months. She loves it as she can get up and play of a morning with her big sister without being constricted to her cot. We didn't bother with toddler beds for any of them. Lydia has a bed rail to keep her from falling out. ( she's never fallen out )!!