When is a good time to transition to a toddler bed? My son is 20months.

Patty - posted on 07/17/2009

It all depends on the child. My son was in his crib until his 2d birthday, but my oldest daughter hated her crib and would not sleep in it all at around 14 mos. so we set up the toddler bed for her right against the wall with one of those bedside things to keep her from rolling out and a baby gate on her door. I was too paranoid to shut her door in case I didn't hear her but with the baby gate she would come to it in the morning and call me to let me know she was awake.

Rebecca - posted on 07/15/2009

hi my daughter is 20mths and she is in a low toddler bed she has been brilliant with it, she g=has been sleeping so much better, give it ago he will be fine make sure the bed has sides so he don't fall out bec xx

Holly - posted on 07/14/2009

we tried 3 months ago, but my daughtr did not like it. then 2 weeks ago she was camping with my parents for a week and had no crib so i transitioned her crib into a toddler bed while she was gone. She loves being able to get in and out by herself, but we did have to get a mesh railing thing that covers most of the open side for when she sleeps (she's a major sleep mover!). we take it off durring the day though. basically i knew we needed the transition soon when she styarted trying to climb out of her crib. i didn't want her to get hurt.

Alison - posted on 07/13/2009

Hi. I say keep him in the cot until he understands that bed-time if for sleeping only. My older sons stayed in the cot until it had to be vacated for the next, which would have been at 29months (so I will move my daughter at about 2.5yrs, unless she is climbing out). I don't use 'toddler beds' just normal single beds with safety rail put on the side, so they can't roll out. Before you make the move, I would talk about it for a couple of days, explaining that this is where you will SLEEP..and this will be easier for him to understand the older he is. hope this helps. best wishes!

Jodie - posted on 07/13/2009

my little girl never slept well in her cot but when she went into her toddler bed (at bout 19 mnths old) she sleeps all thru the nite now shes in a junoir bed with a bedguard and shes doin great no problems at all peaceful nites

Danielle - posted on 07/07/2009

I would keep him in there as long as you can, my son hasn't even tried to climb out of his crib, he doesn't even stand in it (born 10-15-07) i am going to keep him in the crib until about 3 when he can really understand the toddler bed and not get in and out every time he wakes up a little and start playing, I believe that the longer the better but not past 3.

Rhianna - posted on 07/04/2009

My 20 mos old has been in her big girl bed for about 3 mos now. Her and her big sister have bunk beds and she gets the bottom. I have one of those gates so she doesnt fall out. She never slept through the night in her crib...ever. First night in the bed she slept for 11 hours straight through!!!

Debbie - posted on 07/03/2009

I'm thinking about that myself with my 20 month old. He can put his foot up on the railing of his crib, but can't climb out. We have a toddler bed we can set up, but our problem is, my toddler can open the door to many of the rooms in our apartment! If he makes it out of his room, he can open the door to his aunt's room, which has lots of no-no's, including sleeping auntie! I'm thinking we'll give him a few more months in his crib as long as he doesn't climb out.

Debbie - posted on 07/03/2009

I'm thinking about that myself with my 20 month old. He can put his foot up on the railing of his crib, but can't climb out. We have a toddler bed we can set up, but our problem is, my toddler can open the door to many of the rooms in our apartment! If he makes it out of his room, he can open the door to his aunt's room, which has lots of no-no's, including sleeping auntie! I'm thinking we'll give him a few more months in his crib as long as he doesn't climb out.

Kerry - posted on 07/03/2009

my son is 20 mts and has been in a toddler bed since about 17 months, i just put his cot matress on the floor so if he fell out he wouldnt hurt himself and now he has no problems, he sleeps through and dosent fall out of his bed anymore!

Natasha - posted on 06/26/2009

My son is 20 months. I have his toddler bed beside his cot and some nights he sleeps in his cot, others in his bed. It does make bedtime alot harder, because you can't just put them down, now they can get out and run a muck. :)

Cots are made for children (depending on height and weight) but up to around age 3 or 4. The transition is whenever you feel comfortable with the challenge

NIKKI - posted on 06/22/2009

my Dr. always said as soon as they can get out of the crib, it's time for a toddler bed

Kate - posted on 06/20/2009

i put my first little girl in a bed at 20 months,my 2nd little girl is 20 months now & want to do it but know she will keep getting out as shes a little madam!!

Michelle - posted on 06/20/2009

we put my son in a bed at 16mnths. atm its just on a mattress on the floor.i thinks its easier this way because my son is short and not yet big enough to climb into a bed if he gets out while trying to put him to sleep. he sleeps better in a bed, rather then his cot and he knos when its time to go to bed so goes and climbs in. just an idea if ur worried about ur bub falling out or not sure how they'll go.

Juanita - posted on 06/18/2009

I put my daughter in a toddler bed at 16 months and my son at 17 months

Nicole - posted on 06/18/2009

Does he stay in the same place while he sleeps or does he roll a lot? I took the side off of our crib and then I have my sons bed right next to the crib. My daughter likes being able to climb in and out of her bed although it does make bedtime a little more of a challenge. She has rolled out of the bed a couple of times but landed in my son's bed so it did not bother her much. I made this transition at 18 months.

Adf0905 - posted on 06/10/2009

It depends on the child. My daughter never slept well in a crib, so we moved her in to a toddler bed shortly after she turned 1. She was able to get in and out of the bed with no problem, so we weren't worried about her falling out of it. Her room is baby proofed and she sleeps with the door shut.