How old should a todler transfer from a crib to a bid?

Sally - posted on 05/16/2011

your son will let you know when he is really ready for the big kid bed,my youngest would always find ways to get out of her crib too, but she would also get out of other things as well, like her playpen, highchair & carseat,but she wasnt even 2 yet i didn't let her have a big kid bed until she started kindergarten though

Julie - posted on 05/12/2011

What is the hurry?
When you sense he wants to be older ... tell him you can let down the rail on his crib ... and get in all by himself like other big boys.
That should make him feel important and make him want his bed to look a bit more like yours (no rails)

Sherri - posted on 05/12/2011

That is exactly what we did Brittany and it worked wonders. Much easier to convey to a almost 3 yr old what you expect from them and for them to understand then a 1yr old.

Brittany - posted on 05/12/2011

I plan on keeping my daughter (who is almost 18 months) in a crib until I either can't lift her in and out easily, she starts to climb out, or she's physically too big for it. The last thing I want to be doing is resleep trainning her and pregnant or just adjusting to a new baby, so it will be a while. I also expect my daughter to regress a bit once the baby it born.

I just don't see the point if they are happy where they are and safe there. If she suddenly started to climb out I'd buy her a regular bed not a toddler one. I just find them to be a waste of money.

Sherri - posted on 05/12/2011

Gah sorry it bothered you so. Have a nice day.

Karen - posted on 05/12/2011

I "obviously" didn't read her posts? I did, actually. You still sound defensive and hostile.
"17 months is entirely too young" were your words, and that is what bothers me about your response. Attack is too serious a word for whats going on here.
I see it as everyone expressing their opinion, so I guess we both have different definitions of what "attacked" means.

Sherri - posted on 05/12/2011

@Karen I never said I had a problem with any child moving to a toddler bed when the parent deems necessary. You obviously didn't read all Shantelle's posts where she attacked moms for leaving their children in cribs longer. Not hostile or defensive in the least just clarifying a few important points but thanks for attacking me.

Sherri - posted on 05/12/2011

@Shantelle your personal experience was not my problem. My problem was your attack because others haven't had a problem and opt to keep there children in till they are ready to move was my problem. The difference is you have to know your child and here is your post I took exception too.



why wait so long that is ridiculous really!!!how are you suppose to potty train them if in the morning when they are 2 if they cant even get outta bed and let you know they need to pee with out first attempting to climb outta a crib and bash their face ???why take the risk really it makes no sense to me !!suppose to potty train them i

Melanii - posted on 05/12/2011

My two year old went to a mattress on the floor at around 17 months. Before that he was co-sleeping with us, he was always too restless for the crib, kept bashing into the sides!
Yes, he does occasionally get up and come in to us, we just take him straight back in and lay with him until he falls asleep again. It's not for everyone, but since transferring him to the bed we have always laid with him until he's asleep. It works for us.
Good luck!

Shantelle - posted on 05/12/2011

Karen thank you for that and Sherri terribly sorry if you think I was making a personal attack but after witnessing my brothers teeth go through his face im sorry i would not even chance that !! Thats like saying go drive your bike with no helmet even though we know it is safer to drive with a helmet and that some children even die from not wearing one yet some people still believe in not wearing one until a child gets serious injury or worse !!WHY RISK YOUR CHILD!!! I'm sorry to roberta whos post was only asking for some personal insight and that is what i gave her !!!If any one else out there doesn't like what i say I really dont care i offer my experiences and thoughts so as to help other moms in their time of need!!!!!

Tracy - posted on 05/12/2011

I made the transfer when my kids turned 1 year old. And yes they will just get out sometimes, but I started using a gate at their door and kept the monitor still on so that i could hear them. If they got up atleast they only had access to their rooms...

Karen - posted on 05/12/2011

Actually, Sherri, you are the one who seems a bit hostile and defensive. You think 17 months in a toddler bed is too young? I think you are the one who makes no sense. My daughter at 14 months was more than ready. That is our personal experience. Your children do not climb, good for you, but mine does, and all it took is once for me to make some changes.
Shantelle has a point. Its a scary thing having a child fall out of the crib. The older they are inside their crib, the more likely they are to think about climbing. Having 3 children does not make you an expert on a subject.

Sherri - posted on 05/11/2011

Shantelle #1 not all children even ever attempt to crawl out of their cribs NONE of my 3 children did. #2 my oldest two didn't potty train until 2 1/2 and my third one was potty trained 100% at 2 and still in his crib until he was 3. Your view on this makes no sense really.

Karen - posted on 05/10/2011

My daughter decided to start climbing in her 14th month and within a couple of days of learning how, she fell out of the crib. Talk about scary! I was right there when she did it and I swear my heart stopped. She was fine but that night I converted her crib into the toddler bed.
I have never just put her to bed and expected her to go to sleep. From day one I have rocked her to sleep and then gently laid her down in bed once shes out, so I haven't run into any problems.

Loraine - posted on 05/10/2011

as soon as i notice shed be starting to climb out befor she ever leared how too i moved her but got her a a good bedtime scedule so when i laid her down she knew she had to stay in the bed and go to sleep and everytime shed get out i simply walked in not diciplin put her back in bed and said its night night time go nig nights hugs akisses and off i went its to hard for them to not stay in bed when a parent is in the room

Shantelle - posted on 05/10/2011

In reality that is more dangerous to keep them in longer they are more likely to climb out and bust their face open but if you teach them to be in a bed before the climbing stage they are less likely of hurting themselves !!! Especially if you have a child proofed room and actually get up with your kids in the morning before they can get into anything why wait so long that is ridiculous really!!!how are you suppose to potty train them if in the morning when they are 2 if they cant even get outta bed and let you know they need to pee with out first attempting to climb outta a crib and bash their face ???why take the risk really it makes no sense to me !!My brother put his teeth right through his lip from falling on his face climbing outta his crib!!

Sherri - posted on 05/10/2011

We kept all our kids in cribs till 2 1/2-3yrs old. 17mo's entirely too young.

Terri Lynn - posted on 05/09/2011

We kept ours in a crib until 2. 17 months is way too early.

Meaghan Van - posted on 05/08/2011

if you can buy a toddler bed they are great, and low to the ground, so no fear of him really hurting himself. i suppose the same goes for him with sleeping in his bed, close the door and let him wander around his room. he will eventually get the idea about his new sleeping arrangements... you could also try tucking him in realllly tight and reading to him until he is just about asleep and then sneak off...lol.... thats what my parents used to do...lol

Rozana - posted on 05/08/2011

I have 3 girls who are now 8,9 and 12 but I can tell you that my oldest was 2 years old when she moved into a big bed and we started her with day naps first and she loved it . My middle daughter was 18 months because I needed the cot for my youngest and she was fine with it too and my youngest was 2.5 years old when she moved into a big bed. I didnt have any problems , or rejections , no tantrums or dramas. My girls were never the type of kids that tried to climb out of there cot so I guess it just depends on your own circumstances. All you can do is try. Good luck.

Lee-Ann - posted on 05/06/2011

Hi, as soon as he figures out how to climb out you should then transfer to a bed. My daughter never tried so I didn't have to transfer her until I was night toilet training, but my boys climbed out at 18months so off came the sides of those cots. Good luck.

Ambyr - posted on 05/06/2011

I put my daughter into a single bed at 22 months, I tried a few times from the age of 1 to when I finally suceeded but she wasnt ready until she was almost 2.It took her about a week to be completly use to it.

Tara - posted on 05/06/2011

I put my oldest girl in a bed when she was able to get out of the crib by herself. It helped that we were expecting another child and needed the crib in a few months anyway. Our youngest is still in the crib and she is 5 months older now than our oldest was when we put her in a bed. I think it really depends on your child and whether or not they are really pushing to get out of the crib or not.

Megan - posted on 05/05/2011

if your child is doing that I would get a toddler bed, I mean they are pretty "low" to the ground. I dont see any harm, when my child was around 20 months or so we ended up getting one ! GOOD LUCK

Stephanie - posted on 05/05/2011

I feel like part of a broken record but we just put box spring and mattress on the floor and put sleeping bags around the edges(in case they rolled off) baby gate to limit roaming and then let them get used to it in no time they were sleeping in the bed fine.

Jessica - posted on 05/05/2011

my son broke two cribs by the age of 18 months and soon after being put into a toddler bed, he broke that and disassembled the second one, a baby gate on the door kept him in his room but for the first month or so I had to keep telling him to get back into bed.

Megan - posted on 05/05/2011

he didnt sleep good took him a while he has to have a night light in his room like 3 of them lol.. but he is 3.5 will be 4 in august and still up and down threw out the night

Jennifer - posted on 05/05/2011

haha mine escaped at 16 months then again she was running at a little over 8 months. we just layed there with her gradually moving away from the bed for 3 nghts and now she goes down with out a trouble.

Megan - posted on 05/05/2011

i had my son out of the crib by 2 year old put up bby gates all in the house were he cant go in anything but in my room

Elfrieda - posted on 05/05/2011

My son is 16 months old. Last weekend I caught him with his leg over the crib side and freaked out to my husband. He calmly went upstairs and lowered the crib bottom almost to the floor. I didn't know it could do that! Now even when my son stands up in the crib, the railing goes up to his nose. There's no way he can climb out of that! :)



Moral of my story? Check your crib again. Maybe there is another level that you haven't seen. If not, I've heard of people babyproofing the bedroom really well and just putting a gate at the door so that he can play a little bit and then go back to bed. (these people put the mattress on the floor so that he can get in and out of bed more safely)



Others have said that using a baby gate to lock him in the bedroom is cruel and terrible, and is like a cage. My answer to that would be a question - how is a crib not like a cage?

Janice - posted on 05/05/2011

We transferred all three of our at about that age. It takes work to get them to stay but it's doable. do your usual tuck in routine, don't make a big deal about it and when he gets up, don't say a word and just lay him back down. Stay in the hall, just outside the door and repeat as many times as it takes. Don't make eye contact, don't speak, just lay him back down. My youngest, who used to just go right to sleep, started getting up again and we had to do this just two nights ago. He'll get it, just be patient. He'll be safer in a toddler bed, especially if he's a climber.

Leighton - posted on 05/05/2011

I just put my son in a toddler bed, he's just about 14 months old. My crib didnt have like a middle setting it was either the matress is really high or WAY to low so when I caught him trying to get out I changed it down to a toddler bed. To keep him from wandering around the whole house at night, I put a baby gate in his door (because he wont let me shut the door) and his room is baby proofed like CRAZY! Just in case gets out in the middle of the night. When I first put him in he got out a lot just because it was something different. But now I say "Go lay down" or "Get into bed" and he immediately goes to his bed and lays down and within 5 minutes he's asleep. And what i loved MOST about this toddler bed is he stopped wanting bottles before bed! Which is AWESOME!

Shantelle - posted on 05/05/2011

my daughter is 15 months old and in a twin sized bed i just put the boxspring and mattress on the floor so shes not gonna hurt herself and she does fine!!She cant open her door so the only way she gets out is if her 3 yr old brother wakes up before me and lets her out but hes pretty good he comes and wakes me every morning at 7:30 so before the wee one is set loose on the house im awake lol!!! Just make sure the room is 100% child proof put the bed in (while the crib is still there) and try to nap him in the bed first keeping to night sleeps in the crib for a night or two than try him in the bed and once he sleeps a night in the bed just take the crib out !!wala transition complete i have found it only takes 3-4 days to transition your kids for most things if you are persistant(unless its potty traing) which by the way at his age i would stick a potty in the living room for him to just get use to as a chair to sit on so hes not freadked by it when you do start training everything about wee ones is about preparation and transition!! Good luck!!

Lu - posted on 05/04/2011

I had to move my first into a bed when she was 20 months because her sister, who was 4 months, was outgrowing her bassinet. She climbed out a few times and I just put her back in bed and say it's night night time until she got tired. My youngest just got switched to his big boy bed a couple of months ago after his 2nd birthday and it actually took him a while to figure out he could actually get down by himself :-) The switch is something that has to be done sooner or later and it will take a few night for him to get the idea. Just be consistent and have a ton of patience :-)

Brianna - posted on 05/04/2011

my daughter is 18 months and is still in a crib. i plan on moving her to a twin mattress on the floor of her new room around her 2nd bday (unless she starts climbing out of the crib then it would be sooner) when she does go to a big girl bed i will be putting a baby gate in her door way so she cant walk around the house at night when we are asleep

Ashley - posted on 05/04/2011

My son moved into a bed at 18 months, we'll be moving our daughter around 15-16 months... I've heard you shouldn't wait longer than 18 months or they'll have a harder time adjusting to the change... don't know how true that is though.

Rachel - posted on 05/04/2011

We transferred my daughter to a toddler bed at about 14 months. She had no issues with it, but she still gets out of bed sometimes. Sometimes she gets a book from her bookcase and sits on the floor to read it. Other times she just walks around. I just figure she needs more wind down time. I also make a little bed on the floor because sometimes she likes to sleep down there and then we transfer her to her bed later in the evening. She knows how to open her door as well, but she knows when it is bed time and she doesnt come out. I would say go for it. Then you will get it out of the way.

Laura - posted on 05/04/2011

My son started trying to climb out of his crib at 20 months. We have one of those cribs that transfers into a toddler bed. So I took down just one side of the bars and put up a small bed rail, so he still felt secure with the one set of bars. After a couple nights I took the rest of the crib down leaving his little bed. It was a good transfer for him because it was still 'his crib' just no bars. He sometimes gets out of bed and plays with his toys if he's not tired (especially at nap time) but when he gets tired, he just crawls back into bed. Lucky for me, he doesn't know how to open his door yet, so he can't wander out of his room. I'll tackle that issue when the time comes!

Kayla - posted on 05/04/2011

i had put my son in his own bed at 16 months , he wasn't sleeping through the night anymore in his crib but always had good sleeps in our bed , so we put him in his own bed and hes been good ever since .. hes 2 1/2 now and we had to put a gate up at his door so if he had gotten out of bed he wouldn't just be wondering about durn the night

best thing to do is - no toys or distract him from going to bed as a bedroom is for sleep not for playing and put a gate at his door if your worried about him getting out of bed durn the night & have everything up high that he may get into

Karen - posted on 05/04/2011

I honestly think every child is different, but I believe that by 2.5 years old, almost all children are ready for a BIG kid bed...because by then they are able to climb out of a crib, and anytime a child can start to climb out of a crib, they are ready for a big kid bed....that way, even if they do get up and walk around, they are more safe then climbing over a railing and the chance of falling and getting hurt, that is not a good thing....I just made sure to check on my daughter the first few nights (maybe a week) to make sure she was doing good at night but I felt safer that she was not going to climb over the railing at night and fall!!! BUT I think that you will know when it's time, but my opinion, any child is ready after 2.5....cribs are meant for babies but some kids need them until a little older if they are hard to get to lay down so honestly each child is different!

Meg - posted on 05/04/2011

My son was 19 months and tried to climb out of his crib. Also, he was waking in the middle of the night for awhile. We felt he was not ready yet. We got a crib tent. This helped. He was more ready for a bed at 2.5 years old. But that is when my mother died. I waited until we got her bed to give to him. He transferred over at 3.

Karen - posted on 05/04/2011

I put my daughter in a BIG girl bed at 2 years and 5 months, she seemed ready!! I noticed that she was no longer interested in being in her bed...so we went out and bought a big girl bed and from that day on she cannot wait to go to bed in her big girl bed!! I think that you know when they are ready...for my daughter, she was ready when she started to want to sleep in the big bed that we have...and she no longer wanted her bed..so I tried it...but all my kids have been around 2 years and a few months!! SO maybe give it a shot..honestly you will know when you talk to your child and explain that they can have a big boy or girl bed of their own and they get excited about it!!

Alicia - posted on 05/04/2011

i'm getting ready to do what elise did. i have a three year old, 15 month old, and three month old. my oldest was in a crib util he was about 2 1/2.he could climb out at 18 months, but due to certain situations, he was in a crib until 2 1/2. our daughter was born just after he turned two, and she slept in a bassinet until he got a toddler bed. so she got the crib at about six months old. now at fifteen months, i'm going to put ababy gate in the doorway of the oldest twos bedroom and go ahead and put her in a toddler bed so i can have the crib for our youngest. i would like for her to be in it longer, but we cant afford another crib, and our baby is almost too long for the bassinet already...

Hannah - posted on 05/03/2011

We have always co-slept with our son, we are just moving him into his own bed, hes had his day naps in it for a while to try and help the transition.
he will be 2 at the end of the month, so far he has slept in it for the first hour of his night sleep and then woken and come into our room for the rest of the night, im letting it be a slow process, there is no hurry for us and its a big change to go from co-sleeping to a room all by yourself.
Im just hoping by 2 1/2 he will be sleeping all night in it =)

Elise - posted on 05/03/2011

My daughter was about 18months when we got her a bed. She wasn't climbing out of her crib (I don't think she even thought about it) we just needed it for the new baby. I put a gate on her room which kind of made her whole room into one giant bed.She would fall asleep all over the place even under it. Shes 2 1/2 now and loves her big girl bed.

Charity - posted on 05/03/2011

My first son was in a toddler bed at 13-14 months. I am looking for a toddler bed right now for my 12 month old bc he is a climber. I wanted to keep him in his crib as long as possible but when the safety of the child is at risk I say that's the best time to make the switch.

Ramona - posted on 05/03/2011

My son is almost 20 months and I still let him sleep in his crib, I would not forgive myself if I didn't wak eup when he did and he ended up hurting himself. I think when he is 2 1/2 we will try it but I just don't feel safe right now. Also, I lowered his crip as far as it will go so now he can't climb it.

Carly - posted on 05/03/2011

My daughter could climb out of her cot before the age of 2, so she went in a bed. Didn't take her long to learn the rules about going to bed and staying there. My son is now 2 and loves his cot but I have just taken the sides off and he loves being able to get in on his own. As long as you are firm and stick to your guns with the rules your son will learn very quickly what is expected. Do you use sleeping bags? He must be VERY tall for his age to be able to climb out of his cot!

Candi - posted on 05/02/2011

My son moved to a bed at 15 months. My girls never used a crib. They went straight from my bed to their own bed right at a year old. We had no issues with it

Michelle - posted on 05/02/2011

My son went at 13 months and my daughter 18 because of climbing. I put baby gates in front of their doors to keep them in their room. The first couple of days were kind of crazy but after that it was fine. I'd much rather them occasionally fall asleep on the floor then fall out of the crib. Both of my kids were easily climbing in and out of the crib by time we switched them. I was constantly worried about them getting a foot or something caught innthe bars of the crib when they were doing it. Most of my kids toys are not in their rooms so there's not really anything for them to do but sleep. I actually sleep better at night knowing that they're safe even if they wondered out of bed.