any tips on transitioning from a crib to a bed?

Anne - posted on 08/07/2010

Our daughter was on the matress on the floor for about a month before we put her in twin bed with side rails. She transitioned out of crib at 18 months. Clearly they can crawl out with the side rails there, too, but it did seem to help keep her in bed at naptime. We also talked to her about how she needed to stay in bed and take a good nap so she had enough energy to play at the park, go to a friend's house, etc after nap. And had a naptime routine just like bedtime. Good luck!

Jessica - posted on 01/06/2009

thanks everyone!  I will try some of those things...I am determined not to get the crib back involved (we just moved, hence the transition and reluctance of not wanting to have to actually put the crib together).  Naptime is going a little better so far today.  There were no problems at all on night 2.  I think with a little patience she will get it.  Thinking I will skip the bedrails also and slowly add the boxspring then the frame.  Perhaps trying the duvet trick with the pillows surrounding will suffice - she seems to stay pretty much in the middle anyway (it's a double bed).  She likes it so far, but just likes to take a few looks around her room during naptime also...

Jessica - posted on 01/06/2009

thanks everyone!  I will try some of those things...I am determined not to get the crib back involved (we just moved, hence the transition and reluctance of not wanting to have to actually put the crib together).  Naptime is going a little better so far today.  There were no problems at all on night 2.  I think with a little patience she will get it.  Thinking I will skip the bedrails also and slowly add the boxspring then the frame.  Perhaps trying the duvet trick with the pillows surrounding will suffice - she seems to stay pretty much in the middle anyway (it's a double bed).  She likes it so far, but just likes to take a few looks around her room during naptime also...

Maggie - posted on 01/05/2009

We just began putting our 17 month old in a big girl bed a few weeks ago. She climbed right out of her crib and fell, so we had no choice. We made the big girl bed a big deal and she really likes to be in it! The first night, she was at her door knocking and calling momma, but she eventually crawled back into bed and now she stays in bed until we come and open her door in the morning!
Good luck!

Renscha - posted on 01/05/2009

Don't know if this will help, but I found that the side rails are not necessary. I just put loads of mattresses and pillows on the ground and though both of my twins fell out a couple of times they quickly got their bearings and haven't fallen out after 2 weeks. I also put them ontop of their duvets and then fold it upwards from their feet over them. Then put two pillows either side of them on top of the duvet and that seems to keep them in.

Debby - posted on 01/05/2009

We just put our 22 mth old girl in her big girl bed Friday past. We just built up the "Big Girl" She got really excited and it started out well. She fell asleep relatively easily that first night, and she was perfect until about 2am. We had alot of trouble trying to get her back to sleep, so after about 2 hours we put her back in her crib. She didn't like that too much, then when she woke up the next morning, she wanted to be in her big girl bed not her crib. Since then, there hasn't been an issue getting her to fall asleep in her new bed, either for naps or for the night