When do you make the transition from the crip to a toddler bed?

Rachel - posted on 08/29/2010

We switched our twins to toddler beds around 18 months but that was because we moved last min and they were not staying in playpens. In order for them to learn to stay in bed at night though I had to sit in their room at night and tell them to put their heads down until they fell asleep. took about 45 mins sometimes and if they got out of bed after I put them down 3 times they got a time out. They caught on pretty fast. I have a 10 month old I will probably switch to a toddler bed around the same time to. I wouldn't have done it sooner with my twins though cause they were just barely ready as it was but every kid is different.

Sherry - posted on 08/27/2010

I changed the crib rail to the toddler rail on our convertible crib when my DD was about 12 months. It worked out great for us. I think over a one month period she fell out of bed 3-4 times. I kept pillows on the floor near the opening for a couple of months just in case. Wha's worse falling from the top of the crib or failing about a foot or less off the bed? My DD is a little over 2 now and she sleeps in a twin size bed.

Sarah - posted on 08/27/2010

My 15 mo old son did the same thing. We immediately bought a twin mattress and put that on the floor in his room against a wall. We put up a bed rail and he loves it. Still feels like he's somewhat confined by the rail and the walls, but can get in and out and has MUCH more room (he's a really big toddler). We skipped the toddler bed since we knew we'd have to buy a twin at some point anyway. Good luck!

Christina - posted on 08/27/2010

My oldest daughter went into her toddler bed at 13 months. She was very advanced as well, and like your son climbing in and out of the crib. For the first week or so I put pillows on the floor and near the rails because I was terrified she would fall out. But, we all slept better at night, especially not having to worry about her climbing in the crib and getting hurt.

Rebecca - posted on 08/26/2010

My daughter is three and has been in a bed since I had her (My bed) She has just moved into her own bed in the last 3 weeks.I have her toddler bed in my room so she can get use to it and feel ok about sleeping by her self.As long as you have a safety rail on the bed so he cant fall out and teach him to get out the bed the right way.(feet first) He will be fine.My daughter could get out of my bed at that age I got her to grab onto the sheet and slide her feet of the bed first.But a toddler bed is lower to the ground so as I said he should be fine.Just remember that when He dose wake up at night he can get out and that he might not come to your room looking for you but instead go see what he can find in the house to get into.may be put a child safty gate a cross the door (dont shut the door) and have a monitor in his room to listen out for him. hope this helps

Connie - posted on 08/26/2010

I put my daughter in hers at 18 months, and she adjusted instantly. If your toddler is able to crawl out, it might be best to switch for safety reasons. We just put down a thick duvet down on the floor for the first little bit, just in case she fell out of bed. Otherwise it was the best decision we made for her.

Amanda - posted on 08/25/2010

We also lowered my 20 month old daughters crib when a few months after we knew she could pull herself up on the railing...My daughter is still all over her baby crib, so i would be afraid to put her in a "big girl bed" just yet

Zita - posted on 08/24/2010

Can you lower the base of the crib? I know with our crib, the base has three different heights, and the older my kids got the lower it went. My youngest is nearly 2 and she will be in the crib for another year or so then we will put her in a regular bed.

Jenn - posted on 08/24/2010

As soon as I found my son out of his crib in the morning, it was time for a toddler bed. With any child, it's extremely dangerous to keep them in the crib once they have learned how to climb out. They can easily fall so since you say your son has already tried climbing out 4 times, it's time to say "Bye Bye" to the crib and "Hello Big Boy Bed". My son was about 18 months when his happened and took the switch amazingly. He sleeps in there all the time now, with some reminders to stay in his bed.

Kristin - posted on 08/24/2010

My son was about 18 months when we first started trying to get him to sleep in a toddler bed. I like you was afraid he would climb out of his crib. He is small for his age but when he would get mad and not want to go to bed at bed time he very nearly got out. After two weeks of fighting him to sleep in a toddler bed we put him back in his crib for a couple weeks and he was much better then all the sudden he was being a brat about trying to get out again so we pulled out the toddler bed again. He has been happy in his toddler bed ever since.

Kathy - posted on 08/24/2010

if your son is climbing out of the crib that poses a safety concern so you can either do a crib tent, put pillows on the floor and remove anything that he can bump his head on OR you can make the jump and put him in a toddler bed. typically, you would wait unitl your child is older (around the 2-3yr mark) when they have outgrown the crib or when he starts climbing out. in your child's case, i would try a crib tent because he's still so young but you know your child best and if you think that a bed would be better, then go with that.

introducing a bed too early may cause sleep disturbances though ie. nightly visitor by your bed!. if this is the case, you will have to deal with a few weeks of sleep disturbances from your child.

Brook - posted on 08/22/2010

Thank you Nikki. I bet my son will look so tinny too! He is just so smart and adverteous

Nikki - posted on 08/22/2010

Hi Brooke, i had the dilemma that after we brought the cot we discovered the side wasnt all that safe so a soon as he was able to stand at the side of his cot we moved him into toddler bed so he couldnt fall out. My son was about 12/13 mths and he has no probs in the big bed, mind u he did look so small in it.We also put a pillow down the side of the rail so he didnt roll too close to the edge. good luck.

Brook - posted on 08/20/2010

Maridcella and Michelle thank you both. I just want to make sure he stays safe. Michelle I think that is a great idea to try. We don't have a toddler bed just yet but we plan on buying one with our next check. I think we will try it.

Michelle - posted on 08/19/2010

if you already have one put it in his room let him get used to getting up and down off it, as soon as my daughter could master the getting into bed on her own we switched her and she is doing great I think we switched her at 15 months, my son was like yours and switched at 12 months because I found him straddling the crib railing.

Maridcella - posted on 08/19/2010

well when my son started to climb and try to make attempts of getting out i changed to a toddler bed but even then i still though it was too soon but it seemed to be the right choice so if he trys climbing out u might want to switch to a toddler bed my son was 15 months when i switched