Moving to a toddler bed

Amisha - posted on 01/04/2010

Unless you need the crib for another child, don't bother changing something that works! My daughter is 3 and is still in her crib. Also over toddler beds, I'd recommend getting a twin. It'll work for longer and is a much easier transition. We tried toddler and it didn't work, and went back to the crib. We are thinking of getting a twin with a bed rail in the next couple months. Good luck!

Angela - posted on 01/03/2010

we put your daughter in the toddler bed when she was about 15 mths. From day one she didnt like her crib. she was a month earily so i think that had a lot to do with it. We had to put her in her car seat and then the car seat in the crib for her to sleep. She did great moving into her toddler bed. We did put a bedrail up so she didnt fall out. I think around 2 or so is good i think they are a big kid when you move them over.

Julie - posted on 01/02/2010

I think you know your child best and if you think she is ready for a first bed then go for it.my son was just almost 2 when he started to climb out of his cot.at first he would get in and out of his bed and we would put him in his cot but after a week or so he began to sleep in his bed.

Jamie - posted on 01/02/2010

My daughter was only 15 months when we took her out of a crib and put her into a toddler bed. She's 26 months now and we've had nothing but luck. Evelyn has never once fallen out of it or anything of the sort. With your daughter, I suggest just trying it. It's pretty easy to convert it back if she's not ready and you never know unless you try.

Melissa - posted on 01/02/2010

my daughters both started sleeping in toddler beds when they were about 20 months old. Neither one of them had issues staying in bed. They were proud of their new beds and excited to sleep in them. She could definetly be ready.

Jenna - posted on 01/01/2010

hi there, i have just moved my son 14months into a single bed he has been in there now for a full week. ihave the safty rail for him so he cant fall out. in the week he has been him a big bed has been great, he now sleeps all night, ive only had to get up to him once in 7nights! he isdoing really well. he is even goes back into his room climbs up and has a nap during the day.

you can only try and see how your daughter goes they are all different! good luck with it

Kris - posted on 01/01/2010

I would keep her in a crib as long as possible. My son, who is 4 1/2 now, was started climbing out of his crib when he was 26 mos. old, so we switched to a toddler bed and he was crawling out of it all the time. It took a while for him to get adjusted to the "big boy" bed and stay put, but it finally happened. But my suggestion is to keep her in the crib as long as possible.

Michelle - posted on 01/01/2010

Quoting Monica:

I had to go to a sleep therapist for my son...he doesnt sleep well...and she told me not to even try putting a toddler in a bed until they are almost 5?!? Well my son is 19 months and has been in his toddler bed(yep against the dr's orders) for about 3 months now. He has no problems with it, he gets out only in the mornings, my advice is if you feel she is ready than give it a try the worst that will happen is that you might have to convert it back to a crib...no harm no foul right?

5???  Seriously?  As far as I'm aware, that's not a toddler anymore.  What happened to preschooler & gradeschooler as stages of life?  I would have gone against the doctor too.

Paige - posted on 01/01/2010

Thank you to all the new advice! I took the crib rail off and put on a bed rail (just in case haha) (our cribs also convert) and she has been doing great since I changed it. She still has one nap during the day and has been sleeping in her "big girl bed" for both naps and bedtime! I'm thinking I was the one who might not have been ready haha She's never tried to climb out of the crib but could have if she wanted to. She doesn't try to climb over the bed rail either tho haha she sits up in bed in the morning and calls for me to come get her haha

Monica - posted on 01/01/2010

I had to go to a sleep therapist for my son...he doesnt sleep well...and she told me not to even try putting a toddler in a bed until they are almost 5?!? Well my son is 19 months and has been in his toddler bed(yep against the dr's orders) for about 3 months now. He has no problems with it, he gets out only in the mornings, my advice is if you feel she is ready than give it a try the worst that will happen is that you might have to convert it back to a crib...no harm no foul right?

Rebecca - posted on 01/01/2010

My son went into a proper bed just after his first birthday. I found that he was waking more during the night because he kept knocking himself against the side of the cot. He has since slept alot better during the night. i took the cot down the same day as the bed went up. He now loves it

Ronda - posted on 12/31/2009

I moved my daughter to a toddler bed when she was 2. She kept trying to climb into her crib. We figured with the toddler bed lower to the ground it'd be a lot safer.

She's now 3 1/2 and sleeps in a twin bed with a rail so she doesn't roll out.

Michelle - posted on 12/31/2009

Quoting Michelle:

I switched my first to a toddler bed (our cribs convert) when he was 15 months old. He didn't climb yet, but was was tall enough to climb over the railing if he chose to. The rail was at his armpits & we were told to transition him by our pediatrician. Hope that was helpful.

I forgot to mention, we just (about 3 weeks ago) converted his toddler bed into a day bed by taking the short sides off.  He hasn't fallen out of bed yet & I'm pretty sure he won't at this point.  they get used to things pretty quickly. :)

Marcella - posted on 12/31/2009

My son turned 2 on 11/20. I converted his crib to the toddler bed. The first 2 nights he rolled out of bed with the rail being up on both corners. After that it was easy. He will eventually get use to it.

Michelle - posted on 12/31/2009

I switched my first to a toddler bed (our cribs convert) when he was 15 months old. He didn't climb yet, but was was tall enough to climb over the railing if he chose to. The rail was at his armpits & we were told to transition him by our pediatrician. Hope that was helpful.

Alex - posted on 12/30/2009

I moved my son into a toddler bed at 17 months. He is a good climber of furniture but hasn't attempted to climb out of his cot. Being a really good climber and good sleeper was enough for me to know he was ready. His cot is one of those that doubled as a toddler bed with the sides removed and I transformed it in front of him. Surprisingly he has stayed in it and fallen asleep, only on the first night he was a bit confused and I only had to put him back once in 20 mins after the first time. I was expecting a drama and repeatedly having to put him back. He doesn't have a bed rail and hasn't fallen out. Now when I say "time to go to bed", he just walks down to his room, jumps in and pulls his blanket over himself.

Kelly - posted on 12/30/2009

i put my son in a toddler bed when he was 18 months.....i was pregnant with my daughter at that time. he did really well turning to a toddler bed. at first fo the first 2 days he would get up and start playing so we just keep going in there and putting him back on his bed by the 3rd night he was fine.

Gwendolyn - posted on 12/30/2009

I moved my daughter when she was 2 years old, I was pregnant and she also moved rooms at the same time, biggest mistake I ever made, she wouldn't put herself to sleep and I was too tired to fight her and would end up sitting in her room for an hour until she fell asleep. I have since read that separation anxiety peaks around 2 years of age and I have put it down to that. Thankfully she is now more relaxed and puts herself to sleep.

Julie - posted on 12/30/2009

We went from a crib to a twin bed. Our boys did not climb out of their crib until they were 2 1/2 years old, that was in Sept. and we wanted to wait until after the holidays but we had to switch earlier. They did fine.

Christine - posted on 12/30/2009

Most will switch by the time they are 2 my daughter is going to be 2 in April of 2010 and she sleeps in a Toddler bed at her dads and in the crib at my house yet and she dont try to really climb out of the crib but will sleep all night in the bed when at her dads and get up she will wake someone up to tell them she is up if no one is up.

Stephanie - posted on 12/29/2009

My daughter is 16 months and I just converted her crib into a day bed. She is doing wonderfully. I haven't even put side rails up, just large pillows on the floor next to her. I'm a very light sleeper and we have a camera baby moniter so that she can be watched closely. I say give it a try,

Brandi - posted on 12/29/2009

My daughter was 15 mos. when i put her in a toddler bed (we needed the crib for her new baby brother lol) and she did beautifully. My son is going to be 2 in apr. and on Mon. we will be starting the transition for him as well. I think somewhere around 1 and 1/2 and 2 is a good time to make the switch.

Paige - posted on 12/29/2009

Thank you all for the advice. I am going to try the bed rail at nap time today and see how she does with it. I figure if she does ok for nap time then she'll be ok tonight. The only thing I'm worried about is that she'll get out of bed before she falls asleep and just play in her room haha. I don't want to get her into the habbit of me laying with her to put her to bed either. The baby gate is a great idea I didn't think of that. I worried that she'd get up and just wander around and get into something before I wake up but I will try the baby gate :)

Christine - posted on 12/28/2009

We moved our oldest (now 4) into a toddler bed right around his second birthday...we were expecting our second child...our youngest (3 in July) has been in a "big boy bed" since right after Thanksgiving...we thought he was ready earlier, but we decided to wait because we were traveling for Thanksgiving and he would be in a crib while we were traveling...but ever since he has been in his bed, he has done fine...

Adrienne - posted on 12/28/2009

My oldest is 2 1/2 years old and has been sleeping in a toddler bed a few months before he was 18 months old. My youngest is 1 1/2 years old and has been sleeping in his toddler bed now for a few months. They both sleep fine in the beds.The main reason why my youngest was moved into a toddler bed was b/c my oldest kept climbing in it to be with his younger brother.

Susan - posted on 12/28/2009

i think this is the perfect age to move to a bed though i skipped the toddler bed and went straight to a twin bed with all my kids. that way one less transition. and they looked so tiny in it kind of like a newborn in a crib. definatly use the bed rail cause they will roll around like they were able to in the crib.

Tegan - posted on 12/28/2009

my son is 2 in feb 2010 & he has been sleeping in a bed for a few months now & he loves it,
he also sleeps alot better as well which is a plus

Jennifer - posted on 12/28/2009

i am not an expert but i think my son is ready for a toddler bed too and he will be 2 in march 2010.... i just think the crib is not right for him anymore... its just a feeling i have as his mother... i dont think ur daughter is too young.

Erika - posted on 12/28/2009

My son turned 2 in July 2009. We just converted his crib to a toddler bed a couple of weeks ago. It was an easy tranisition. I told my son that only Mommy or Daddy can take him out of his bed. He knows to call for us when he's awake. I also put a bedrail on his bed and a gate on his door, his bedroom is close to the stairs.

Hope this helps a bit.



Erika

http://www.4MyFamilyandMe.com