Transitioning triplets from cribs to toddler beds....

Lindsay - posted on 02/01/2011

I have BBB, and they were transitioned at just before 24 months. What I did as I could not afford to buy anything new, I made my own toddler beds out of my cribs. Cutting one side rail in half and screwing it in place. This worked great until they turned 2 and a bit. Now I am having to sit with them for nap time and bed time, until they fall asleep, or they just keep getting out of bed! In the last week I have been fed up (as they have started getting out of bed at night and not going to sleep unless I sit with them) moved them into playpens...this has been working "okay". I am really at a loss what to do next...so as to your dilemma, I am no help but to tell you what has happened in my situation!

Karen - posted on 01/21/2010

My triplets are now in kindergarten! However, we transitioned them into toddler beds a few months after their third birthday. This worked well for us. They stayed in the beds and respected the rules of once in bed no getting out. Each family just needs to do what feels right.

Alana - posted on 01/19/2010

Ok I was interested to see what you were saying about crib to bed as this is the stage we are at with out 2 year old BBG. But the mention about door stoppers really got my interest. My kids are always slamming doors and locking each other in rooms and closets. I need these! What exactly are they called?

Dee - posted on 12/26/2009

My triplets are now grown, so it sort of gives you perspective. We transitioned our boys at around 24 months old. I didn't want any accidents of babies jumping out of cribs. We decided to empty the bedroom of everything but the two twin size beds. The closets were baby proofed with doorknob covers as was the door to the bedroom. We installed a dimmer switch on the lighting. The two twin beds were held together to form a double with one of those nifty bed converters. The head and footboards then became the side rails. It was convenient and we didn't have to worry about the kids falling out of a bed. We put them down at their usual bedtime and sometimes they went right to sleep, sometimes they were up til midnight. We checked on them every 30 minutes just to ensure they were safe. We did not interact or engage, just popped in and popped out (with the dimmer switch, it made it easy to check on how they were). They eventually became used to sleeping in beds and we then separated the twin beds and added a third single bed. They were fine after that. Believe me when I say that they are none the worse for wear by keeping each other up sometimes as they are most likely chattering to each other in their cribs anyhow! LOL As long as they aren't fighting or being horribly destructive, I think it's safe to say that a few late nights isn't going to hurt anyone :-)

Denise - posted on 12/04/2009

Lucky you they are still in their cribs :) Mine crawled out before 2.

My best advice is to clear the room of everything, especially dressers they can tip over on themselves and put their crib mattresses on the floor. That way if they do roll out they don't have far to fall. Also they are less springy than the toddler bed, so if they are jumping from bed to bed they won't get as much air from a mattress on the floor.

I got toddler beds for my little monkeys which lasted a whole week before I was putting their crib mattresses on the floor, which is where they still are. It was a safety issue really for us. My kids are really wild together, but when they do settle, they would inevitably end up on each other's mattress. Sometimes, the boys would move theirs next to each other or their sister.

All ours share a room, and we made the switch all at the same time. Oh and to keep them from just running out (like I said mine are stinkers) we put a baby gate on the door. Which quickly became a half cut off door, because they climbed the gate.

But anyway, it really wasn't that bad for us after we got rid of the toddler beds and went to the mattresses on the floor.

Jessica - posted on 10/12/2009

It's basically a twin over full bunk bed with a 3rd bed extension -a loft sticking out from the side making an L shape. There are a LOT of 3 bed bunk options nowadays, mostly online. I found the biggest selection & best prices at www.justkidsbeds.com (we went with the Austin Tri). They were the cheapest for that set & also included delivery & set up in the cost! The girls loved watching the guys set it up & as soon as they were don we went over rules -1 at a time on the ladders, ladders are for up or down only no playing on them, no kneeling or standing on top bunks, no leaning over the rails, no jumping on beds, no jumping off ladders, etc.

I went back & forth between a tri bunk, a bunk with a trundle or 2 sets of bunks (figuring we'd then have an extra sleeping option in case more than one kid did/didn't like the top bunk). I decided the trundle was out since it wouldn't really give all 3 equal space ownership & we liked the design & space usage of the bunk +loft better (we have a chest of drawers under the ladder of the loft).

Cory - posted on 10/12/2009

Does the bunk have 3 beds or do 2 of them share? I am trying to picture it :) We have thought that we will have to get one set of bunk beds and then a single. My triplets will be 3 next May but they are still in their Cribs. They can climb in but have not tried to climb out yet, ( knocking on wood ). I have started looking at beds but I'm just not sure what will work best, they all share a room and I don't want to have to buy something different down the road...

Jessica - posted on 10/11/2009

My girls started climbing their crib rails at 18mo & since there was a scant 2ft between cribs I was terrified of the 1st sucessful attempt including hitting another crib on the way down, so we moved out of cribs rather early. We did a shared bed for the girls, one big queen bed in the middle of the floor. No toys in their room, only their furniture (secured to the wall, with child locks on the drawers & also on the closet door). No matter ho many millions of times you put them back to bed you'll get them used to it & then your get phases of them testing the whole 'in bed' theory. I used to sit in the room with them while they fell asleep, rubbing their heads or else pretending to be asleep myself, but after a while that wasn't needed either. My girls made it to 3 before they were all so big & wiggly in the shared bed that they needed their own space. Then we bought them an L shaped bunk bed (top & bottom with a loft off the side). Everyone I talked to swore that they'd either be afraid of the top bunks or break their limbs jumping off it but we've had it almost a year & they are all very respectful of the bed rules (they all picked their bed seperately & everyone picked a different spot & no one wants to change either).

Sarah - posted on 10/04/2009

Well I'm not actually a Mom to triplets so I hope ya'll don't mind. I am how a NANNY to a set of triplets, and their older sister and their younger brother! I've been with the triplets since they were 6 months old so I figure I'm close enough.

Anyway we just transitioned the kids to toddler beds ! They had crib tents but B BROKE his and then broke his brother's by climbing out of his crib and on top of C's crib tent. UGH!!

When I put them down for their naps I end up sitting in their room until everyone is asleep. It sucks, and it's time consuming and mostly I'm say "Get back into bed" or "Lay down, no jumping in our big kid bed!" and as a result it would take an hour to an hour and a half to get them down for naps, longer at night!

However it doesn't last forever!! This past week actually went really well, the kids stayed in their beds, there was no jumping in their beds and they fell asleep fairly quickly. So this week I plan on sitting outside their door, and if they do well then next week I'll sit on the steps etc until they can just get into bed and go to sleep without me having to worry about them getting up.

I wish they all had their own rooms since it probably would be easier since there wouldn't be anyone to show off for but alas that's not possible.

Leigh - posted on 10/03/2009

I have one that has climbed out 3 times. I was nervous that I was gonna have to take the plunge but have been lucky that he doesn't do it consistantly.

Cory - posted on 10/01/2009

The mattresses on the floor is a good idea. I am thinking that in the long run one set of bunk beds and a single will be the best as far as space goes but, of course, I am not comfortable putting anyone on a top bunk for a couple of years :-) (even with a guard rail) I am going to wait as long as possible but as soon as the first climbs out we are going to have to make the plunge, lol!

Leigh - posted on 10/01/2009

I know what you are feeling. My triplets are 26 months and thankfully still in cribs. I do not look forward to making the switch to beds but I know it has to happen. A nurse practicitioner, when we were still in the NICU, said that she took everything out of her triplets room b/c they had a tendency to move furniture. I plan on doing this and locking the closet. I like the idea of the gate at the door. Also a suggestion that I recieved recently was to simply put the mattress on the floor at first then you don't have to worry about them falling. Let me know if you brave the change. I am gonna try and wait until summer or at least after the first of the year when my sister-in-law needs her crib back.

Eileen - posted on 10/01/2009

I bought these door stoppers at Babies R Us. They are white horse shoe shaped things that slide onto the door so no matter how hard they try to slam it, it can't catch their fingers. Once I got those, we started leaving the door open so they could go in and out to play. I love them. My son is kind of a trouble maker and he likes to open and close doors!

Cory - posted on 10/01/2009

I was thinking about that. They can't get their bedroom door open & we usually close it. But I think if I leave it open and put a gate up then I could keep a better eye out & they would know I could see them. Not that that is going to keep them from crowling into each-others beds.

Eileen - posted on 10/01/2009

I don't know if I would be comfortable with the crib tents either. I've been watching Super Nanny alot...don't laugh! And I'm thinking that there is no way to get out of the putting them back to bed a million times. They will get it...so Super Nanny says. LOL. What do you think about putting a gate at their door so they atleast can't get out?

Cory - posted on 10/01/2009

I am just afraid that if we do them all at the same time that I am going to spend hours putting them back in bed or that one will get up and go wake the others... Ugh, I love their cribs! My pediatrician recommended getting crib tents, I think they just fit over the top of the crib but then I worry about them getting tangled or worse.

Eileen - posted on 10/01/2009

I am in the EXACT same position! I have no idea how to go about this? I was thinking all at once would be better. Just get it done! But i'm scared!! LOL