When to transition to a toddler bed

Kelly - posted on 01/20/2011

my oldest daughter (now 20 - so keep in mind how the beds were back then) was 10 mos when i put her in a toddler bed cause she figured out how to let the sides down. i currently have 2 yr old twins that i just transitioned into toddler beds 4 mos ago for the same reason as you - the first couple nights were a lil rough but overall they have transitioned well. I would move them before they 'fall' over the side as was the case with one of mine. no injuries but a pretty good scare. i only had one crawling out too, but i just moved both of them figured it might give the other boy an incentive to start climbing out if i didn't. lol

Laura - posted on 01/20/2011

I have twin boys. One of them climbed out of the crib at 18 months. I ordered crib tents on Amazon that day! They are the best thing ever. I'm hoping to keep them in the their cribs until they are 3!
Good luck!

Angie - posted on 01/17/2011

You could always try crib tents...they go over the crib so they cant get out. My girls are 15 months and we havent had to use them yet but I am planning on it.

Alice - posted on 01/17/2011

We just changed the cribs into toddlers' beds about a month ago when the girls were 23 months. One of them was an amazing climber and the other was just about to start practicing climbing. The climber would sleep on the carpeted floor at the beginning but now both of them are getting used to the new beds. Good luck.

Mary Alice - posted on 01/15/2011

When our twins began climbing out of their cribs, we put their mattresses on the carpeted floor. The door was covered with a gate. Often we would find our boys asleep on the rug between the two mattresses, holding hands! I don't expect you will need to keep a crib.

Andrea - posted on 01/14/2011

I removed a side of the crib of the one who could climb out. He was around 18 months old. The other was happy in his crib until almost 2 and he liked to sleep in a tent. He didn't climb so he stayed in the crib until he asked to follow his brother.

I always found it easier to make change with one kid at a time, who was ready. They are 2 different people and treating them as one unit always back fired. When one is ready, deal with the one. You will save a lot of headaches and struggles.

Jessica - posted on 01/14/2011

I dont think I would have a problem with them playing. They do that in their cribs anyway and sometimes they play in the living room until they crash if I can't get them to go down. I know night time wouldn't be a problem at all. When they are ready for bed they crash instantly.

Nicole - posted on 01/14/2011

I had to transition my twins a month ago, at 18 months. My son could get out of the crib like there was nothing there (he's my climber). I figured if he was that free already, I might as well make it a bit safer. I didn't want to. Many people suggested a crib tent instead, but I didn't like that idea either. I thought I might be able to switch one without the other, but my daughter was not happy with a crib when she saw her brother's bed. The hardest part for us has been nap time. At night they stay in their beds, but at nap time they get out and want to play. It's been quite the battle.

Heidi - posted on 01/14/2011

I transferred our twins from crib to toddler beds when they were 14 mon...They were content in their cribs but we were expecting baby #4 and needed the crib. We had to put the baby gate up in the door way..one of them is very cautious of change(still is) and she had a rough few nights Now theyre 5 and have been in bunkbeds since they were 3. I think they will be fine.

LaShaundra - posted on 01/14/2011

I had the exact same problem. It wasn't until I read somewhere, she's trying to get to her twin. Try putting them in the same crib. If that doesn't work, I would definitely change to toddler beds. Good Luck

Jessica - posted on 01/14/2011

Thanks for all the help.

Carrie - I know how you feel with having one that goes right to bed and one that doesn't. That is exactly how our girls are. I will probably try this weekend to start the big girl beds. Their cribs transistion to toddler beds.

Carrie - posted on 01/14/2011

I would get them in toddler beds, I wasn't able to relax knowing the potential safety concerns with the acrobatic routines my girls were doing.. We are doing toddler beds, the transition wasn't the greatest. I have 2.5 yr identical girl twins. One of them is very routine and tired, so we would put her down first, get her settled and then we would put our little roaming butterfly in second. Works better than both at the same time.

Monica - posted on 01/14/2011

Wow my son is three and loves his crib - has never tried to climb out and asks for it versus his "big boy" bed.

Elaine - posted on 01/08/2011

My twins were around 16months when i put them into beds, because i had fell pregnant again and would need a cot so i decided to get them settled into beds before the new baby arrived, i just had a baby gate on there room door and listened out for them x

Lesa - posted on 01/07/2011

I'd change both to toddler beds asap. I caught the smaller of my fraternal girls STANDING on the drop side rail at about 1am one night when they were about 14 months old. They'll do fine. If they don't stay put, put a baby gate up in their doorway so they can't escape to potentially unsafe areas of the house in the middle of the night. Good luck!