two cribs or buy another toddler bed?

Laura - posted on 11/27/2011

I'd have 2 cribs. My pediatrician was a fan of keeping them in the crib until past age 2, longer if they'd stay in it (mine didn't!)....good luck to you

Stifler's - posted on 11/14/2011

I disagree with that Pam. I have a door handle cover on my son's door so he knows any shenanigans and he's sleeping on the floor because he can't get out of the room. For ages I let him get out and just took him back the second I put that cover on he got it that he had to stay in bed and have a sleep.

Pam - posted on 11/14/2011

The worst mistake I made was changing my daughter's crib to a toddler bed when she was 27 mos. old and her little sister arrived. The main reason for keeping a small one in a crib is to teach them to "stay" in bed until they fall asleep on their own. When you take the crib down it takes away your ability to regulate their ability to learn ways of lullying themselves to sleep. If you can find the book "The Complete and Authoritative Guide/Caring For Your Baby and Young Child" for birth to age 5 there are fabulous tips and suggestions for everything and every question any new parent can possibly ask. Good Luck

Brianna - posted on 11/13/2011

if they are only 1 year apart i would get another crib. also i would get one that is convertable that turns into a toddler bed then double bed then they will alway have it and u will never have to buy another bed frame

Amy - posted on 11/13/2011

I had twins and then had another baby one year later and I would say for sure that you want as many cribs as possible. It's much easier and safer too for everyone. Best of luck with everything. I promise that if I can do it, anyone can...

Tamara - posted on 11/13/2011

I have two little ones, one sleeps in the crib, and the little one sleeps in the playpen. I have a toddler bed, but she fell out too much, so we gave up on that for now.

Rebecca - posted on 11/13/2011

Since they will be a year apart at birth, the younger one will be in the cosleeper for about 3-4 months (you might be able to delay even more, depending on how the baby is sleeping). This means your older one will be about 16 months when you'd need the crib for the younger one. A toddler bed might be just fine now. The only problem we had when we moved our girls to a "big girl" bed was keeping them in bed at nap time. We never had a problem of then falling out or anything like that. Both girls moved about 20 months. (our younger one into a twin bed with a child rail since we had bunk beds by then).

Give it a try and adjust as needed. The one comment about using a port-a-pen for a few months would be a good alternative (or for nap time!).

Montine - posted on 11/12/2011

2 cribs for sure. much safer that way.

Sara - posted on 11/12/2011

i think if there ready then swap them.. but dont force it you can make a bed safe for a one yr old if you dont think she /he will cope the get a travel cot when the little one is too big for the newborn sleeper cause my little one was in a bed at 15mths so it may only be a few mths and they are cheaper and easyier to store then a second cot... but little one never slept well in the cot sleeps so much better in the bed..

Kathleen - posted on 11/12/2011

up to the child, my son was moved from his cosleepr at 6m when he started pushing up on his own, and he was in a toddler bed at about a year old...long story not the norm. However it sounds like a toddler bed would be a good option....prefer a crip if possible, however, they are cheaper than buying a whole nother crib for only about a year...still depends on your child, but I would wait, since even though they'll be a year apart infant won't need out of the co-sleeper till about 6m when he pushes up on his own. so that will giv eyou 6more months. Might help though, is taking the crib when baby is born, and say we're getting it ready for new baby, put the mattress on the floor, so by time you put the infant in the crib he will be alright to sleep in a toddler bed. If you do decide to by another crib, please be aware when buying used cribs than drop side cribs have been recalled and no longer supposed to be used or sold.

Tara - posted on 11/12/2011

You should borrow or buy another crib. I do not recommend moving a child out of a crib until they are at least 2.5-3 years old. Check out www.facebook.com/tulsapediatricsleepconsulting

Sherri - posted on 11/12/2011

You should definitely get two cribs as your oldest will probably be in a crib till they are almost 3. My oldest two are 18mo's apart and we definitely had 2 cribs, there was no other option, as my oldest LOVED his crib and would not have done well being switched as he was still a baby himself.

Monica - posted on 11/12/2011

My babies are a year and 5 months apart my oldest is 2 and he's been sleeping in a toddler ber since he was 1yr old and he's soo good in it. In the morning when he wakes up he plays with the toys in his room and then he'll come to our room and wake us up its really cute a toddler bed is fine... goodluck with your decision it all depends how comfortable you are :)

Jessica - posted on 11/12/2011

I have 2 boys. They are 1 year & 6 days apart. 2 cribs is the way to go unless your current baby is starting to climb out of the crib I wouldn't sworn to a toddler bed

Megan - posted on 11/11/2011

I just put the mattress on the floor for a few nights until my daughter got used to the idea of a bed and I was satisfied she wouldn't fall out. This put my mind at ease more than anything else since she was still quite young but only took two or three nights.

Megan - posted on 11/11/2011

My girls have just turned one and two. I did buy another cot but only used it for a few months. The younger one was in a bassinet for a few months and my eldest was starting to climb out of the cot before 18 months anyway. I decided it was safer for her to be in a bed and she loved it. I say do whatever works best for you. Just remember once they are in a bed they can get up and down anytime they like. With my eldest, this actually made life easier because she could just wander into us when she was awake. It is also much easier to read books with her now she is not in a cot. I would just make a big deal about your eldest being a big girl/boy and needing a big bed and hopefully they don't have a problem with the new baby having a cot.

Fairen - posted on 11/11/2011

I was in the same boat, my kids are 1 year and 9 days apart. I used the bassinet for 3 months for number 2 and put him in a crip. So I suggest two cribs and the convertable ones, so baby one will have a bed when ready.

Emma - posted on 11/11/2011

i would stretch out the co sleeper as long as you can so you can avoid buying another crib. At least if you go to a bed with the older one, it will last until you want to upgrade as they wont be growing out of it as quick. If you end up with 2 cribs you will still have to buy a bed aswell with in 12 months probably

Kelly - posted on 11/11/2011

It is what you feel is right. My 2 oldest were 22 months apart and when I got pregnant with #2, the first went into a toddler bed. It was a tough transition but he loved the idea of being a "big boy". It just depends on the situation...

Michele - posted on 11/11/2011

I feel you should have two cribs as taking the child out of a crib at this young age can pose many problems for you. My daughter stayed in her crib until almost three and it was much easier for me as I always knew where she was rather than he getting in and out of the bed all night long.

Jennifer - posted on 11/11/2011

I have four boys with 16 months between the oldest two and the younger two. I always had one crib as the new baby slept in my room in a bassenet for about 4 to 5 months. Maybe a month or so before the new baby was ready to move into the crib I put the older one in a toddler bed. For at least a couple of weeks I put his mattress on the floor just so he could get used to it. It is a transition and the first few days in the toddler bed can be hard, but they adjust fast. My boys never showed resentment when the younger brother got their crib. My second son was about a year old when he started sleeping in a toddler bed and he was fine. Good luck:)

Maria - posted on 11/11/2011

my children are a year and a half apart and what I think you should do is just go ahead and but the oldest a toddler bed. she or he is not going to be in the crib much longer any way.

Kara - posted on 11/10/2011

Ok my babies are 15 months apart i moved my son into his bed when he was 1 year because he was climbing out of his crib we piled pillows on the floor just in case but he never fell out. He was always in our bed in the beginning and didnt fall too much i dont believe a year is too little but i had a son who at 1 year was the size of a two year old. but when it comes down to it it is your decision but those babies will be very close i know mine are. after she was born he would tell me nanas bed my bed go to sleep and wake up to check on her and go back to bed. actually when she came he slept in his bed more because he was big brother now!

goodluck and have fun with two

Bonnie - posted on 11/10/2011

A child being a year seems a little young to switch to a toddler bed. If you think your child is ready for one then go right ahead. The toddler bed we have says that it is suitable for children at least 15 months old. My first was 20 months and my second 18 months when switched to one.

Amy - posted on 11/10/2011

Both my cribs convert into a toddler bed then into a full size bed. So the bed my 5 year old sleeps in used to be his crib, so if you end up buying two cribs look for one that will convert into beds so in 3 years you won't have to worry about spending more money. I think 1 is too young to convert into a bed, maybe keep the newborn in a cosleeper till the oldest is ready to switch.

Michelle - posted on 11/10/2011

You could always get a cot that converts into a toddler bed later and put the older one in that. Then when they are ready just convert it so it's not a whole new bed.

When I had my last baby I made sure we bought one that converts so we will get at least 4-5 years out of it.

Stifler's - posted on 11/09/2011

this is a tough one. i moved my kid at 13 months but he was nearly climbing out of the cot, some kids are fine and don't climb out of a cot until 3 apparently. i would just sleep the baby in the portacot (if you have one) until you get the toddler into a bed. if you have money to burn then by all means get another cot.

Keli - posted on 11/09/2011

that is a tough one.... i think a year old is a bit to little for a toddler bed,i dont think the 1 year old will resesnt the newborn,but when your 1year old is around 13-14 months,make a big deal about getting a big girl bed. but i definetly wouldnt Buy a second crib. it seems silly,when baby outgrows the cosleeper maybe use a playpen until your ready to transistion your 1year old to the toddler bed! i dont have experience but just stating what i would likely do

Sharlene - posted on 11/09/2011

Hi I have 2 babies 11month and 22days apart,so yes I know how your feeling.My 2 babies sleep in a seperate cot ,Well its up to you and your husband would you prefer to put oldest baby in toddler bed with safe guards,cheers