Toddler Bed or Stay in Play Pen?

Nikki - posted on 10/08/2010

I would go with the toddler bed. It makes them feel a little older than they are when they have there own bed. She will love it.

JoE - posted on 10/08/2010

On that note - does anyone know where they sell toddler bedding?

Connie - posted on 10/08/2010

You shouldn't need a crib now. She is old enough that you could just put her into a bed, especially since she goes to sleep on her own. My daughter was 18 months when we put her into a toddler bed, and she adjusted just fine.

Ashley - posted on 10/07/2010

I got my daughter a twin bed. It could be converted into a bunk so we got rails as well. She's had it since before she turned 2. They can use a twin well into there tweens! In the long run it's a $$ saver.

Constance M. - posted on 10/06/2010

i got both my boys toddler beds when they were 16 months old they will love it makes them feel like a big kid

Alisha - posted on 10/06/2010

There may be a pregnancy center nearby you that can help you out with a crib or anything else you may need.

Alisha - posted on 10/06/2010

I would buy a crib that converts into a toddler bed (which has 3 sides but is the same size). I wouldn't let your 16 month old sleep in a play pen, I think that she is probably too heavy to even be in one anymore. They are not meant to be used as a bed, just to play or nap in.

Heather - posted on 10/06/2010

my daughter has a toddler bed and refuses to sleep in it and she is almost 3..she still prefers the playpen i think she feels more secure i say go to a consignment shop where you could afford both because you never know whats going to work since each child is different and even if she takes well to the toddler bed it never hurts to have the playpen for travel purposes

Darla - posted on 10/06/2010

I have a 3 year old who I moved into a toddler bed when she was 1 year old right when she started walking good. It's always worked for me. But she was a very special good sleeper. Some cribs do turn into beds. But we went straight to the toddler bed.

Kim - posted on 10/06/2010

16 months isnt to early. i had my son in a full single bed with a safety rail at 10 months(because he could climb out, and it was a safety issue). if she has no problem falling asleep, i wouldnt waste more money on another playpen(which i assume is like a porta cot) thats she is going to destroy again, now that she is getting bigger and stronger. So yeah, a single bed with a side rail if money is tight because it will last her for years n years or the toddler bed...

Amy - posted on 10/06/2010

i think you should buy a toddler bed.....my 2 year old son has been in a toddler bed since he was 14 months old, as he kept trying to climb out of his cot. we have bed guards on both sides, to stop him falling out. i found that talking about the 'change' to my son before he went from his cot to his bed, really helped to get him ready. now he wont sleep any where else, only in 'his' bed!

Aimee - posted on 10/06/2010

i would buy the toddler bed. i put my daughter in hers early and she did great. she loved it.

Joelene - posted on 10/05/2010

yep i'd just buy the toddler bed your going to get one eventually so save yourself some money and do it earlier it won't hurt!

Christi - posted on 10/05/2010

most toddler beds that i know of have rails on the side of them to help them stay in the bed. (they are half the length of the bed) the toddler bed worked for my daughter since she was about 18 months

Tiffany - posted on 10/05/2010

My 21 month old daughter sleeps in a king single bed, with a side bar on the side she cant roll out. She loves it to be honest, and when she gets older you wont have to worry about moving her out of a toddler bed, and then buying a new one. Just a suggetion :) Hope it all works out for you!

Sabina - posted on 10/05/2010

toddler bed for sure, you could always find one on Kijiji.ca and then buy the matters brand new at walmart if you don't want a used one.
I am actually looking for a toddler bed for my 22 month old

Lindsay - posted on 10/04/2010

i moved my daughter from her crib to her twin size bed when i was about 7 months pregnant with my son. she was about 19months. we also use the safety rail and she sleeps way better in the bed then she ever did in the crib!

Christina - posted on 10/04/2010

If you're worried about her not being able to sleep in, or getting out of the toddler bed you could try looking into convertable cribs. You can assemble it as a toddler bed and if that doesn't work out you can turn it back into a crib until you're read yto try again.

Lisa - posted on 10/04/2010

we started my son before he was 2 getting use to a big bed by taking off the gate to his crib and then put him in a toddler bed for his birthday, however if you're getting a grant to help out you might look into a twin bed that doesn't sit too high and that you can add a bed side rail to and that way you won't need to be buying another bed in a year or two. my son is now coming up on his 3rd bday and I think the toddler bed won't be big enough my the time he is 4 because he will be too tall.

Christy - posted on 10/03/2010

We put my son in a toddler bed at 21 months because I was about to have a new baby and needed the crib. He is not ready for the Toddler bed. He goes to sleep on his own also but it is harder when they have the freedom to roam out of the toddler bed. I say don't put her in a toddler bed until you have to.

Hailey - posted on 10/03/2010

toddlers bed i put mine in wen she was 18 months and she was excited to get in it and loves sharin her bed wit her bears

Tiffany - posted on 10/02/2010

I would say between the two, to buy the toddler bed and buy the safe guards for the side of the bed. No sense in buying another pack and play, because you won't be using it soon lol. What about looking into a crib that turns into a bed? That's what we have. My only concern is she is still so young. If you do go with a toddler bed, she may not want to stay in the bed at first, so just keep at it and set up a routine. Get her excited about her bed! When my sister transitioned her children, she let them help her pick it out and she started them in it on nap time for the first week, then switched to bed time too once they were comfortable. They were much older though.

Jane - posted on 10/02/2010

I would buy a real bed and a guard for it so she doesn't roll out, and does your area have garage/yard sales you could get a bed from them then spend your pell grant on a mattress if the one a the sale is no good and guard (if you don't find one at a sale) if you buy another play pen you will soon have to buy a bed

Alisha - posted on 10/02/2010

U should take ur daughter bed shopping so that she can see wat a toddler bed looks like and see if she likes it but i really dont think there is any sense to get a toddler bed or another play pen unless u kno some one is expecting and u can hand it down to them or u plan on having another baby.

Lyndsay - posted on 10/02/2010

I just went from the crib straight to a twin sized bed. I think toddler beds are unnecessary, they are a recent invention and people learned how to sleep in a bed long before they were invented. If you are worried about the height, just give her a mattress on the floor.

Alisha - posted on 10/02/2010

Well with my daughters they stayed in their play pens until they were able to climb out of it then I just wound up buying a twin bed for my older daughter and younger daughter sleeps with her, they are also 3 yrs apart where my older daughter is now 6 y/o and she's been sleeping on her own since she was 2

Stephanie - posted on 10/02/2010

i think you should keep with the play pen because she is still so young and still not able to know exactly right from wrong. she can get into anything, the place you stay in will become and open playground for her.

Shana - posted on 10/02/2010

I'd say toddler bed, But if you don't have the money for something you can always check out freecycle.org and see if your community has a page. It's where people post their unused items for free to give away for free. You can find some awesome things there. :D

Stephanie - posted on 10/01/2010

dont they have toddler beds with handles for saftey??

Amanda - posted on 10/01/2010

Totally toddler bed. Most kids climb out of play pens, which makes it not a safe choice. Playpens often are smaller, not offering much room to move around.

Sarah - posted on 10/01/2010

i have a son who is 20 months old an has been been in his toddler bed since he was 14 months old an he loves the freedom. if she has her own room an you can trust her to get out of bed in the morning n play... then you are good to put her in a toddler bed

Ashley - posted on 10/01/2010

I'd just buy the toddler bed. If she moves around quite a bit just buy one with the rails on it. You can buy them at Walmart for like $70. If you buy another play pen she will just get too bug for it reeeeal soon and then your gunna wonder why you did't just buy the toddler bed in the first place lol.

Samantha - posted on 10/01/2010

get a cheap playpen at a garage sale and keep her in it until she climbs out. Then worry about a toddler bed. She's close to being ready but I wanted my kids to stay "contained" as long as possible. It cause a whole new set of issues when they move to a bed and some chidren ahve problems sleeping right away. It does sound that buying another playpen right now wouldnt make sense but craigslist has 10$ pack-n-plays that are really nice.

Sabrina - posted on 10/01/2010

my daughter was 15 months when we got her a toodler bed and first night she slept just fine in it and has been sleeping awsome in it ever since (she is 2 now) :)

Amanda - posted on 10/01/2010

If you are going to buy something, I would go ahead and just buy the toddler bed. The only issue I see at first, is her not wanting to stay in it. But through trials and persistence, it will get easier and eventually become routine for her. It will also teach her independence and make her feel like a big girl =)

Aimee - posted on 10/01/2010

my son is that age and hes in a toddler bed as he was tryin to get out his cot so if she get about then yes put her in a bed i went on e bay for my sons bed and got it for 20 pond and he loves bein in a bed hope this helps

Stifler's - posted on 10/01/2010

Or the op shop.

Callie - posted on 09/30/2010

Like someone else said you should definitely look on craigs list. I've even seen convertible cribs on there. You can get some great stuff cheap.

Chrischa - posted on 09/30/2010

totally a toddler bed my son loves it, it makes him feel independent

Heather - posted on 09/30/2010

I would invest in a toddler bed. It might be more expensive at first but it will last sooo much longer. My son sleep in his and does great. Well his crib changes into a toddler bed and then a day bed. If you can find one like that you'll get a lot of use out of it. Mine was $300 at walmart and came with the matress.

Rebecca - posted on 09/30/2010

Check craigslist for a todler bed or anything else. It will be waaay cheeper and dont worry about her exact age, do what you think is right. You are Mommy.

Casey - posted on 09/30/2010

I suggest that you buy a toddler bed..its not really expensive..I brought my daughter toddler bed and the crib mattress for a total of $100 at walmart..you wouldn't have to worry about buying her a bed later on..don't waste your money buying another playpen.

Liz - posted on 09/29/2010

My b/g twins were 21 months old when they got into their toddler beds. It was a struggle at first to get them to sleep in their beds, but they do awesome in them now, they have been in their beds since the end of march of this year. Unless you do a lot of traveling with her, I would recommend the toddler bed. Because eventually she's going to be able to climb out of her play yard. That's why we had to get our twins into their beds.

Crystal - posted on 09/29/2010

My son is 19 months and we just got him a twin bed. Why buy a toddler bed when they are going to outgrow it? Look on craigslist for a cheap one (as long as its clean).


I agree with the above posts. Do your best to reward positive behavior and discourage unwanted behavior by ignoring it. My son is slowly learning that a whining voice dosnt get him anything and I even put myself on a time out. Kids need to understand that when they act like that they do not deserve the company of others.

Check out this blog and be sure to click the links provided, it offers some great tips!

http://tamingwildangels.blogspot.com

Stifler's - posted on 09/29/2010

Honestly, I'd buy a cot that turns into a toddler bed just in case you have another one or something.

Lacye - posted on 09/29/2010

thanks everybody for the comments! i think i will go ahead and get the toddler bed.

Brittany - posted on 09/29/2010

you should buy the toddler bed sooo that ur daughter can get used to sleepin in her own bed on he own. she might be resistant at first but she'll get used to it and will love it!

Lori - posted on 09/29/2010

I would make the investment in a toddler bed now, maybe even go ahead and buy a crib that converts to a toddler, daybed and eventually fullsize bed. I switched my son's crib to a toddler bed when he was 18 months old and he loves it. He sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and gets out of it to come find me but other than that it's been great. I don't think I would waste money on another playpen for her to tear up.

Danielle - posted on 09/29/2010

I'd get a toddler bed. Are you going to have your 4 year old sleeping in a playpen? I doubt it, because that would be way too small. Eventually you'll need to get a bigger bed, so I'd get a toddler bed.

Jenn - posted on 09/29/2010

My 2nd child sleeps in a port-a-crib since my first child (2) still sleeps in a crib. You can always buy a toddler bed off of craigslist for cheap when your daughter is ready, if she is not now. If she seems ready I would try it, you can always find things really cheap on craigslist. that is what i have had to do since money is tight over here as well. I think that a toddler bed is like potty training, you just cant push it. If they are not ready they wont do it. I know this is not much help but you might be able to buy a play pen and a toddler bed if you look around for really cheap deals. Good luck