Crib to Toddler Bed?

it is kinda of those "you will just know" type of moments. My daughter was just over two when we put her in the toddler bed and we did that because she climbed out of her crib and fell. I did not hesitate then about it at all. Things went well, we told her what we were going to the store to buy and let her pick it out and never had a problem with the transition or anything. Good luck

They say when the child attempts and/or succeeds in climbing out of the crib that it is time!!!

Hi T.,

I moved my son out at about 2 1/2 and only because I promised the crib to someone who was about to have a baby. I would have kept him in longer if I didn't do that partly because he is my last baby and if he could reach the top shelf in the kitchen, he'd pretty much be done with us! If your daughter is not climbing out or you do not need the crib for another baby, then let her stay. I was worried we'd find Brady trying to roam the house at 3am, but luckily, he has been excellent about it. If you do decide it's time, buy the big girl bed and put it in her room so she can see it and even nap in it before you do the big switch. Good luck!

K., mom to Brady (2) and Jamie (12)

hey T. i feel the same as the other moms my son turned 3 on the 11th and he he has never climbed out of his crib and sleeps just fine in it,some of my husbands family has made some comments on him still being in a crib and he just turned 2 when they said that but the way i see it it's my kid and I'm the one to decide when I'll make the switch and as long as he's content in his crib thats where he will sleep until he is way more potty trained than what he is now,and so i can still get some decent sleep too,so i feel as long as your daughter still fits in her crib and is sleeping good in it i would leave in as long as you can.

T.,

With my oldest son, he was 15 months and was climbing out of the crib. With my second son he was 2 1/2 almost 3 before starting to climb out and I was pregnant with my 3rd son and now my 3rd son just turned 2 and is still in his crib. I will be waiting until he starts to climb out of his crib.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck.

S.
SAHM of 3 boys.

We moved our son to a bed at about 22 months. He loved it and felt like he was a big boy. We did tell him, however, that if he got up too many times, he would have to go back to sleeping in the crib. We also took out the frame of the bed, cushioned the floor and put a pillow right next to the bed so if he does fall off the bed, it won't be far and would be soft.

In addition, I got a digital clock that had big numbers on it. I covered the minutes side so all he could see was the hour number. Then I made a big number 7 and a big number 8 that was could take to the clock. On weekdays, I tape the big number 7 to the clock, on weekends, I tape the big number 8 to the clock. We told him that he could not leave his room until the numbers match. Once the numbers match, his prize is that he can come into our room and snuggle in bed with us.

We only had to put him back in the crib twice. He got up in the middle of the night and started walking around the house, so we put him back in his crib for the rest of the night. In the morning we explained to him why he had to go back in the crib and that night, we remind him of the rules and ask him which bed he wanted to sleep in. Of course he always chose the big bed, but as long as we were consistent the 2 times he tested us, he learned he had to follow the rules.

He did great with that and he'll be 3 next week. We do hear him playing in his room at odd times of the night sometimes, but at least we know he is there and is safe. However, as soon as that clock turns to the right number, you can count on him coming into our room at any moment.

from experience, if shes not climbing out of the crib keep her in it as long as you can i tried to get my daughter into a toddler bed early and it was a mistake on my part now 3 1/2 the only thing she will sleep in is her play pin! not to mention when i started it bed time was the worst part of the day! so i would say don't rush it at all let her stay in her crib!! good luck and best wishes!

I'm with Laura above! In my opinion unless they have already climbed out of the crib (which most have before 3 years old), I think there is no problem with waiting. The way I see it, is..if your child is sleeping WELL in the crib, and there are no problems, then why disturb their routine and sleep? That means the only person that is worried is you, not them! I actually have a friend who's daughter is STILL in a crib (she is over 3). I don't know if I would do that... but for me, my daughter NEVER climbed out of her crib... so I sort of made it a big deal to move to her toddler bed when she became FULLY potty trained. For her, this happened at exactly age 3. My son is now 2 years 3 months, and he is still in a crib, and we (my hubby and I) haven't even discussed moving him out yet.

Hope that helps!!

H.

We skipped the toddler bed altogether and moved our daughter to a twin bed with a rail right around her second birthday. My husband was VERY hesitant about it, but she has done REALLY well! Good luck!

I moved my twins out of thier cribs at around 22 months because they were jumping out of the cribs. I created a whole new set of problems. I'd keep my kid in a crib as long as possible if I were you. If she isnt trying to get out, why change things? It seems to throw kids off initially, all the sudden giving them that freedom to get up whenever they want. It seemed to me that it made my kids more clingy, they needed constant reassurance to stay in thier beds. In fact, we are just now getting to where they've stayed in thier beds the whole night without a huge fight before they fall asleep and also getting up 6 times a night, and its been 4 or 5 months in thier new beds. Honest, if you want a decent night's sleep, keep her in the crib as long as you can!

I am the odd mom out it seems- I am all for keeping your toddler contained and happy in the crib for as long as possible- to 3 yrs old even. shocking? that's my opinion, lol!

We switched our daughter at about 22 months. We think it was the perfect time, most people will tell you to wait. The only thing you have to be careful of w/ the rails is if they try to climb over them instead of going to the end of the bed to go around them. Also if they are roamers and will roam the house while you are sleeping try a kiddie gate. Good luck!!!