Going from a Crib to Toddler Bed

Updated on November 03, 2006
J.D. asks from Fayetteville, NC
9 answers

My son climbs in and out and on everything. He's 16 months old now. I haven't seen him try to climb out of his bed but its only a matter of time - he climbs the baby gates! I am thinking of getting him a toddler bed for Christmas but my question is how do I keep him in it? Sometimes he'll fall asleep cuddling with me on the couch after his bath but other times I just put him in his crib and let him fall asleep on his own. I'm sure he will get out of bed if I put him in his room to fall asleep on his own. Aside from his dresser (which I plan to have mounted so it can't fall over) there is nothing in there he can hurt himself on and he can't open the door by himself, so should I even worry if he gets out of bed and plays until he's ready for bed?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

My son finally climbed out of his crib! We have always closed the door to his room when he goes to bed. One night he was fussing a lot and then the next thing we heard was a knock on his bedroom door because he can't reach the handle. The next day I converted his brib to a toddler bed. He has to be really tired be because if he's not he tried to take all his clothes out of his dresser when he goes to bed or takes everything out of his closet! Yesterday when I put him down for a nap, he never went to sleep but he played quietly in his room for about an hour. I was able to get things done I needed to do that I usually do when he's sleeping so it worked for me. SO naps may not occur but he's good about sleeping at night!

He is now so good in his toddler bed. When I put him to bed, if he's not ready, he'll cry for a few minutes or until I get him out of bed but he doesn't try to climb out by himself. In the mornings when he wakes up, he lets me know he's awake by calling out but he doesn't get out of bed then either. In fact, this morning I thought I was going to have to wake him up so I went into his room but he was awake just sitting on his bed waiting on me to come get him. So I'm glad I switched him to a toddler bed. Now I just need to break him of the sippy cup at night and we'll be good to go!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Washington DC on

My boys (twins) are famous climbers as well. They started climbing out of their cribs at 14 months and would get out of their room and walk the halls at night. I finally had to lock their door and let them cry if they got out of bed. We finally bought them twin beds with the side rails from one step ahead at 18 months and put them on the floor so if they get out of bed they can easily climb back in. We just didn't feel like buying two toddler beds now and two years later two twin beds. The boys got used to sleeping in their beds and have no problem with it. The room is child proof and we have no worries. Although sometimes we have to lay on the floor to keep them in their beds at nap time. To get them used to sleeping in the beds initially we had to just lock the door and ignore their crying until they fell asleep, usually on the floor, and we would just go in later and pick them up and put them in their beds. I think it took them a little over a week to get used to it and then it was fine after that. Good luck! Hope that helps!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Scranton on

J....

The best advice I can give you is to get a crib tent! It is mesh and is shaped like a dome. it fits over the crib and all you do is zip it up and he can't get out. My son was young too when he started trying to get out and was getting up in the middle of the night. this went on for about a week when I wasn't getting any sleep either I knew I had to do something. So my husband went to Babys R Us and purchased it. It was the best money I spent! Yeah, my son was very upset the first few times I zipped him in, but once he was asleep and realized he couldn't get out, he slept until I went in to get him in the morning. You just have to stick to your guns and even if he crys you just have to let him and each night it will get less and less. My son turned 3 in September and just went into his toddler bed. We knew he was ready (he was getting too long for the crib). Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.F.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My son used to climb everything too (okay, well, given a chance he still does). He hated the crib and I was terrified he'd get so mad that he'd take a dive over the edge (I did when I was little), so we moved him into a toddler bed when he was about your son's age. The result was fabulous. He didn't fuss when we put him to sleep or when he woke in the morning. His ability to get in and out worked wonders. The first few nights it was definitely a game of getting in and out, but after the novelty wore off, he fell asleep quicker and woke happier. Good luck.
M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Sounds like you are thinking of the safety factors. Check all of the outlets and make sure you have covers that he can't pull out. Like you mentioned, mount the dresser...and any shelves or other furniture. Try to continue your bedtime routine to encourage him to fall asleep as close to then as possible, but if he can't open the door and you've proofed the inside, he'll just need to learn to fall asleep. I think most soon figure out that the bed is the most comfortable spot and end up there eventually. If you find him sleeping on the floor, you can move him to the bed once he's asleep and perhaps he'll get the picture sooner.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.P.

answers from Washington DC on

i think alot of ppl are going to give you their opinions on this... my daughter went from a crib next to my bed (til she was 2), to a pack-n- play in her own room, to a big girl bed (with a guard up) or anywhere on the floor she fell asleep. she had a wiggles couch she sometimes slept on, sometimes just on a bunch pillows.. now she is 4 and has slept in her own bed for quite a while now... we also put the baby gate up in her door way to "keep the dog from bothering her" but really to keep her in the room. i wasnt so strict as to where she slept in her room, but the rule was, it had to be in her room... i knew in the big picture, she wouldnt be sleeping on the floor when she was 15. and also i pointed out how some of her TV friends (cauillo, dragon tails, etc.) slept, so she wanted to be like them. your doing the right thing.. keep em safe. but dont sweat it if he sleeps on the floor a few times. get him a fun sleeping bag... pick your battles, but set firm "golden " rules. good luck---- i only have 1 too, and its hard to know what your suppose to do...sometimes its right, sometimes its not... i didnt get a manual.. did you?

also, alittle hard learned lesson, dont put on the tv, thats a hard habit to break...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Washington DC on

my son was 21 months when we moved him. He spent about 2 1/2 months sleeping on the floor right next to the door! LOL! Then one day he slept in his bed. We never minded if he played in his room before falling asleep and we still don't. Sme nights he goes right to sleep and some nights he is up for a while. I fiure he knows when he is tired.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.P.

answers from Allentown on

Hi J.,
My son's 20 mos now but went to a toddler bed last month. I was the same way. I thought he would fall or hurt himself b/c he rolls in my bed and was always on the rails in his crib in the morning. He's fine. He's up to 5 hrs a night-not a full night on his own yet, but working on it. I did get a sleigh bed though because when he does wake up in the middle of the night to come down the hall to our room, I didn't want him to hit his head on a corner bed and hurt himself. We light the hall and his room with night-lights and he's fine!
The best to you and your "big boy!"

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.W.

answers from Scranton on

I had the same question a few months ago i found that having the crib and the toddler bed works wonders i would suggest if he falls asleep on the couch put him in the toddler bed and if you put him to bed alone go with the crib eventually he will get used to waking up in the toddler bed and go to sllep in it by himself

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from York on

Nope. I say go for it. There's more of a chance that he could be hurt if he decides to climb out of the crib. Just make sure that the room is childproof (cover all the sockets, mount dressers to the wall, etc), put some safe toys in there, and enjoy. Both my sons were in toddler beds by about 19 months (although neither of them were really climbers). There's no harm in him playing in there by himself, and you may even find you get to sleep in a bit in the mornings because he might be more content. Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches