Growing into a Big Girl Bed.

I'd definitely keep her in the crib if she were my daughter. 16 months is still very young for her to really know what she wants.

My son who is now 4 was jumping out of his crib at 16 months so we did move him into a toddler bed then and it was rough. If she is anything like mine she would be up and out of bed every five minutes. I used to get 2 a.m. visits from my son until I put a gate up!

My 22 month old wants to do everything his big brother does too, and it is cute, but I have to set limits. I am waiting as long as possible to move him out of the crib because I am frankly enjoying my sleep and do not wish to see his perfect little face at 2, 3, and 4 a.m.!

Wait a little while longer when she can really understand that she needs to stay in bed.

But then again, the timing would be perfect with the new bed coming in. Sorry I am not much of a help. It certainly wouldn't harm her to be in a bed with rails. Whatever you do, think about really well.

A.

I just wanted to say that my daughter(now 19 months) was in her toddler bed(which was her convertable crib) by 1 year old. Every child is different, I know plenty of moms who had there babies in beds by that age. So don't worry that she is too young, if you feel she can handle it I say go for it and get her a toddler bed. Of course it could be a matter of wanting what he has, maybe you could get him his new bed, put her in the twin bed and see what happens from there. We just bought a new house and changed our daughters toddler bed(her convertable crib) into its full size bed size and put the rails up because the toddler size was not enough room for her. She like to move around a lot. This way when she cries for me to nurse her, I can join her without hanging off the bed.

hi, i am having this issue with my daughter. she's going to be 2 in april and has been wanting to sleep in our bed (any bed she sees actually) since she could walk. so we decided to put her in a toddler bed either xmas or her birthday (i know, we have to choose SOON). but a friend of mine has had her son in a toddler bed since he was 1 and he's been fine. though, he didn't get the kind that has the railings on it, he's got a car bed (they have them for girls too...princess ones, etc.) and it's got a lip, so that they don't roll off, they have to climb in. i think those are good, though we were given a toddler bed, so we have to stick with that kind. just one suggestion, if you're worried about her wandering, just put a gate up in their doorway. i realize that you have a son in there too, either show him how to open it (get one that stays permanent and you just swing the door open to it w/ a little squeeze on top) or if he doesn't need to know how (if he doesn't get out in the middle of the night for the bathroom) then don't bother. that's what we're going to use. good luck, i'm sure it's going to be fine. our daughter was fine to be put in the toddler bed MONTHS AGO, i just didn't want to lose the freedom of having her in a crib. good luck, and happy holidays.

She'll probably want his new bed, and the twin would not be special anymore. I think she probably will be happier if you got her a special bed too. If you have the room, keep the crib in there as well just incase. But it sounds like she's ready for the big bed since she sees her brother in there every night. Remember, that she may also develop the 2nd child syndrome, where she feels like she is always getting her brother's leftovers and hand me downs. If she feels like she gets to keep something that her brother no longer wants, then it may not be so desirable anymore. My 2 yr old son is still in his crib, but he really loves his crib.

When my daughter was 18 months, she kept climbing out of the crib. She kept it up until I finally took the side down and put up a railing. I had the same fears as you, I was petrified of what she would do while we were sleeping. I put locks on all of her drawers and put up a 36 inch tall gate in her doorway preparing for the worst. Ends up she was fine, didn't get into anything. The first four days were tough, though. She knew she could get out and play and wanted to get out of the room. Night after night, I'd have to have to sit outside of her door while she'd fall asleep on the floor, screaming. It was pretty rough! Then, all of the sudden, she got used to the idea and stayed in her bed! Haven't had a problem since then. I don't know what that would have been like if there was another child in the mix, but it sounds like she's ready to get into a bed. Good luck!

I guess the biggest problem I have had since transitioning to a bed is that my son can get out. As funny as that sounds, it has changed everything. He will not sit there in bed and by himself fall asleep that we trained him to do in his crib. Rather, he gets out and goes around the house to find me. I found it a lot easier to just let him cry a bit than to try to get him to stay still in the bed. If you don't have any of these issues, than maybe it won't make a difference.

I say put her in the twin bed, get her some nice girly bedding and she should be thrilled!

Please put your little girl in a bed if that is where she wants to be. And if you think she will want to sleep in the Thomas the Train bed...you better get something similiar for her if you can.

Independance is a good thing for kids...although scary for moms.
I think it will be ok to put her in the twin bed with side rails and teach her about the responsibility..have her "help" make the bed everyday. Both kids while you're at it. Make a fun game of making their beds etc....
If she starts up about Thomas tell her when she gets bigger she can have a character bed of her own (whether its her brother's bed or ehr very own).
Good luck.
K.

Trust your instincts. If it were me and my children I would keep her in the crib, but we have stairs, and my son would wonder the house and play at night. If you think she's ready and will be more happy you could always put the mattress on the floor until she's ready to be up higher. There's no reason to go to the expense of a toddler bed that she'll just grow out of quickly.

I would say that you should get her a "special" bed. Or somehow make the twin bed special for her - maybe one of those bed tents that can make it into a princess bed? Or something similar. It sounds like she wants to be like her big brother, and if he is getting a special bed she might want one too. I wouldn't worry about her in the twin bed, she will be fine, it sounds like she is ready!!!!

D.

i think you shoud get her her own big girl bed than it can be HER bed and maybe she will forget about the other bed. just make it her own try to make it so she wants to be in her bed