Is 16 Months Too Young for a Toddler Bed?

I'm not there yet, but will be soon. I've got a 9 month old and a second one due in May. I've been wondering the same thing. I think that a gradual transition might work best. You might have to spend some nights in her room to get her acquainted, but you're mama instincts will know if she's ready. :) Keep us posted and let us know how it goes!

My two youngest are 13 months apart, and I moved my co-sleeping son into his toddler bed, in my room to get adjusted at 12 months. It worked well until we attempted to move the toddler bed into his big sister's room at which point he became terrified when he would wake at night and would wake his sister as well. I don't think it's that he's too young, I think instead, it's jealousy that the new baby is with mommy. So for the time being, we gave up the struggle and all 3 of my kids sleep with mommy- ages 3 1/2, 16 months, and 2 months!

I put my oldest in a big double bed at two years of age. But I know people that have put their children in a regular bed at one year of age. I would have never let my child sleep with me to start with. On this last one if you don't want this problem get a cradle for the baby to start in and when the child gets to big for the cradle make the transistion to a baby crib. Put a toy on the side and decorate it for a child. Hang a mobile over the crib. A home made one will work fine if you can't afford one. But don't end up with another child sleeping with you. It's not healthy for you or the child. Bless You and Your Family.

While I don't have the experience co-sleeping.... my now 4 yr old slept in a crib in the same room with us until he was about 18 months old. When we moved into our current (bigger than 1 bedroom LOL) house he went straight into a twin bed with side rails- and did VERY well. NO problems what so ever.....

My now soon to be 3 yr old-went from a cirb in his own room to a toddler bed in his own room at about 14 or 15 months. and it also went very well-we used a side rail also and he stayed put.....and never got out his bed-UNTIL the day we took the rail off.......

Good Luck-give it a try- it may go over very well

my son was out of his crib at 12 months old. His room was COMPLETELY child proof so he would wake up, and then play in his room until i came and got him. Since i STILL had the monitor going, i would wake up and listen to him play. At first we put him in a toddler bed, but he never really liked it, and would grab his blnket and pillow and move to the floor. So then we got him a FULL SIZE bed, and hes STILL IN IT! Just turned 4 and LOVES IT! When we got the full, we just put the matress and box spring on the floor so then it wasnt to high up ( incase he rolled off) but he NEVER did. Good luck!

Hi there,

When I was expecting #2, I put #1 in a toddler bed at the age of about 20 months. It went smashingly! Much better than I expected. However, she had been sleeping in a crib alone beforehand.

I would start by putting her in her own bed for naps and see how that goes. If well, try it at bedtime with nice music, nightlight and lovey (or whatever works for her). If that still doesn't work, maybe a mattress on the floor of your bedroom. At least that would free up your bed for your newborn.

As far as getting babies into cribs, there's lots to be said for co-sleeping, so don't let yourself feel too rushed to put baby in a crib by himself. I transitioned both my babies to a crib around 5 months and that worked really well for us.

Good luck and congrats on your soon-to-arrive!

My kids moved into toddler beds between 14-20 months of age. None of them liked their crib and I co-slept & nursed all of them. I don't see a problem with it.

I too am struggling with the same problem right now...my daughter is 17 monthes and I am still nursing a little (first the in the morning, nap-time and bedtime) and want to do the toddler bed in hopes of helping with the weaning process too. I have been lookin at the toddler beds at Ikea since they are super cute and pretty reasonably priced too.....Good Luck I'll be watching your post for more good suggestions too!!!

My daughter moved from crib to bed at 13 months. At 9 mos. she figured out how to get out of her crib, and there was no keeping her in it by 12-13 mos. We started out with a mattress on the floor so we wouldn't have to worry about her falling out of bed and eventually moved her into a real bed.

That's a great age to start . I started my yougest at 18 mo and never used toddler bed but a big one. You can also try putting crib mattress on floor untill she gets used to sleeping. Good luck with ur 4th . Im due w/ my 4 th in june and this is my last.

I had my boys in toddler beds from the time they could walk. For my oldest, who was a very late walker, it was at 15 months. For my youngest, who was complete oposite and started walking at 9 1/2 months, he was 10 months in the toddler bed. I was always afraid of them trying to climb out, so I made the switch as soon as they could walk. Both are in twin beds and have been for quite some time. They transitioned at about 2 1/2 and 3.

Congratulations on #4!! I don't have any suggestions on your question and the one you posted about the stroller is one that I was going to ask as well. I have a 16 month old son and we are pregnant with number 2-a boy due in April. I was wondering what area you are and maybe you might want to have a play date or something. we are kind of new to the area and I would like to keep my son around other kiddos so he won't be too shocked when te baby comes. Congratulations again. K. W

I have two children of my own, and my 4 year old was ready at 18 months. She started crawling out of her bed. I thought it would be much more safer if I transitioned her. To make sure she was ready, I took the crib mattress out of the crib, and onto the floor. She would still escape, so I researched what to do next. It said to keep putting them back into their bed when they came into your room no matter what. They will eventually stay. It took about 2 weeks of putting her back when she finally got it. I will not lie, and say it was easy. But, it was well worth the lack of sleep for a couple weeks to gain many peaceful nights for many years to come. Don't give up. I feel a child is ready for different things, at different times. If your child seems ready, only you and the child will know.

My son refused to sleep in a crib at 10 months. He preferred the floor. So he got a twin bed with a rail. Give the toddler bed a try. Also, if my son wants to sleep in our bed in the middle of the night, he can sleep in a sleeping bag by our bed, but not in it.

My oldest moved from crib to a twin sized bed (with side rails) at about 17 months because we needed to get the nursery ready for his little sister that was about to be born. He did really well. We went through a few nights of him getting up and coming into our room, but it didn't last long. Good luck.

I know there are a lot of pros to co-sleeping but I for one could not do it. I couldn't even have my baby in the same room as me after a few weeks. I needed sleep too! He was in his crib for 2 1/2 years and is now in a twin bed with railings all the way around that my husband built. (it has an opening where he can get in and out) Since your boy has never been in a crib I would put him in a toddler bed and let him pick it out and make a big deal about it. Have a couple of "camp outs" in his room too. I think it will be a hard adjustment for both of you but it is time...