Hi Mamas,
My 18 month old boy must have gone through a growth spurt overnight. I went in to get him from his nap today and noticed that the crib railing now measures just up to his chest. The crib mattress is set on the lowest setting. He has always been really tall for his age so I think we need to convert his crib into a toddler bed. Here are my questions that I would love your insight on:
Is 18 months too young for a toddler bed?
How can I secure everything in his room? **We are in a rental, so we cant bolt stuff to the wall/floor**
He is an active, curious, climbing boy! Any warnings or lessons to pass onto me that you've learned from your little one going to a toddler bed?
THANKS!! :-)
Thanks, yet again, for the AMAZING advice and insight! We chose to move all of his furniture into his walk-in closet. So now, its just his crib/daybed in his room. We put safety door knob covers on all handles, in particular - the bathroom. (@Gamma G - such a sad story. Thanks for the insight.) And I duct taped the lock on his door (@kimmie - before I had a chance to do this, he locked himself in. LOL - I totally thought of you!!) We also put a baby gate at his doorway - which he quickly figured out how to climb over. So another gate has been purchased. And we are keeping the baby monitor on whenever he is in there (@Veronica - thanks for the advice). All of this may seem extreme, but he is quite the climbing, exploring monkey.
He has transitioned really smoothly and is enjoying his new sense of 'freedom' and being 'a big boy'. :-)
Thanks again ladies!!
My daughter was in the 18 month-2 year range when we switched her from crib to toddler bed. She really took to it very well. I think it has more to do with being developmentally ready than an actual age, so if he is climbing and could potentially get out of the crib then I would transition him soon. Good luck!
A.
all my kids were in a twin mattress on the floor by 13-15 months of age...
Yes he's ready for a toddler bed if he can't safely climb out of his crib. When he's that tall he can easily fall.
And, yes, you can bolt things to the wall even tho you're renting. Just be careful to do it with the least amount of damage possible. It's a safety issue. Yes, you may have to pay to have the wall repaired or you can repair it yourself when you move. You can't replace a child. And you will definitely being paying less than you will if he climbs the book case and pulls it over on himself.
If you don't want to bolt things to the wall, then move it out of his room or put it in the closet with a good door over it. Make the room child proof because he will be getting out of bed and exploring, climbing, etc.
Ditto everything Marda said!!
I usually transition my kids into twin beds right around their 1st birthday. I have never used a toddler bed. There are good railings that you can slip under the mattress to help keep them from rolling off the bed. With one of my kids we got a daybed and turned it around backwards- kind of like a giant crib. I don't think there is a right or wrong time to move them- it's totally up to you. As far as securing everything in his room- I've never really had a problem. There are braces that can help keep bookcases and dressers from tipping over, but I have never had a problem with that (I may have just lucked out). I think that it is easier to move them to a big bed when they are younger. Good luck!!
My son went into a toddler bed before one but that was simply because he would roll a lot and get his legs caught between the bars and those nets and stuff didnt work. He would wake up with bruises all over his legs and one night i thought he broke his leg... every body is different tho it depends on your child but whatever you do if you move him to his toddler bed do not back step and put him back in a crib if you dont feel like its working out. Thats the worst thing you could do... you might have a few weeks of waking up and bringing him back to his bed but you might not my son did great and hopefully yours will too... i dont think hes too old at all... just be sure to not have an inside room lock on his door this has happened to me lol NOT FUN..... other than that i say go for it and good luck :)
kimmie
Good answers! Yes, it's not the age, but how much he can do. we put a 'dutch door' on the kids room so they couldn't get out, but we could hear them. Yes, make the room kid-proof so if he gets up, he will still be safe. I kept the baby monitor a little longer than most, too. :-) My first one was so easy compared to the second. Just proof that all are unique! However, the busy one was the sweetest to mom. And an easier teenager, believe it or not! Good luck!
I personally think it's too young. I would be too nervous that they could get into trouble in the middle of the night. I kept mine in a crib until age 2.5 only b/c of the crib tent, otherwise she could have crawled out.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...
at 18 mos old they can still get into things and figure out ways around child proofing. I know lots of people do it then, but I couldn't. It's all a personal decision.
I'd say as long as he's not climbing out or doing things that are dangerous, KEEP HIM IN as long as possible!!! Just my experience with my 2 kiddos. :o)
Do not take him out of his crib unless he climbs out. and then only if he climbs out more than once..
just cause he is tall enough to climb out .. he might not.
my active boy was in his crib till he was 3. he could climb in the crib but coulnt figure out how to climb out..
I would get a tent to keep him in the crib if he climbs out this young.. it is not safe for him to wander around.. and sometimes you need safe place to put him so you can take a shower..
Each of my grand kids were already in the toddler bed by this age. Toddlers are considered to be 12 months up to 24 months. Your child will get on the bed, fall asleep, will not be thinking about it being free time. All mine adjusted to it and just went in and fell asleep. There was not getting up and wandering. Well, one was one of those that woke up at least once per night to have a bottle, he still wakes up occasionally wanting something to eat.
Anyway, we put a gate up in his doorway and the baby monitor would let us know right away if he was moving around.
I think starting now is ideal. The child is the perfect age to do this.
You MUST make sure each and every door to the bathrooms are closed tight. If he can open them put some doorknob protectors on them. When my daughter was a newborn I was working at C R Anthony's and this lady came up and told me her 18 month old son had tipped over into the toilet and drowned. She made me promise I would always keep my bathroom doors closed and it was the best advice I ever got.
Come to find out years later when I was working child care we had to start taking child care classes to meet state regulations. One of the things we learned is that toddlers are top heavy with weak necks and upper back strength. If they tip over into a bucket, a toilet, a puddle, they may not be able to lift their head enough to get it out. Please make sure everyone understands this and make it a cardinal rule.
