Toddler Bed - Shepherd,MI

I waited until my kids were trying to climb out of the crib. When they learned how to do that, then it was too dangerous and time to make the switch. ...After you do that, remember it's usually impossible to keep them in bed at bedtime for awhile. I always put a gate in their doorways so they couldn't wander outside of their rooms at night.
Good luck!!
C.

We switched my son at 18 months. He did perfect. Never gets out of bed on his own, nor has he fallen out. He's now 2. He naps on a little cot at daycare, which I think helped tremendously with the transition.

The best time is whenever the child starts to climb out of his crib. I knew when I woke up and my son was standing next to my bed, I was lucky he had not broke his neck climbing out. Age really has nothing to do with it.

My youngest of four is 23 so toddler beds were not really a thing when they were little. I would put the crib railing down as soon as I knew they could climb out. It made for a shorter drop down, and we had no accidents. Also, I bought a railing approved for the side of a regular bed. That worked as well. So putting your child in a toddler bed depends upon their agility. You will have to be alert to them getting out of bed themselves, however. Have fun with your children and dogs.

my first was at 18 months because she climbed out. My 2nd was at 16 months cuz he climbed out. My 3rd I think I did right after 13 months cuz she was just playing like she was going to climb. so I just did it and than this lastone my 4th I did after her 1st birthday. Now all of them where ok except this last one she wouldn't stay. But yours is 19 months I would do a 19 month I should have waited before I did the last one. Well live and learn but I would think your safe for a toddler bed.

I say whenever they start trying to escape from the crib. For my son, it was 1 year old. Ugh!

When your child can climb out of his/her crib! If they show now desire for that, it's whenever you are ready.

I would keep a child in a crib as long as you can.

My daughter is 3 and still in her crib. She says she doesnt want a big bed.

She can climb in the crib (with the side down) but still cant climb out..

I wouldnt take a child out of the crib until they were reasonable and oculd be trusted in the house in case they decide to take a walk around the house when mom and dad are in bed for the night.

We set the toddler bed up in our daughters room when she was about 18 months ad she decided one day when she was about 20 months that she wanted to sleep in her big girl bed and never went back to the crib.

Hi J.,

I've been reading up on this because I was wondering the same thing myself. What I've come across suggests that many kids aren't ready for a toddler bed until they are older then 2 and even closer to 3. Most kids will try to climb out before then, but the 'experts' recommend getting one of those crib nets to keep them in.

The REASON they give is that many kids just aren't ready for the big boy/girl bed sooner. They don't understand the imaginary boundary around a bed and climb out, or are so active in the night they roll off. Older kids and adults typically don't roll out of bed often. Our subconscious understands the imaginary boundary around a bed. Small children don't.

So, apparently it is better to wait as long as possible.

My daughter was 20 months, she did great. We skipped the toddler bed and bought her a twin matress set and put them right on the floor. Her pediatrician had recommeded this to us and it worked out really well. I think she only rolled out a couple of times and it didn't really phase her b/c she was already low to the ground. When she turned 3 we actually bought her a bed frame and she has never fallen out. Good luck!

J.,
There is no right or wrong time to move your baby into their big girl bed. A good indicator that she is ready for the move is if she is climbing out of her crib or if she would prefer to sleep some where other than her crib. When my daughter was 11 months old she was crawling out of her crib. She was only 15 pounds. AHHHHH! For her safety we moved her into a toddler bed and a month later she was in a full size bed because her big brother had a grown up bed and she has to do everything he does.
Be sure you put up a baby gate at her door for your peace of mind and for her safety.
Good luck,
K.

Lisa,

Personally I think the quicker you make transitions the easier it is on the children because they're not as attached. I switched my daughter to a regular bed (with rails) when she was around 2 years old because her little brother was on the way and we needed the crib. We switched him to a toddler bed when he was 18 months old. The first week was a little hard because he kept getting out of the bed or rolling out. He would fall back to sleep where he was and never made a sound. When he was three years old we moved him to a twin sized bed without incident.

It's truly a personal choice for each family but this is what worked best for us.

Good luck and hang in there!

C.