Toddler Bed - Timing

Hi T.,
My first was climbing out at 12 months- that's when we put the mattress on the floor, then shortly later to a toddler bed. Then we just kept a gate at the door.

Good luck!

My daughter who is now three, has been in a big girl bed for some time. I have an older daughter also. Haley, my then two year old, loved her sister's bed, so we decided to not put off the inevitable. We skipped the toddler bed altogether, made a big deal about moving into the big bed. She actually "helped" put away the crib. We also bought the bed rails that go on both sides of the bed, while a little bit more expensive they are one piece with a set of two bars that go under the mattress itself. She is not able to push them out or apart. I found it an easy transition, easier that my first born who had nobody ahead of her to "keep up with".

My third daughter moved into a toddler bed at 23 months. She saw her older sisters' beds and she wanted the same. It was the easiest transition ever! Don't be afraid to try it. It's been over a month now, and she loves her bed and actually stays in it longer than when she had her crib.

Hi T.--I recently put my 26 month old daughter into a toddler bed because she was climbing out of her crib (and risking breaking her neck!). It was a struggle at nap time for a few days but she loves it now. We put a swim noodle under the sheet on the side not against the wall so that she won't roll out. Perfect! Good luck.

I put my son in a toddler bed at 12 months. Once he could walk, he hated his crib. He would stand up in it and scream and shake the bars. We put him in his big boy bed and he sleeps great.... so I definately don't think 28 months is too early. Good luck!

Hello,

I kept mine in the cribs as long as I could (for my own sanity). Once my oldest was in the toddler bed, my youngest (they are 10 months apart), wanted to be in the toddler bed as well, so he was just over 2.

It is probably because he sees your oldest with the "big boy" bed.

The decision is up to you.

Good luck!

Hi,

My first daughter went into a "big girl bed" at 27 months because we knew we'd need the crib for her soon to be sibling. She did great. My second daughter is 26 months now and climbs out of her crib regularly. We are in the process of getting her a bed too. Sounds like if he's interested you should just go with it. Might be a super easy transition. Good Luck!

I think you have a young man on your hands. Sounds to me like he needs a big boy bed. I have a 16 month old son who sleeps in a twin size bed with side rails. He has been in his big boy bed since he was 14 months. We opted to spend our money on a twin size bed, seeing as we would have to purchase one in the future anyways. I personally feel there is no right and wrong. There is no timing.. its when you feel your child is ready. We kept our sons crib assembled in case he was not ready to go to the twin bed. Surprise, surprise, he has not climbed out of his bed once and has slept through the night in it since the first night.

Hi there I am a SAHM of a 5-year old and a 28-month old. Bot of my children were in toddler beds before 28-months. My daughter was 14-months when we put her into a toddler bed because I had hernia surgery and could not lift her for 6-weeks. My children sleep great in there beds. The oldest one has been in a Captains bed since he was about 33-months old with side railings and no problems. My 28-month old stays in her toddler bed and sleeps fine. Actually sleeps better in the toddler bed than she ever did in the crib even though it is the same matress.
Good luck!!

Hi T.!

Like you, my second child was a climber! I think because she saw her brother in a bed, she too wanted FREEDOM!! We put her in a toddler bed just before her 2nd birthday and I couldn't be happier with the results. Although it was a bit tricky at first b/c now she could come out of her room whenever she wanted to, we soon got her into a routine she liked and stayed in her room when she knew it was time for bed. At bedtime, we'd say prayers, sing a song,put her moon light on, tuck her in and put a stack of books by her bed. She usally "reads" the books and them puts them down and falls asleep... many times we've gone in to check on her and she has fallen asleep with a book in her hands and sometimes she just falls right to sleep. She is now 27months and has transitioned into her "big gil bed" perfectly and I am so much calmer knowing she is not going to get hurt getting out of her crib! She loves her bed and princess sheets! When you make the transition to a "big boy bed" make it fun and get the whole family involved, take apart the crib all together and let him help! My daughter loved this and I think it helped her understand there was a "change" taking place, she didn't just walk in her room and saw a new bed she had to get used to, she was part of the process and I believe understood what was going on. She also helped put the new bed together(made the bed etc.) I think the most exciting thing for her was the encouragement from her big brother.... He was so excited that she was no longer in a crib so they could have "camp outs" in the living room!
I think buying a crib tent is wasteful spending here. He is showing signs of being ready for something different. Spend your money on something he is going to use and like for a few years to come.

Good luck and have fun!- hope this helps=)

I have 3 kids 5,4 and 10 mos. My first child had to go to a crib because I needed it for my middle child. Of course it's at mothers discretion, but I would say it's fine to start a child in a bed as early as 18 mos. That's how old my son was. I put him in a regular twin bed and not a toddler bed. But I did buy the side rails. I think that makes a big difference. I would say your son is definitely ready for a move outside the crib. Although another option is taking the side rail off of the crib (if your crib does that) My daughter did that for a while.

Hi! My son was climbing out of his crib as soon as he could walk. We bought him a bed and put the sides up and it worked nicely.We had to talk to him about staying in his bed and rewarded him when he did and then he just did on his own.We also put something next to the bed in case he fell. T.

My son was out of his crib by the time he was two! I was terrified of him climbing out of the crib and hurting himself, so when he started to express an interest in not being in the crib, we got him a toddler bed. His bed does have slightly raised sides around the majority of the bed though. We just took him to the store and let him "try out" different beds, we ended up with a fire truck bed for him and he LOVES it.

I don't think it is so much about a second child doing things younger than the first, but just that they are different and will be ready to do things at different times.

Also, I would NOT buy a tent to go over the crib to keep him in! Imagine how scary that would be for you if someone put a tent over your bed to keep you in it.

Hi T.,

I have 2 very energetic boys – 2 yrs and 2 months apart. Now at 5 and 3 very soon to be 6 and 4 years old. Our first was out of the crib at 9 months ….our younger one starting jumping out of the crib right before turning one. We took off the crib side that moved up and down and used the bed net, which left about 1-2 feet open at the end. We then put a very wide but not high foot stool (plastic) . Our James just climbed in and out for the next ½ year or so. Then we put him on a mattress on the floor. No box spring and no frame – has worked very well so far.

Good Luck !
T.

my son went into a toddler bed before age 2---it depends on the kid and if you think hes ready.

My son was a very early climber and learned quickly that he could climb out of the crib. I put him in a toddler bed at 15 months (which was the recommended age on the box "15 months or older"). He absolutley loved it.

Hi T.. My second started climbing out at 19 months and the dr. told me to put him in a toddler bed. We cleared everything out of his room so he couldn't play in the middle of the night and put a gate at his door so he didn't wander around. When he realized he couldn't get out of his room, he pretty much stayed in bed and now there are no problems. My first went into a toddler bed at 28 months (we needed the crib) and he never had a problem. Hope this helps.

My daughter was in a toddler bed at 2 years old. We put a gate on her door so she couldn't get out of her room and fall down the stairs...she sleeps better than ever in her bed! Sounds like your little guy is ready!

My oldest son was jumping out of his crib at 22 months so we just bought him a full size mattress and box spring, put it right on the floor and that is what he has been sleeping on ever since. Personally, I feel toddler beds are a waste of money. A mattress on the floor is just as safe and will be the bed he uses until he leaves home. Our son plays in his room after we put him to bed but his room is child proof so we just let him. After a while he gets tired and just goes to sleep.

When my youngest started climbing out of the crib I put him on a full-size bed - that's all I have. No need for falling accidents! If you don't want him wandering out of his room, use a gate that he hopefully can't climb.

T.:

You already know the answer to this one - all kids are different, and it sounds like your little guy is ready for the big boy bed!

My youngest (34 months) has been in his toddler bed since he was 2 - while my oldest (7) stayed in his crib until he was 3 1/2. I do think the older child has something to do with their growing up so fast!

Best wishes!
C.

Hi T.,

I put my 2nd in his first bed this week and he is only 19 months. He loves it. I would invest in a bed for him especially if he is showing interest. If you think he might get out of bed and wonder around, I would suggest putting a gate up so he doesn't get hurt. Good luck!

My very active climber of a son moved into his bed in the months around his 2nd birthday. He was climbing out of his crib and I put the side down, if he is going to climb out you may as well make it easier so they don't get hurt. I moved him into the bed and he does great sleeping in it for naps and overnight, no problems other than maybe 4-5 days adjustment of teaching how to stay in a bed and such.

I also believe it is very common for a second child to want out of the crib earlier than a first child.

Good luck!

28 months is not too early for a toddler bed. My oldest climbed out of his crib at 20 months and we moved him right into a big boy bed. My second catapulted out of his crib at 18 months and i debated getting him a crib tent, but it seemed kind of mean, so i bought a toddler bed for him. (even though he could get out of his crib, he had a hard time climbing into a big kid bed.) He loves his toddler bed, and a year later, still loves it. My youngest is 20 months and i am hoping she will stay in her crib a little longer, but she is a good climber and it is only a matter of time. :)

My 28 month old started climbing out of his crib and portacrib when he was 18 months old, so I tried a toddler bed when he was 19 months old and we've never looked back. He loves it. I wish potty training were that easy!

K.

Dear T.,

I would suggest to go with the flow and listen to what your son is telling you with his actions. Unless you have any other reasons to keep him in his crib, I would take him shopping for a bed soon.
Remember that each child is different and just because they are brothers, it doesn't mean that they will do things at the same age.

I hope this helps,
A.

We transitioned our twins into toddler beds when they were two years old because thier cribs didn't fit into the room in the house we moved into (rental). They did just fine. Good Luck!

Once a child starts climbing out of a crib it is definately time for a toddler bed especially by the age of 2. My oldest was in a toddler bed before he turned one because he was an escape artist. Learning to sleep in a bed is a much better way to go than having injuries from the fall of getting out a crib just think of how high that rail is that they are climbing over.

Put that child in a bed! Both my kids were in them by 16 months.. he's ready, especially if he wants to sleep on the mattress! He's more than ready..

I think that it just depends on the toddler. Every kid develops differently and I would just follow their lead. It's best to err on the side of caution and go with a toddler bed, so that he is not falling out of his crib at night. My daughter is almost three and we put her in a toddler bed before she turned two. As soon as she started climbing out we knew is was time for a change..and possibly bed rails.

I can't answer your question regarding the fact that this is your second child. However, my oldest started climbing out of his crib at 22 months. I was due to have twins when my son turned 26 months and had planned to try to move him into a bed at 24 months. When he started climbing out at 22 mos we decided to just move him right into a twin bed. He has done wonderful. It was much easier then I expected.

get a toddler bed that has sides on it. He is old enough.
My son was 20 months old and he was first born. Some children are ready for toddler bed early. It is a sign of he is ahead in young years.

I was told to wait until age 3 so they aren't roamin around the house at night.

Experts say once your child is able to climb out of the crib it is time for a big boy/girl bed and I agree. I know a little boy who was not trying to climb out of his crib so his parents kept him in it and he was 2 1/2 years old. But all of a sudden one day out of the blue he decided to climb out and broke his leg!
So since your child is climbing out even if it is not all the time he is ready for a big boy bed. Especially if he likes sleeping on the mattress on the floor and likes his big brothers big boy train bed. Otherwise you need to get a crib tent so he does not climb out and get hurt!
Also he is his own person you cannot compare him to your older son. Every kid is different with different personalities. Just because your first son never climb out at a younger age doesn't mean your 2nd, 3rd & so on won't try it!

Sounds like it IS time for the toddler bed or maybe even a new twin sized bed. A little caution about buying used bedding from Craig's List or any other place. Buying used bedding, you're also buying what can come with it. Urine, fecal stains and bedbugs!

T- My first was in a toddler bed by 18 months, my second was a little faster since big brother was in a bigger bed. Our first had a mattress on the floor, then toddler bed, then twin. Our second is in the toddler bed since 16m, and hasn't looked back.
If he seems interested, it is the best time to move on it. Good Luck! They grow so fast!!

That is the exact age my first child went into a bed, 2yr 4 mo old. It isnt worth the investment of a crib tent, and most of all, it isnt worth the accidents of him climbing out of the crib.
Best of Luck

Oh Tracy... I myself wrote in to this very website regarding the very exact issue. The only difference was, my son (2nd child) was 17 months old!!!!! I was completly at a loss of what to do! At the time, my daughter who was almost 3 was still in her crib and would never have thought to try to bail out!! I was shocked and totally thought he was much to young to be out of his crib. most of the responses i got said to put him in the "big boy bed". still unsure, i first put his crib mattress on the floor against the wall with a bed rail on the other side. I gated his room and we were off.... The first few nights were really tough, he was getting up in the middle of the night and getting lost in his room, bumping into things and crying for me. I did many laps into his room to reasure him and tuck him back in. I have always put my children to bed awake, letting them put themselfs to sleep, this situation was difficult because he stood at the gate in his doorwas staring at us, eventually laying down on the floor in the doorway and falling asleep there, I would have to pick him up each night and naptime and put him back into his bed after he had fallen asleep. He now (2 months later, he is now 19 months old) happily puts himself in his bed, he does still come to the gate and look to see if we are still in the livingroom, but them goes over and gets into his bed himself. I honestly think it was harder for me to realize that he did not need the crib and that my baby (last one) was growing. Put you little one on that mattress and let him enjoy it. I had heard horror stories about little ones breaking bones falling out of their cribs. best of luck!! L. C.

I was wondering the same thing..my son is only 15 months, but tries to climb out and I'm wondering if I should just put him in a toddler bed with a rail...

We moved our son to a toddler bed when he was 23 months old, mainly because his little sister was on the way and we needed the crib. We ended up buying a daybed from Ikea that had rails on three sides and installed a soft soft rail on the open side. It was less than $100 for the bed and we added a standard twin mattress/no boxspring needed. He loves it. Since it's fairly low to the ground, he could always climb in himself.

His sister has always hated her crib and has coslept for a lot of her 11 months. She is also a huge climber, so instead we set up a twin mattress on the floor in the nursery and make sure the room is baby safe. We can put a baby gate on the door and the whole room is like a big crib.