Toddler Beds - Novato,CA

My son started climbing out of his crib just days before his second birthday. We were lucky enough to have a crib that converts to a toddler bed but I agree with the other posters who say to move straight to a twin. Toddler beds will only be good until 3-4 and I don't think they are a smart use of money. You can either use bed rails or put the mattress on the floor for safety. I also agree that one less transition is best for most kids.

I wouldn't put my money into a toddler bed, but your son is definitely old enough to be out of the crib. Get a twin size bed, and put it as low as you can. Then put something on the floor next to the bed for a cushion. If you put the bed into a corner of the room so there is only one side and the foot end exposed, it will lessen the possibility of him falling out. Kids at this age learn quickly to get in and out of a bed safely, and you can work with him on that, but have the safety cushion there until he is used to the larger bed. The cushion doesn't have to be anything fancy. We happen to have some fold up sleeping mats that we have used. Several extra pillows would work.... even take the seat cushions from your couch and put them beside the bed each night. He won't need the cushions very long... most likely only a month or two... before he is sleeping and getting in and out of the bed safely on his own. You can also simply put the box spring and mattress directly on the floor and save the bed frame to put up later, in order to keep the bed close to the floor.

To invest in a toddler bed at this point means 2 things: short-term use & yet another transition for your little one, most likely in less than a year's time. The only time I would ever use one is if it was a crib that converted to one & then converted to a twin bed. But otherwise, just move him to a twin bed.

We moved our first boy at 18 mths, only because he hated the crib. Slept great in the twin! I know of kids who were moved at 12 mths simply because the crib was needed again.

I bought the longest bedrail I could find online, then put the rocker backed up against the end of the bed, so he was still essentially protected as in a crib. It doesn't matter if you take the rail down in 6 mths or 3 yrs from then, they will have episodes of falling out simply because they have to get used to it not being there. "Earlier is better" when it comes to transitions like that because they don't realize the freedom they have at a younger age & typically won't "fight it". We left the crib up for about a week, expecting him to fight the transition. It was so easy I couldn't believe it!

We have the Pottery Barn toddler bed, and it's been in continuous use for the past 5+ years in our house (since my older daughter was 18 months, and she's in second grade now!). It has been incredibly durable, and is cute too. I'd recommend it. My younger daughter (who is admittedly small for her age) is 4.5 and still using it! Next month we're handing it down to her little cousin - so if you're thinking of having another child, it's worth the expense in my opinion.

I don't think it's too soon for a toddler bed - I'm assuming you'll be potty training pretty soon. Once you do that, you can't have your child in a crib because he needs to be able to go use the potty! Also, if he hasn't already started, he will probably try to climb out of the crib soon. That's a pretty long drop for a little guy. But, if he is content in his crib AND you think you'll have more kids, you could go the crib route for a bit longer.

First, it's not really too early to take him out of the crib. I put both my daughter and my son in the toddler bed at 20 months and they have done just fine. If you have to get rid of your crib anyway, I wouldn't waste money on another one unless you want it for another child. I also wouldn't waste money on the toddler bed. My kids outgrew them so fast (they tend to move around a lot in their sleep and it just got too cramped). I would suggest getting a twin mattress and simply putting it on the floor. Or you could get a low to the ground twin frame and put a piece of plywood on the bottom instead of a box spring and the bed would be about the same height as a toddler bed.

Hi A.,
I wouldn't be bothered with a toddler bed. I think they are a waste of money and if your son is like my older son, he was a big boy since birth. He would have out outgrown a toddler bed in less then a year. I ended up getting him a wood day bed. His room is done in a nautical theme and I got one that is white wood, boysish looking. I got the trundle for under the bed. I pulled it out only a few times in the event he fell out of bed so he would fall on the lower mattress. I put him in a bed at 27 months. I had my son help daddy built it (watching and being involed) Then I took him with me to his "big boys" bedding for his new bed and had him help me make the bed. He is now 4 and still loves his bed and stays in it at night. Just keep in mind, once they are in a bed, they are free to roam. I put a little pressure mount baby gate at the door of my son's room when he went to bed. It only lasted a week.

Good luck,
SAHM 40yr old with 2 amazing funny little boys. 4yrs & 17months.

I understand wanting to keep your little ones in the crib as long as you can for control and security but you need to think about, "is he a climber?" My little guy is only 20 months old and I already put him in a toddler bed because he is starting to climb. I didn't want him to harm himself falling out of the crib if he were to climb out. Plus, toddler beds are rarely recalled. Just a thought.

My daughter transitioned to a toddler bed 2 weeks before her second B-day (started to climb out of her crib) so you may not need a crib for as long as you think you do. We have the DaVinci "Emily" crib. It goes from crib to toddler bed to full size bed. So far it's worked well.

My two year old has been in a toddler bed for many months before
he was two. He sleeps just fine in it.

I got a second hand Ikea bed and it is really cute and wooden.

I suggest a toddler bed or even a full size bed rather than getting another crib if he's showing any signs of climbing out or shaking the rails. My son is 23 mo old and he jumped out of the crib a week ago when he was desperately trying to get our attention after we had completed our bedtime routine. It made us realize he may be ready for a big bed sooner than we thought. Fortunately, he hasn't jumped out again (I think he's forgotten how) but he hasn't been sleeping through the night in the crib anymore. We moved the big bed that used to be in our guest room into his room (we didn't bother with a toddler bed because we didn't want more furniture), and gave him the option of sleeping in either (crib or bed). The first night he chose the crib, but halfway through the night, he cried out for us and asked to be put into the big bed. A few days later, he chose to start off sleeping in the big bed (yay!). He does wake up once or twice a night and calls out to us, but he's still adjusting to the change and just needs comfort knowing mommy and daddy are near. Although I don't have suggestions on brand names, I think you can wait to move your son when he shows interest in a bigger bed or disinterest in remaining in his crib... that day will come!

I moved my kids into their first bed at age 3 but I know lots of people who did it at age 2. We got a "toddler" bed at IKEA. It's low to the ground and adjustable; the ends adjust up or lay flat depending on how much room you need. My daughter, age 7, has been in it since age 3 and it's a comfy bed. It has a foam mattress, which IKEA sells. I've slept on it too and it's quite comfortable for an adult.

when our son turned 2 we bought him a twin bed with a long bed rail, one he can continue to use as he grows up, you can put the bed on the floor, no frame so it is not too high off the floor. We had a few nights of learning not to escape the new bed but things are great now
maybe a good option for you