When Is a Toddler Old Enough to Move Out of the Crib?

I wouldn't waste money on a toddler bed, but use a twin with guard rails instead. My daughter moved into a bed because I had twins coming. They adjust well and actually feel like the "big" brother or sister even more!

Hi H., My boys are 20 months apart and they are now 15 and 17. I wouldn't make any changes until after the baby comes home. Your going to run into those terriable twos. You may not want the 2 year old to beable to get out of bed on his own. When my baby went from the cradle to the crib, the 2 year old was in a twin bed. He would get into the crib with his baby brother. (I have adorable pictures) I went right to a twin bed and used the protectors, it was to long ago to remember the brand. I think the 2nd crib depends on the child. I had 2 cribs but never needed the 2nd one. Good Luck and enjoy your babies. I promise you, they will both let you know exactly what they want or need. L.

I suggest moving him into a bed before the baby is ready for the crib. You don't want him to feel that you need the crib for the baby and that he has to give it away for the baby. The best thing to do is to buy a twin bed with a railing, so you won't have to worry about replacing a toddler bed when he grows out of it. You'll need the twin bed eventually anyway. You can make a big deal out of the big boy bed but remember, he'll have the ability to get out of it so make sure your home is safe for him, should he decide to walk around while you're sleeping!!

My son was 18 mos when my second son was born - My intention was to move him into a bed before the baby came however he didn't show any signs of needing to - I had no intention of buying a second crib either - However they are sharing a room and I was concerned that my older son would throw toys etc at the baby so I didn't push the issues - My boys are now 26mos and 7 mos and they are both still in cribs - I never would have thought it would be like this but they both seem happy for now :o) good luck

my daughter sleeps in a toddler bed and she is 22 months. The only reason why I moved her is because she looked like she was cramped in her crib. She loves her bed. When it's time for bed she runs in her room and climbs in it. I think it gives her some independence.

My son was 23 months when my daughter was born. I moved him to a twin bed, on a wood frame without a boxspring, when he was 14 months old. We didn't use the box spring until he was 26 months old as my husband felt the bed was too high with the boxspring. I didn't use side protectors, we just put the bed against the wall in a corner of the room and yes he has fallen out once or twice but he has not been injured, actually he didn't even cry.
The disadvantage to the bed is that they are mobile so he is just thrilled to be able to come to our room. It has taken quite a while for that novelty to wear off. But I am glad I started before the baby was here so we could work through the bed adjustment in advance of the sister adjustment.
When I moved him I made a big deal about his "big boy" bed and room to avoid any inference that he was moved out of his bed because his sister came along. (He was excited either way so I don't know if this made a difference or not.)
I do not think a toddler bed is worth the expense and I thought a full size bed was too big.
I wish you well in a solution that works for you and your family, and congratulations on your pregnancy!

My son was 24 months when my daughter was born. We had gone on vacation when he was about 20 months old. In the hotel, he slept in a double bed with pillows all around him, and he did extremely well. When we got home from vacation (we were only gone for 3 days) we took the crib down and hid it away. Out of sight, out of mind. We bought side rail protector things and put him in the twin bed we had. He did fine. He didnt even think twice about it.
I wanted to make sure he didnt feel like the new baby was 'stealing' his crib. So, the crib was away for about 3 months, and he slept in the twin bed that entire time. So, when I finally took the crib back out and set it up for the new baby, he did protest, because he no longer felt like it was his.
We bought a double bed rail. Each side connects to eachother between the mattress and the box spring, so you dont have to worry about them slipping. The sides also fold down to make it easy to change the sheets.
Good Luck!!!

I moved both of my boys out of the crib (because another baby was on the way) around 18 months so that we didn't have to buy another crib. The first time, we bought a toddler bed and we really thought later on that it was a waste of money. The twin bed with protectors worked great. We moved them into their new beds before the baby came so that they got used to the idea before we had a new infant at home. The new baby always stayed in our room for the first few months but it was easier dealing with the new bed situation and then the new baby instead of both at once. Good luck!

I put my daughter into a toddler bed when she was 21 months old. We moved and I didn't even bother putting the crib back up (which they say not to do) I just set up the bed and moved her into it that first night. She did fine from the start and is now 3 1/2 and still sleeping in the same toddler bed.

HI, there really is no definite age when a child is "old enough" to move out of the crib. each child is different. i know my daughter can easily move from her crib to ANY sized bed...but like my mother, i'm not going to mess with something that's going good. she's not trying to climb out of the crib, and even though she looks cramped, she's fine, because from time to time i see her sleep curled up head and feet from side to side (so i know she likes it that way...plus she tries to climb INTO the crib when she's ready for bed). my mother said i was in til almost 3, and my brother around 2, but he climbed and i didn't. my daughter LOVES to sleep on anyone's bed, but likes her crib. if it were safer for us, she WOULD be in a bed, not a crib, but we share a room, and the rest of our area is very small, and things she shouldn't touch are w/in reach if she were to climb. just make sure you have everything baby safe, then put him in a bed giving him plenty of time to adjust before the baby needs it. i personally wouldn't bother with a toddler bed because it's the same size as the crib, just no railings...i would go straight to a twin, and put 1-2 set(s) of railings up so you don't have to go and buy another bed when he grows out of this one, all you'll need to do is take down the rails. and maybe if you want to make sure he doesn't wander in the middle of the night because he's in a bed...put up a baby gate in his doorway. once we give in and give her a bed (if we're still in this place) we'll put up the baby gate so all we have to do is worry about the bedroom, not the rest of the house. congrats on the new lil addition, and good luck with the move to a new bed.

Hello H.,
I would advise to just go for the twin size bed with the side rails. It is just as safe as a toddler bed. Toddler beds are only good for a short time, so you end up wasting money when they out grow it. At least with a twin bed they are set for years. Now the transition from the crib to a bed is a whole other topic just be prepared to have a little one sneek in the bed with you just continue to put him/her back in the bed to sleep so they don't get used to sleeping with you.Hope this helps.
T. W. Mother of 4

Hi,

I think you son will be very happy in a toddler bed by 2. That's when I moved my daughter to one. She climbed out of her crib and that was it!I was afraid she'd get hurt. She was very excited to pick out her Dora toddler bed and sheets and never had a problem with the switch. Best of all with a toddler bed you use a crib matterss,which is much cheaper than buying a twin bed. kids can use a toddler bed till about 4 or five depending on the child's size.Hope this helps!

H.,

Married mom to Emma 2 1/2