When to Convert Crib to Toddler Bed?

I put my dd's crib into a daybed at 18 mths, no problems. she never tried to climb out of her crib but seems to do better in just a bed... since ds came along a few weeks ago she's 2 now and we put her in a toddler bed and no problems yet... For myself I changed her bed to a daybed earlier than i planned but being pregnant hard to bend over and all that and the ceilings in my house are low and it was just hard on me and her both so we made the transition.

We moved both of our kids at age 2-- it is like a right of passage in our house. Both have done well with the transition and my youngest potty trained so early-- she was night trained in no time since she could get out of bed to go potty herself at night.

Mel

Hi,

I am a single working mother with 2 grown daughters,(twins age 24) and a teen daughter (15). I also have a granddaughter almost 20 months, so I can relate to your query. The best time to convert, I have found is when your toddler tries or successfully climbs out of the crib. My youngest, now 15, began walking at aged 9 months. By the time she was 16-18 months, she was climbing out of everything I could put her in. That was when I put her in a regular twin bed. It was safer to have her closer to the floor with her climbing skills. She had the ability to climb into and out of her bed without too much danger of injury. If you don't see the need, don't rush it.

Wait as long as you can! :) We moved our oldest son into a used toddler bed so we could use the crib for our youngest son. And I always said that if I could do it again I would have spent the money for an extra crib in a heartbeat. Our eldest was perfectly happy in his crib and never tried to climb out, but we moved him around 20 months. It wasn't any more trouble than I expected, but still he would have been happy in his crib for a long time. Most kids are ready for the move closer to three, and everyone I've talked to agrees on waiting to move until then unless your kid won't stay put in the crib anyway. Hope that helps!

Conventional wisdom says closer to age three or when they are able to climb in and out of their crib. My daughter started monkeying her way into and out of the crib at around 26 months and I went out and bought a toddler bed the next day lol.

The older they are and the more mature the better, it makes it easier to adjust.

.

Our first son was a great sleeper while in the crib, well at 20 months he climbed out and we put him on the mattress on the floor. Gosh I wish we would've gotten a crib tent to keep him in longer, his sleep was messed up since then. It all depends on the child though, some do fine in the toddler bed ealrly......for us it was not the right decision.

My sister waited until her twins started to climb out of their bed and wouldn't stay in anymore. She'd go in the room and one would be in the others bed. They were fast. They were about 2 or a little after (they had an older brother to learn from). Mine only tried to climb out once about 2 1/2 years. And got her feet to the outside ledge and was hanging and the rail. All she had to do was let do and drop to the floor to get down but I wasn't going to tell her that. She never tried it again. But I also needed the crib so I talked to her, about a week later. And asked what she'd like her room in, butterflies... She was excited. We talked it up so when the bed was together (side rails, she was for it. Which was great so when we went to the beach it was so much easier. Well not now. I have to take the pack-n-play again. But she was getting too long for the pack-n-play anyway. So just depends on you and her. Anytime. Good Luck.

Hi E.,

We did our transition when my daughter turned two. I wanted to do a BIG GIRL room for part of her birthday present so, I decided to convert her crib to the toddler bed. She LOVES it and takes everybody to her room to see her "big girl bed" even if they have seen it 50 times before! :)
Really it's up to you. I have friends whose babies still sleep in a crib when they're about to turn 3 or have already done so. I read a safety precaution the other day that suggested when your child's nipple line reaches the top of the railing on the crib it's time!

Good luck!

I decided to try it when my daughter started climbing INTO her crib during the day to get toys out but could not get back out. She was about 32 months. It did not work the first time though. We tried for about 2 weeks and she kept getting up at night and stuff. We finally had to go back to her crib for a month or two. After we cambe back from vacation (where she slept in a big bed with me) we tried again and it worked great. She was about 34 months then. Good luck.

My daughter just turned 3 and we finally moved her from her crib to a full size bed. The only reason we did was because she is 40lbs and it was killing me to lift her in and out.
I think that as long as your daughter is sleeping well and not in danger of hurting herself by climbing/falling out I would leave well enough alone.
But it is so much fun to think about big girl beds isn't it? :)