I have an almost 30 month old who is perfectly happy in his crib, he tries to crawl into it. My oldest started climbing out at 15 months and my middle broke the crib by jumping in it so they had to move out of theirs. My sister and her sister in law have moved their children close to the same age out of their cribs and now they dont get much sleep. Should I just leave him in there until he complains?
It is total up to you.
My DS climbed out of the crib and would go sleep in the guest bed at 2.5 years
My DD's legs got stuck in the slots and she went into a toddler bed at 15 months. (she also LOVED her crib but adjusted fine)
I know a family that kept all 3 kids in cribs until they were 3 years old.
I am just wondering...at what age do you stop counting the months your child is and start aging them in years...2 years old, 2 1/2 years old, 3 years old.
The most important thing to remember is that just because others are doing it doesn't mean it's necessarily right for your child. You know your child better than anyone else does and you know when he's ready for the transition.
When you are ready, start slowly. Just remove one of the sides of his crib. He'll still be in the crib he loves but he'll start getting the "big boy" experience. After a little while longer and when he's ready take away the other side of the crib. When he's used to that make a really big deal about being a big boy and turn getting his big-boy bed into a huge ordeal. Make him feel special and like a big boy. They love it.
Lastly just don't worry about it. My son didn't transition to a big boy bed until he was almost four and so far he's turned out just fine. Good luck!
Hi L.,
I was so afriad to make the move with my daughter but her pediatrician said it's better to do it closer to 2 than 3 and she was right! It really wasn't a hard transition at all. Brooke was so proud that she had a big girl bed!
HI L.,
IF your child is happy in his crib then don't worry about changing him to a toddler bed until he is ready. thats what I think. hope this helps .
My son is 2 1/2 and he just started sleeping in a big boy bed three nights ago. We tried moving him on his 2nd birthday, and it was a disaster, so we waited until it was his idea. Last week, he started asking about having a big boy bed, so we talked about it for a few days, and he was SO excited by the time we set it up! For the first two days, he kept dragging us into his room to look at it 3 and 4 times a day! He has slept great in it, and is so proud of himself! I say, unless you are in a hurry for some reason, wait until your son is ready. That really worked for us.
I think it's personal opinion. You might see what he thinks and start introducing the idea of moving. Since he's so old, you don't have to worry about a toddler bed. I kind of enjoy having them confined, though. :)
Why not? If you don't need the crib for another child, and you're not worried about him hurting himself, or breaking the crib, why not leave him in there if he's happy? If you're worried about something, try moving him into a toddler bed. It's the same size mattress, so if he likes the cozy enclosed feeling, maybe that will be good for him. But if you don't have to move him, and he's happy where he is, then keep him there. My kids were all out of cribs by 18 months. But that's because I needed it for my second (second and third, actually - twins), so my daughter was out at 18 months. My twins were out at 15 months, but that's because we were moving and needed to get rid of one crib. My youngest was out at 12 months, but that was because she kept getting arms and legs stuck in the slats, and she was not happy in a playpen because she wanted to be big like her older brothers and sister. (seriously... she followed them around everywhere trying to do exactly what they would do). But she was happy that way. She's on a twin mattress on the floor (no box springs) and does really really well. If I had my choice with all of them, I would have left them all in cribs until I couldn't. I liked knowing they were safe and confined at bedtimes. They couldn't get around the room or out of the room. Anyway... long story short: Why move him if you don't have to?
Age 3 worked wonderfully for my first 2! They just seem mature enough to handle that responsibility around that age.
I think the decision is totally up to you and depends on the kid. Both of my boys were in regular beds around 18 or 19 months and they both did great. My 20 month old has been in a bed for almost 2 months and he doesn't get out and he sleeps all night long. Even with naps, he stays in bed. But not every kid does. If your 2 1/2 year old seems fine in the crib, you could keep him there too. Either way could work. It just depends on what you want to do.
Your son is almost 3 and now is a great time to transition so it isn't a battle later. If he is big enough and strong enough it is a matter of time before he tries to climb out of it and you don't want that as that can be dangerous.
Get a twin bed, toddler beds are a waste of money.
If your sisters kids aren't getting good sleep that may be due to their routine. My kids didn't change how long or well they slept at all when I put them into big kid beds. I put both of mine right around their second birthdays for different reasons.
My daughter loved her crib and I thought it would be hard to get her out, but I got a daybed, then a bed rail and let her pick out her own comforter and sheets and it was a breeze. She slept the same amount as she did before. I put a baby gate on the kids rooms just because we have stairs and for safety reasons. Never was a problem. They knew to stay put and the bed rail gave them a sense of security and comfort. Then when they turned three the bedrail came off.
Every child is different, I think if you are done with the crib and it is a matter of time now your son will climb out, then don't risk it and get him in a big boy bed. If it convert to a toddler bed then do that, just don't go buy one additionally.
My youngest just moved to a toddler bed - she turned 3 in mid-December. I wouldn't have moved her then except we're expecting #3 and I wanted to have some distinction in her mind. I think that if your son isn't trying to get OUT then let him stay! My daughter doesn't sleep as well in the toddler bed. Something about the freedom to get up at will, I guess. And now that she's not in "the baby bed" her room has suddenly become infested with "creepies" - your guess is as good as mine.
My oldest - I can't remember what caused us to move her out of the crib. I think she fell on her head or something awesome like that, so we made the move. But basically, it wasn't until I had to do it. And that's MY 2 cents!
Hi L. - just had to laugh out loud. My guy did exactly the same thing. He loved his crib. We just decided one day to put him in a big bed - he was about 30mos also. We felt like he was ready because he would "pretend" to go to bed and lay on the pillow and cover up with the blanket. He was also getting a little cramped in there. I was amazed that there was absolutely no complaining with him - we just explained that this was his big boy bed. Of course, we have guard rails on 3 sides - it probably still feels like a crib to him! : )
He definitely has more freedom in the morning - sometimes very very early in the morning - but we keep that in check with a permanent gate at the top of the stairs. I dont think it has affected his sleep much - although it's hard at this age because they start transitioning their naps.
I think it's easier to put them in a bed around this age because at 3, mine formed such strong attachments to habits. I think they would have had a harder time leaving the crib.
Hope that helps you!
C.
