When to Move to Toddler Bed - Sacramento,CA

i owuld wait until he starts to climb out of his crib. my daughter was about 20 mo. when we put her in a toddler bed. my son is currently 14 mo. and has no desire for the toddler bed other than to play in it. he climbs on his sisters bed and lay down just for a second then he is up again waiting to see if you are looking before he gets down and starts playing with toys. as far as the pillow goes my son has had a pillow since he was 9 months but he never sleeps on it he like to lay up against the pillow i think he likes the feeling on his back. it all depends on your preferance dr. dont recomend pillows until a child is 5 but both of my kids had them early on but i also never worried about what might happen. as long as you are confortable with it then you could give him a small pillow.

Wait!!!!! I know it seems all so exciting to get him into a 'big boy bed'.....but don't do it unless he is actually attempting to climb out. Your life will never be the same again...he will 'appear' at your bedside at all sorts of strange times of the night, and won't stay in bed, unless you are a very lucky Mom! Both of our daughters were pushing two when we went for the toddler bed, but that's girls for you. Plus, we always put lots of entertaining items in there for those 5am moments of boredom...it stopped them trying to escape over the top for a few months, at least!

Once he turns 1 year, you can use a flat pillow if you wish, but I wouldn't recommend a down pillow as it tends to bunch up around his face, particularly if he sleeps face down. Try a firm, foam baby pillow. But, to be honest, unless he looks really uncomfortable without one, I would leave it for a while. It's just another thing to worry about!

What the ladies have said so far is SPOT ON.

Here is another tip for you. Just because a baby is turning a specific age doesn't mean he/she is ready for the next stage. You might want to look up baby stages, it gives you a clearer picture when to expect certain changes. Here is a good place to start: http://www.parents.com/baby/

Just because he's turning 1 doesn't make him a toddler. Some babies are still in the baby stage. Just look for milestones (to ensure healthy development) and the rest will come in it's time. Some things he may be ahead in. Each child is so different.

Also I suggest, from one Mom to another, that you enjoy every stage for what it is, because it WILL change and then you'll look back and realize you have missed it waiting for the next stage to occur. :-)

Does that make sense?

Good luck sweetheart!

~B.

My daughter just moved to a twin bed at 22 months, but I wouldn't have even considered it a 1 unless they were crawling out of bed. At 1 years old they still put everything in their mouth and you don't want to give them to much freedom yet. I would wait until closer to two and then you can give him blankets and pillows.