Not Sure If My 24 Month Old Is Ready for a Big Boy Bed

When my kids transitioned from co-sleeping to their own rooms, at about age 2, I just put a twin mattress on the floor, and put up a baby gate at the door (which stayed open), until they were ready for the big boy beds.

I would keep him in a crib as long as he is ok with it or if you need the crib for a new baby then put him in a toddler bed with a railing so he does not roll out and end up on the floor in the middle of the night.
As far as crawling over the side when does he do that, when he does not want to go to bed or when he wakes up? I would leave the side down so he has protection from falling out of bed but he can still climb out if he wants to and it is ok with you.

He definitely sounds ready. Just be sure the bed is low to the floor in case he rolls out at night... or put some good padding on the floor next to the bed so he won't hurt himself. And when you begin having him use the bed, start teaching him how to safely get out of it. I'm just getting ready to wake our 21 month old grandson, who spent the night with us last night. He slept in a full size bed in our guest room. The top is about 2 1/2 feet off the floor and he has slept in there several times ... the earliest being when he was about 15 months old ... and hasn't had a problem. I'm saying this just to show you that the transition can be done at a very early age. Of course a lot does depend on how active a child is during their sleep, so you'll have to think about that when making your decision.

I just went to visit a friend in their new house yesterday. They're little boy also started climbing out of the crib, but he is not mature enough for a big boy's bed.

anyway, I thought they had a great idea so I thought I share.

They disassembled the bottom of the crib removing the platform that holds the mattress then put the mattress on the floor (still inside the crib). There is now an extra foot or so of crib above the mattress and they little guy can't climb out yet :-)

T.

Check out the crib tent. We didn't need it, but it worked well for my niece. Conventional wisdom encourages one to push until about 3 yrs for the big boy bed - that's the age when they can comprehend actually staying in bed. Before that, you are likely to get a frequent little night visitor and more night disruptions than normal.

GL

I am worried about the same thing. But he sleeps in a portable playpen. There is only so far he can fall. He has gotten himself out before quite a few times, (even demonstrated it in front of me) but still finds it confining enough to sleep when he is reluctant to do so. I cannot protect him from all things & he has to take his little bumps & jarrs. If he gets out, he is proud & makes sure I know about it. If he sleeps soundly, I know as well. I suggest making sure he can't fall more than say, 3 or 4 feet to get out of bed. 4 feet is a LOT. Having bones that are pretty much made of rubber is a GREAT thing at this age! Having a pad to fall on is good. they should not want to do this often. I don't plan on buying a crib at this point, only transferring his need for sleep to the mattress I already have in his room. Get a door handle guard or baby gate so he at least has to stay in his room at night, & you should have no real problems. Kids figure out what they should do if you give them consistent conditions. Before 2 yrs is early for reasoning with them, so if they find they have to sleep alone on a blanket, sheepskin, or floor-mattress instead of in a crib or playpen, they will actually be okay with it. They may even find it an excuse to bond with a comfort object like a teddy-bear or some stuffed animal. Kids are amazingly adaptive. Start them on conditions that work for YOU, as soon as possible. LOVE them TONS! Think of Cave-people & all the advantages you have! Most of our complaints are just awkwardness about dealing with our extremely advantageous modern existence.

G.,
All of our kids were in big beds by then. They make a lot of really cute toddler beds now to. They are low to the ground, so if they roll off, they don't get hurt.
With our first one we had a rail that would fold up and down on a twin size bed. She never fell out, but I did feel anxious that she would. Now would be a good time to switch, especially since potty training will probably be soon as well. That way he can start becoming a big boy a little at a time.
W. M.

Just to throw in my two cents. I've got 3 little boys and in my experience, the fact that he's climbing out shows you that he's NOT ready for a big boy bed because he wouldn't be old/mature enough to understand when it's time to stay in bed. We've used the crib tent with our boys and they've loved being secure and cozy--we made it a fun thing for them. It was nice to sleep soundly and know that they weren't up wandering around the house. Just my thoughts, I know you've gotten a lot of other opinions to the contrary.
Good luck!

Sounds like he is ready for the toddler bed (or mattress on the floor). He is definatly old enough. It will take a couple weeks to get him to understand that he needs to stay in his bed. As for the crib tent (I've never actually used one, but...) if he's trying to climb out of the crib I'd be afraid he'd try with the tent on and get tangled or hurt or something like that. Besides, depending on how big he is, he's really going to outgrow the crib size wise very soon and be uncomfortable.

G.....yes he is ready....I did not wait for my daughters to make it successfully out of the crib.....our crib actually could make into a toddler bed with guard rail.....or you could just do a bed with guard rails....but put allthose great bed toys and stuffed animasl on the bed....and let him play on it during the day...so he's comfortable with it....most kids are fine taking thier naps and sleeping in it...sometimes when my youngest would get out of her bed during naps, I would shut the door..check on her and if she fell asleep on the floor, I'd place her back in her bed....sometimes that happened for a while...but I think she found out that the bed was much more comfortable to sleep on than the floor and she brought what she wanted to play with in bed with her.

I would move him into a big boy bed before he has an accident. I know of a few kids that have really gotten hurt, even broken an arm.

My first son started climbing out of the crib at 18 months. I too was very afraid he would hurt himself. Right when he turned 2, we got him a twin bed. One side was against the wall and the other side had one of those attachable safety railings. He never fell off. He did however climb out frequently, thinking it was a game.

My second son just turned two last week and we switched him to the twin bed as well because we have a baby girl coming in 2 months. His twin is now part of bunk beds for both boys. Because he is in with his brother, he thinks it is so cool and does not climb out at all. He too has a safety railing.

So, long story short, I think he can sleep in a big boy bed with a railing. Depending on his personality will determine whether he stays put at bedtime or if you have a lot of training to do.

Good luck!

We have had great luck with the Crib Tent II--our son actually loves the thing, and it bought us a little more time and peace of mind as we prepare to transition him to a big boy bed as he has a little brother arriving in a few months. I got my best price at the time for it on Walmart online. Plus it will most likely stay on to prevent our cats from jumping in, or other objects from being flung into the crib with the baby by a big brother ;)

I moved my daughter from her crib at the same age... she also learned to climb out. Very hard transition! Wish I would have used a crib tent (I think that's what they are called). She was not ready to have that much independence at night, the crib tent would have kept her safe in her crib and we all would have slept better.

My 19 month old son has figured out how to "climb" up the end of his crib - now his twin sister is trying to copy him. He is only successful when he has bare feet as this gives him some friction and his feet do not slide down. At night, we put both twins in a Sleep Sac and he cannot "climb" the end of the crib in that because he cannot get enough friction. I have also ordered crib tents which should be here in a few days. Several moms in my multiples group swear by them. Try and keep your boy in the crib as long as you can - once he's in a big boy bed he can easily get out and wander the house, etc.

He is so ready for a big boy bed. You may want to put one side agaionst a wall and a rail on the other for a short time until he gets used to the idea. If he falls out of the crib you could be looking at a head injury or broken arm or leg not to mention if he gets out and gets into something dangerous. I have not used a tent but do know that kids can get out of anything they dont want to be in.

Sounds like he's ready for a twin mattress on the floor...

Greetings G.: Being the mother of 5 and the grandmother of several children I can honestly say to you that if your child is already climbing out of the crib your to late. The need for a big boy bed is here. Does your crib turn into a youth bed?
When my granddaughter did this we were sure she would get hurt so they turned her bed into a youth bed but my neice whose crib doesn't do this just took the crib mattress and made a simple frame for it. I would suggest a pop up tent as that is so much fun for them. If you are concerned about your little one getting out of the room my son just put a gate at her door and she hasn't figured out how to climb over that . Good Luck and enjoy parenthood it really is the most rewarding experiance you will ever have. Nana G

If money is tight, skip the toddler bed and go to the twin bed. You can start with just the mattress on the floor and then eventually get the frame. Good luck.

At 1 1\2 mine started climbing out of his crib. We had to move him over. Because we have a full house and room share depending on the situation we would have him in a big bed or a toddler bed (with side rails) it now has been another 1 1/2 and he has only fallen off the big bed one time. But I suggest as soon as they start climbing out you switch them. It is more dangerous to fall off the top of a crib than a big bed.