Reasons to Transfer 2 Year 9 Month Old Out of Crib???

Let him enjoy his crib - it won't last forever! We've had a few stay in untill 4 or so. What's the big deal?

L.,
Don't rush, if he's happy in his crib and high chair. He'll let you know when he's ready. We rushed my daughter out of the high chair and now have a hard time keeping her sitting at the dinner table. :)
T

I agree that there is no harm in letting him stay in the crib, as long as the crib doesn't have a weight limit, but my only idea is that maybe being in a 'big boy bed' would make him feel bigger and more intersted in doing big boy things, like going on the potty!

I am keeping my 24 month old in his crib, probably until he needs to get out by himself to go potty at night. But that's going to be a while. With my first (he's 4 now), I tried to get him out of his crib before baby brother's arrival, but he wanted nothing to do with it. So I bought another crib. Then we ended up with an extra queen-sized bed and had to put it in his room. His eyes got real big and he indicated that he wanted to sleep in the huge bed. That was the end of a crib for him. He was 2 1/2. I guess his uncle was sort of the same way. One night he climbed out of his crib and slept on the guest bed instead.
My high chair has removable trays so you can pull it right up to the table like a chair. I was planning on using it that way, but big brother had to give it up to baby brother, and then it got stolen. So we're in booster seats now. They have straps so you can buckle in "wanderers." They love them. We bought one for my oldest son at WalMart for about $14, but after the high chair was stolen last month, I was walking around in a thrift store and found an identical one for $2.
I think you can watch your child and see if he shows any signs of wanting something different. But my experience with an oldest (or only) is that they don't know there IS anything different, so it's really up to you!

I have actually heard that it is good to try to keep them in their cribs until they are about 3 yrs old and able to understand that they should stay there all night and not wander around the house. The other factors to consider would be if he tries to climb out and if he is getting tall enough that he could accidently fall out by leaning over the railing. Otherwise, if he seems comfortable, I would let him stay a little longer. Do you happen to have a convertible crib - converts to a toddler bed? That might make the transition easier if he really likes his bed now.

As for the high chair...not sure that is a big deal either if he still fits and wants to be there.

L.,
If your son is happy and you are happy then I say let him be. If he shows signs of wanting to climb out of the crib then I would transition to a toddler bed for safety reasons. For the high chair I used mine until their were around four, it is so much easier to keep them contained and focused on eating in a high chair and I felt they were safer. As far as potty training I wouldn't worry. When he is ready he will let you know. Boys are generally a lot less interested in going potty than girls. I have one girl and four boys, she trained at about one and a half and the boys, well they took their sweet time. But they all did it when they were ready to and I did not pressure them so it was a very smooth experience for them and my self. Relax and enjoy and continue with your intuitions, only you know your child inside and out. : )

I have 3 boys who stayed in their crib until they were about 5. The cribs we've had converted into daybeds, and at that point we put the safe railing on the side. I think they were 4 or 5 at that point. I think you have to do what you think is safe. Like if he starts climbing out and falling. Some kids are very graceful and won't fall. You never know ahead of time. Some folks will use the crib matress for the toddler bed next and some will just put the matress on the floor. There's no rules and don't let someone tell you otherwise...
As for pottytraining, my boys were over 3 yrs of age before we started potty training and you'll find very few successfull trainings before 3. I think you have to be able to talk about potty training in a way that he can voice his fears and triumphs(sp?). I know there's alot of pressure from most preschools to potty train but there are some that are more understanding. You'll eventually find a rhythm of the bowls and sometimes you can tweek it alittle when he's ready, like sitting on the potty right after breakfast....
Happy aniversary for you and your husband.
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May you have many more.....
A.

I moved all 3 of my children to a big bed at age two...I mean they had their 2nd birthday and that was that! I didn't do it for any reason other than I could. I just wanted to get it done and over with and all 3 were fine with it. I don't know that there is a magical time or answer...everyone is different...every family, every child. As far as the highchair goes, truthfully I can't remember when my older two stopped using one! My 2 year old daughter uses a booster highchair...one of those chairs that looks like the top of a highchair but harnesses to a regular chair. She's too short to sit in a normal chair. What I love about it is I can either use the tray, or she is still strapped in and can use it as a regular booster pulled up to the table. The strap keeps her safe and still 'stuck' lol. She can't get out. She seems happy enough with it. Every now and then, I don't use the strap...I think she must be used to staying in it due to the straps, so she just does.

We recently moved our just 3 year old out of her crib because we wanted her room to look nice while our house is up for sale. Her room is small and looks bigger with a toddler bed instead of a crib. Well at first she was excited but the honeymoon is over and she ends up sleeping with us most of the time. I'd say just leave him in the crib until he wants to move on.
If he's not unhappy in the high chair then that's fine too. Ours would have loved to still sit in hers but I had already promised it to a friend. We moved to a booster like the wood ones at restraunts. She loves it and it still has a strap to hold her in. It's also safer than the ones that strap to a chair since it is perfectly balanced. Sometimes not all chairs are created for a wiggly toddler.

Do not feel bad at all...our daughter will be three tomorrow and wants nothing to do with a big girl bed. Only once has she climbed out of her crib and she fell and now won't do it again. I asked her "shall we make a big girl bed?" No mommy I like this one". So be it...all those who disagree or think its time...don't know your child. If you ask and they say yes then maybe you should think about it. You child will tell you or if they're going to kindergarten...then yeah it's probalby time.

As for the potty training...we've been trained during the day for 7 months and that is due to her being in daycare and all the other kids were doing it.

i think the best thing for your baby is to do what you feel is best for him. if you feel comfortable leaving him in the crib, then do it. if you feel it's time to move on, go for it. the only problem i see in leaving him in his crib is that he might have a hard time adjusting. but then again, other women struggle with the transition stage regardless of age.

I left my now 4 yr old son in his crib until he was 3 yrs 8 mos old. I used the big boy bed as incentive to potty train. I like the fact that they are "contained" when they are in a crib and I feel that if they are not potty trained I don't need the added hassle of dealing with them getting out of bed constantly when they should be sleeping.

L.-as a "new" mom, it is hard to make decisions like this isn't it? You always want to do what is best for your child and without having another one to "kindof" learn what happens at what ages, you have to decide for yourself. So....here is a thought. I was in the same boat with my 2 year old-trying to decide when to move him out of his crib. We had a crib that you could take one side off so it would give him the "freedom" of moving in and out of his crib but yet the comfort of being in his crib. We put up a side protective wall (I don't know what they are called but hlep them so they do not roll out of bed) but it still gave enough room for him to get in and out. This was our transition until we got him a bed about 6 months later. As far as a high chair-another idea-move him to a booster. THis gets him out of the baby high chair and moves him into a more "big boy" chair yet still has some comfort for him. Like some, I do not see what the problem is but in the same, think that this could be a perfect time to start giving him some freedom and teaching him too.
Good luck with your decision!

It has been my experience that evey child is different. If he is still doing fine in the crib, then I think that is great. If you feel that he is too big, you could try a toddler bed. They are low to the ground and use a crib mattress. I always moved my kids out of the crib before that, but mine wanted to get out and slept better in a big bed. It really just depends. I kind of wish mine would have stayed longer. Only you know your child. I will say that you might think about a toddler bed before he starts climbing out, because that can be scary. Anyway, hope this helps.

L.,

I don't see where the problem is. If he is comfortable to sleep in his crib...I say let him. Who said that he is too old for the high chair or the crib. He will let you know when he is tired of them both. Don't allow pressure from others or compare your son to someone else. You are his mother and know he needs more that than anyone else.

I don't see too much of a reason to move him out unless it bothers you. My almost 2 and a half year old stays in a high chair about half of the time. So I think that if he's still content then that's fine. Also, moving him from a crib to a bed might mess up his sleeping if he's a good sleeper now. I've known some kids to be like that. I just don't think it's that big of a deal anyway. Do whatever works for you and your son. Good luck when you do decide to switch over!

I think you do all of these things when you and your child are ready. I don't know if there are any rules about these transfers. My boys wanted to be big boys so they chose a big boy bed and big boy chair and potty chair when THEY were ready. My oldest (5) was 2 for the bed. I don't remember for the chair. And 3-ish for potty training. My youngest (18 months) is moving more quickly because he wants to be like big brother. If this is a concern for you, have your child spend time around children who have already made the transfer. He may not be interested because he doesn't know there are other options. He just wants to do what he knows. Other kids might make it seem more attractive to him. I don't think there is anything to worry about though.

My little girl is the same age as your little boy. She still sleeps in her crib. We have a toddler bed for her, but we havent made the change yet. She also still sits in her highchair. I dont think they are to old. I think its a personel thing. Every child is different. I feel like if they are happy and we are then why change it. Eventually they will be ready to graduate to the big stuff. I have been working on potty training for about4 mon. Sometimes she does well and sometimes not so well. They grow up fast enough.

If he isn't feeling crowded in the crib, and is still content in there, let him stay. I knew a little girl who was in her crib well past 3 years old, because she really loved it! As far as the high chair, I think that it might be nice to transition him to eating at the table with you, so you can all eat together as a family. My kids have Stokke Tripp Trapp chairs, which are sort of like high chairs, but they are for use at the regular table, and have 5 pt harnesses. My younger child would definitely be running away from the table if he could, but we strap him in! The chairs are sort of expensive, but they last until the kids are adults (they are adjustable) and can support 300 lbs! So even adults can sit on them if they want. And they come in a bunch of fun colors. Here's where we got ours (free shipping!):

http://www.babybungalow.com/sttrtrch.html

L. C ~

Don't sweat it!!!!! Really. My son will also be 3 in August and we just this last weekend took his crib apart and transitioned it to a day bed. He also was just fine in the crib and never attempted to climb out. We used this as an incentive to be a BIG BOY and big boy's don't wear diapers and they sleep in a big boy bed. We have tried potty training quite a few times in the past with no success. We are doing much better now and he wears big boy underwear most of the day, we haven't ventured out of the house with them on yet however. He loves trying to be a big boy and has done really well in his bed. We use Candy as an incentive to go pee-pee (M&M's) and poopies (Reeses PB Cups)- this also works. He will master this in his own time and we try not to pressure - but the process has begun. Step out and try it. I think it is a harder transition for us parents to let go of our little baby, at least where my husband and I are concerned. Good Luck!

K.

Yes, they grow up to fast, yes its convenient for mom and dad but I agree you are stiffling his independence. My daughter was in a single bed at 18 months and constantly gets out of her bed even now. But I blame that on myself. If parents are consistant they stay in bed through the night. If parents are consistant they stay in the big boy chair at the table. My 2 year old sits on a regular chair and sits on her knees. She does get down every once in awhile BUT, if mommie and daddy are consistant we put her back in the chair she stays until we are all done. I guess the point I'm making is we as parents use cribs, highchairs, bottles, sippy cups as a convenience when we need to be consistant in helping them grow as little people.

Hi! Developmentally, your little guy is facing the task of autonomy vs. shame and doubt. He also has dependence vs. independence learning tasks now. Despite the fact that it's convenient and he still fits in his crib, it is important developmentally for him to move into a toddler or other bed to teach him he's a "big boy". He needs reinforcement that you're so proud of him because he's getting to be such a "big boy": that will help with beginning to approach potty training. When he begins to awaken from naps or in the morning and he's dry, you know he's physiologically ready to begin potty training. Moving him to a booster seat or one that attaches to the table (they both have seat belts) is also an important step towards helping him grow developmentally. It's important for him to learn how to interact at the table with adults, and he'll feel more included and special. I really think you need to start facilitating his developmental growth. Not to be too analytical, but are you encouraging him to remain a little boy because he's your only one? Hope this helps.
By the way, I'm a neonatal nurse practitioner (for 30 years now!)and have been married for 21 years. We have three awesome kids, including 20 y.o. and 17 y.o. sons and a 16 y.o. daughter.

Holy Cow! A crib and a high chair!!! LOL, sorry,but you should have had him out of a crib before he was 2, and out of a highchair at about 1 1/2. Most kids do run off and around at those ages, you just keep at it until they finally get the picture and don't do that anymore. Get rid off all of that today!