When to Move from Crib to Toddler Bed

Hi P.. My first son was about 20 months old when we put him in a toddler bed. We wanted him to get used to it because we had another baby on the way and we needed the crib. We didn't know how long it would take to get him used to it, but luckily, he took right to it. He knew when he was in bed it was time to go to sleep. My second son, we tried at the same age, but he wouldn't stay in for naps (and he needs his nap!). We kept the crib up in his room too, so we put him back in the crib. We just tried again a couple of months later, and he's been using it for almost 2 months with complete success. He knows when we lay him down, he is to go to sleep. Now there are times at naptime, I hear pitter patter of little feet, but I just stand at his door and tell him to lay down, and he does. I was very blessed that it went so smooth, and I hope you have great luck too!

The best advice I can give you: don't move her until she brings it up. I moved my daughter too soon. She was perfectly happy in her crib and I got the bright idea to change her crib to a "big-girl bed". Big mistake. She could get up and come into my room whenever she wanted. And she did. So, yeah, don't rush.

my daughter would never sleep in a crib but when we did move her to the toddler bed she was about 18 months, it lasted maybe a week and no one got any sleep b/c she wanted to be in our bed so we went right for a full size bed and shes been in there ever since... good luck!

Hi! I am a mother of 3 boys. With my two older boys, it was easy to decide when to move them. When they were a bit over 2, they started to try and climb out of the crib. That was all it took!! I plan to use that milestone for my youngest son as well. I wish you luck, and just remember to use your childs cues when you are unsure when to try something new!!

I'm also wondering the same thing. My son is 21 months old and I don't want to move him out of his crib until he can talk a lot more plain. He's very good about going to bed on time and not waking up but the minute he is not in his own bed he gets out of bed and walks around and wants drinks and all kinds of stuff. So I think at least another six months or so; but I'm not really sure.

Well I waited until My oldest was two. I also have friends that had to do it sooner than tha tbecause their child would climb out of the crib. I liked waiting until she was 2 because the sooner you do it the faster they grow up and who wants that?! LOL.

J. Monk
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We moved both of our boys to toddler beds as soon as they started climbing out of the crib, around 18 mos. or so. (It IS a saftey hazard to keep them in the crib after they can climb out of it) We transferred both to the twin bed around 3 years or so.

We moved our daughter to a toddler bed about 1 month ago. She is 2 1/2, so we waited a while. She loved her crib and never actually climbed out, the only reason we moved her then is that I had surgery and couldn't lift her for several weeks. She has done great in her new 'big-girl' bed, and really loves it. Also, we actually put a gate up at her door at night so she can't get out and wander all over the house at night. So far, she hasn't gotten up at all in the middle of the night, and loves the freedom to get up in the morning and play with all of her toys. Hope that helps!

I moved my son and daughter both at about 22 months; because they both climbed out of the crib and fell and I did not want them to be hurt.
B. M.

Depends on the child although I just read recently in Parents magazine that it's best to wait until they are closer to 3 yrs of age. Due to them being safe and comfortable in the crib. They said if your child is trying to climb out that they make tents with netting stuff to put on the top of the crib to prent the child from climbing out.

I have a son who is 2 1/2 and still in his crib..He sleeps good there and I don't have to worry about getting out of bed and playing instead of sleeping. Also, if he wasn't still in his cribs I would not be able to get him to take a nap in the afternoons and he's not ready to give up those naps.

this depends on the child. i have had four children and each one was different. the first learned to climb out of the crib before he was one. the third was so tiny she used her crib way longer than was necessary for saftey reasons-she just liked and preferred it. (by the way, she is about to be a sophomore in college now and has a 4.0, so i don't think there were any lasting effects from sleeping in a crib too long.) as with so many other parental decisions, this one is a go with your gut.
kudos to you for your accomplishments and good luck in your career!

We move the kids from crib to twin bed as soon as they climb out of the crib. With my son, that meant 2.5 years old. My DD (turns 2 in a couple months) is still quite happy in the crib and has shown no indication of climbing out anytime soon.

I know very people who actually use a toddler bed. Most kids outgrow them by age 3 or 4 and then you need to buy a twin bed anyways. Why spend the extra money to buy something they'll only use for like a year? We put the twin against the wall and have a bedrail on the other side for a couple weeks. My son we was tossing and turning and all over the bed never fell out - and even if they do most kid don't even wake up.

The most important thing is to get them out of the crib as soon as they show signs of climbing out or are unhappy in the crib. Many kids break their leg by falling out on their very first try to climb out. Even if they've done it successfully a few times, that doens't mean to leave them in. A neighbor of mine was climbing in/out of his crib (he was 2) for a couple months. One night he just slipped and broke his femur. Ever deal with a 2 year old in a full leg cast for 8 weeks during the summer? Not Fun!

Hey! I never used toddler beds. I think that it's too easy for them to get in and out of. I have two children, and switched them from their crib to a regular bed at 15 months. They were young enough to never really know the difference. I had safety rails on their beds, and big heavy pillows around the areas where there was no railing, and never ever had one fall out of bed. They're still in their same beds and they're 3 and 4.

I have 3 children and the older 2 I moved them both into a twin bed (not a toddler bed) with those side gates at 15 months. It was perfect timing for both.

I moved my daughter as soon as she started climbing out of the crib. I was afraid that she would fall and hurt herself so we moved her into a twin bed with rails on both sides, that way she doesn't fall out at night but she can climb out easily in the morning.

Both of my girls were switched to a toddler bed shortly after turning 2 (talkin maybe 2 months after). I have had no problems whatsoever doing so. I actually just put my youngest in a toddler bed in late February and had no issues since day 1 since she knew it was a 'big girl' bed she was sleeping in. It didn't hurt either that it was Dora themed either lol!

i would not buy a toddler bed!!! they are a waste of good money i would put your child in a regular twin bed at about 1 1/2 (18 months or so)with the side rails that you can get at wal-mart. they will transition much better and it is easier for them to understand that they are going to be in a big bed like mommy's if it looks like mommy's. plus you won't have to do it again a year down the road.

My son is 17 months old and he is still in the crib. When he figures out how to climb out of the crib that is when I will get him a toddler bed. Every child is different. I hope that everything works out for you.

J.

I switched my daughter to a twin "mattress" as soon as she can crawl (around 6 months). I put the mattress on her bedroom floor instead of the whole set (box, frame, mattress), and block the room with a gate instead of closing the door. My idea was to give her more freedom so that she can wake up and play on her own instead of bugging us in the morning. She did pretty well in that respect, but she always had trouble falling asleep. Because of the "freedom", she would keep playing with her toys and refuse to lay down. She could even play in dark for hours (I turned the lights off). I switched her back to crib after 5 months (at 11 1/2 months old). So my suggestion is, if your daughter has good habit of falling asleep, she can switch to a toddler bed any time.

Hello P., going on what my mother and my friends with children say if your child is trying to or climbing out of their crib then it is time to move them to a bed. I have been very fortunate, my son just turned two and loves his crib so I haven't been forced into moving him before I feel ready for such a big change. I plan on transitioning him from crib to bed before his third birthday or if he climbs out of his crib before I will move him then for his safety. I think that this is a milestone that differs with each child and parent. I say do it when you feel you and your child are ready for the adventure :)