Hi! I usually answer to posts and love all the responses other's get - this time I am in need of some advice! My son is 25 months and has slept successfully in his crib since he was 6 months old. I planned on keeping him there until he was either too big for it or making attempts to get out of his crib. Neither has happened yet and I'm not trying to push him out of it...but I'd just like to know from past experience, when is the best time to move him to his own bed & what is the right way to do it so it is an easy transition. We have had a single bed in his room since he was born, next to the crib so he's used to it being there already. Thanks in advance!
J., you could ask if he would like to take naps in the bed. See how he reacts. If he shows an interest, then the transition can begin.
He may feel safe in his crib. Leave him there until he shows you he's done with it. There's no rush.. Once they are out of their cribs, they can be mobile at night, and it opens up a whole new set of parenting problems...
Val
Hi J.,
I too asked this question when I bought my daughter new "big girl" furniture 6 months ago (when she was 2). The advice I got was to leave her in her crib as long as possible. She also has had a bed in her room since birth but she has never used it. I find that she is very comfortable in her crib and sleeps perfectly well in it. She did climb out last weekend but she used a toy to get out - so we have still not transitioned her yet. I like that it's her space and that she is happy there - so for now, even thought she is 2 1/2, I'm keeping her in there. I work FT so I need my sleep :) Good luck!
You've probably had a zillion answers, but I'll respond anyhow! We moved my older son at 2 years 3 months, because we needed the crib for #2. He went without an issue - we explained what we were doing, and asked him when he wanted to go to the big boy bed. We started with naps for about a week, and then did it at night. We did close the baby gate at the top of the stairs for the first couple of weeks, just in case he escaped, but he never did.
With my second son, he was in the crib til he was almost 3 1/2, and coming close on the weight limits. We did the same thing, starting with nap time, and he did attempt escape twice in one week, but that has been all. He does share the room with his older brother, and they get along, so when he wakes up in the morning, he's fine unless big brother has gotten up and left the room (which happens on school mornings...).
I say there's no rush until he's potty-training or if you're expecting another who will 'displace' him. Our youngest is 2.5 and still in his crib because I am not looking forward to him having the freedom to get out of it! With both our older two, especially our oldest, we had issues with him coming to our bed at all times, at times refusing to sleep in his bed at all. And he was moved out at about 2 (to make way for next guy...).
Hope this helps.
Dear J.,
If he is comfortable and not trying to climb out then let him be. I think the crib is the safest place for him. My friend moved her son into a bed and he would get up all night and wonder the house. She would find him watching tv at 4 in the morning. If he's happy leave him there, there are no rules or set ages when to transition him just personal choice, and readiness. Good luck!!
You are correct... keep him there until he tries to escape. I stupidly took my twins out of their cribs at 27 months and it was a disaster. I ultimately talked to a sleep consultant and she told me that it's best to keep kids in the cribs until closer to 3 years old because before then, they don't have the impulse control to stay in bed. I learned the hard way.
On the other hand, when I took my daughter out of her crib at 27 months (b/c I had to give it to one of the twins), she did just fine.... But the agony I endured for about 3 months with my twins leads me to tell everyone to keep their kids in their cribs until closer to 3 years old.
I too wanted to wait until my daughter was either potty training and / or trying ot climb out....and then a local store had a sale on the cutest little toddler bed that had her favorite characer on it (Dora) so my husbnad and I thought "what the heck" we went and bought it, he put it together and we put it her room when she wasn't looking. (We kept the crib in there too for a little while) You shuld have seen the look on her facce and the excitement and everything when she first walked into her room and saw that bed. Sure a toddler bed is a waste of money alot will say but it was so worth it. We gave her the option of where to sleep, in the new bed or the crib, and she chose the new bed. She never slept in the crib again!!
BTW she was about 2 or a few months past her 2nd birthday when she switched into the bed. Now she is 2 1/2 and is still loving her new bed! Sometimes it can be diffeciult to get her to go to bed at night and to stay in bed...but thats when I get all super nanny on her and it doesnt take long for her to get the hint and stay in bed.
Hi J.! You are right to question whether or not to take him out of the crib. Unless the crib has become unsafe because, like you said, he's climbing out (or attempting to) then I suggest you keep him in the crib as long as possible. We transitioned my daughter's crib to a toddler bed right after her 3rd birthday. She had been fully potty trained for over 8 months. I felt bad putting her in a pullup every night when I knew she'd stay dry but felt bad NOT putting her in one since she couldn't get up and go to the potty on her own. But it was most important to me that she be safe in her crib.
Anyway...I'm glad we waited. Even though my daughter is old enough to know that she can get out of her toddler bed (she's almost 4 now) she still doesn't unless it's to go potty. Even then, she usually comes to me first, unless it's an "emergency", so I know she's up and so I can confirm that she gets back into bed safely.
Keep him safe in the crib as long as possile. That's my advice. Good luck!
Since he is already used to the bed there.. try to start putting him on it for naps. dont force him to stay there.. if he isnt ready to sleep there.. he wont.
I started my kids out with playing on the bed.. then had then lay down for bottles on their bed. And then eventually naps. then they told me they wanted to sleep in the big kids bed.
I started much younger though.. my son was climbing out of his when he was 14 months old.. and then decided to "keep the crib" for the new baby that was coming to live with us. with my daughters, I did the same thing.
Let him ease into it with no pressure or fights. start asking him where he wants to sleep. By now.. he should want to do what big kids do.. and want to sleep in it if you give him the chance. And when he does start sleeping in there unattended.. get a gate for the doorway, so he cant wonder at night time.
I always had the baby monitor on so I could hear what was going on but I had friends who used a gate to keep their kids in the room. Seems like a good idea if he is really active.
Hope that helps some.
W. in Watkins Glen
Mom to 3 kids
Korey-Mikel 16, Whitney 13 and Andrea 6
