When to Transition to a Bed

S., Not sure myself when is a "good age," for my children I basically took when they started climbing out of the crib or like you said, didn't like going into it anymore. At her age she'll understand the "excitement" of getting a big girl bed! So make it a big deal and she'll be more inclined to enjoy it. Also, I always put a gate up at my children's door. All their toys were safe for them and their room was "safe." So no worries as far as wandering around the house and getting hurt. They usually find mommy and daddy's room but you just never know. Mine ended up crying at the gate or going back to bed once mommy stopped coming to them.So best of luck and hope that helps...ages...think all three kiddos were around 2 yrs old.

Hi S.!

My son's crib is convertible so the transition was pretty easy. He just turned 2 a week-and-a-half ago and we took the crib front off about a month before that, so, at about 23 months. He was climbing out, so it was necessary for his safety. I would have waited longer, but we had to roll with it. It has been pretty much a non-issue. The first night I needed to stay in there a bit longer than usual at bedtime, but in general he's taken to the switch very well and likes his big boy bed because he can get out when he wants to without potentially hurting himself. He has rolled out maybe 3 times and we just have a big ol' body pillow next to the bed to catch his fall. Sure, he gets upset if he rolls out, but he's not hurt. A good remedy for that might be a side rail, just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Ummm I think the transition should have happened somewhere around the 2nd year. Where did you ever find a crib large enough for a 19 year old? :-)

we transitioned our 18 month old son into his big boy toddler bed from our bed just in the last week and half and he took to it very well!!! to my amazement he has stayed in it so well during the night....naps on the other hand i have to lay next to him (ughhh im 8 month pregnant and this is getting too hard for me to do!!) and i will get up after he falls asleep but never fails about an hour into the nap he wakes up screaming and is half asleep so i go lay back down with him til he falls asleep again. he then wakes up in another hour in which i just let him stay up....everytime he wakes screaming i tell him not to worry that mommy is just in the other room
!!!
nighttime is way easier. he sleeps in his bed in our room and rarely ever wakes up but moves around like crazy!!! he has even fallen out of his toddler bed which amazed me...lol...oh well presistance is key!!! understanding as well....

at what age varies.... I did have to switch my daugther at a young age because she was crawling out. I put the mattress to the crib on the floor for a few nights before setting up the toddler bed!

if it is only for her naps.... why not just try putting the mattress on the floor for those? If she is sleeping in the crib at night okay... you will do much better at night knowing she is safe and sound in her crib then.

Hi S. ~

Our daughter started climbing out of her crib by just past a year old, so we got her a toddler bed at about 16 months. It made a world of difference for naps and sleeping in general. Even though she is very small, she'd "outgrown" her crib. I know many toddlers sleep in cribs a lot longer than she did, but well... each child is different and she was just ready. Maybe your little girl is, too. She is 3 1/2 now and we're talking about getting her bunk beds. (Her stuffed animals will "sleep" on top and she'll sleep on the bottom.)

Good luck!
~J.

We moved my son when he was about 22 months old. I remember this because it was when we moved into our new house. He did just fine with it. His new bed is still a little high and has a side rail on it so he doesn't think he can get out of it. Just remember, there is no certain age that is right, just when you and your child are ready for the change. Good luck!

we transitioned our now 22 month old at around 17 months because his baby sister was due the next month and would be using the crib. We put him in a toddler bed in the same room, and he's done really well with it. the first couple of weeks involved a "training" period where we gave him 3 or 4 chances to stay in bed then put him in the crib. He got the hang of it mostly in a few days. He still has a night every now and then where he gets up to play after being put down. He also gets up to play in the morning before he's ready to leave the room. If you have safety issues in the same room, this will definitely be a problem. If you don't want to close her door, then you'll definitely want to use a gate. Good luck!
K. C.

I don't think that there is any right time to transition to a bed. Do it when it seems right to you. It sounds to me that, since you lie down with her sometimes now would be a good time to do so. Putting a gate on the stairs is a good plan. At 19 months she'll recognize that the heater is hot and stay away from it. If it sits on the floor put it somewhere beyond her reach; on the chest of drawers or a shelf making sure the cord is also not in within her reach. If you're concerned that she'll put a blanket or toys against it and it's in the wall you could position furniture so that nothing could accidentally block the heater.

If your space heater, meaning it's not in the wall, does not shut off when tipped over, it's better to get one of those.

My daughter has wall heaters and her 2 children have never even been interested in them. They're 7 and 4 now. My daughter took the railing that faces into the room off the crib once they started walking and climbing. This turned the crib into a toddler bed. She put a portable guard which anchored under the mattress to prevent them from falling out of bed.

In your case it seems to me that an adult sized bed would be the answer. You deserve a comfortable way to comfort your daughter. And she will like to be in a big big girl bed.