3 Year Olds Still in Cribs

Hi K.,

My son just turned 3 in October and is still in a crib and doesn't mind at all.. He knows not to climb out and I think he feels safe in there...
A lot of my moms from my mommy group look at me like I'm crazy for not putting him in a toddler bed. I asked my pediatrician if it's wrong that I'm keeping him in a crib and he said exactly this " don't listen to ANYONE ELSE, keep your son in his crib until HE'S ready to get out.. It's nonsense that people tell you that.. There's NO NEED to switch him if he's comfortable where he's at".... So that's EXACTLY what I'm doing... He's staying in his crib until he's ready to outgrow it or is trying to get out...
I have friends that are having a REALLY hard time keeping there kids in there beds at night.. They keep waking up the parents by trying to climb in bed with them... NOT doing that...
KEEP THEM IN THERE CRIBS!!!!! :0)

If they still fit and aren't trying to climb out, why not stay in the crib? They will probably be able to just move to a regular bed when they outgrow the crib. Save money and skip the toddler bed. I hope my twin boys (7 months old) will sleep in their cribs that long!:)

I'm glad to know my son is not the only almost 3 year old still in a crib! we kept him in a crib this long because the one time we converted the crib to the toddler bed, he rolled right out of it - he's very active at night. so since he doesnt have problems going to the potty at night (he never wakes up during his sleep and only had 2 accidents during the night shortly after being potty trained) we put him back in the crib and he's fine, never tries to climb out or anything. i kind of agree with the idea that they need to get used to big kid things at some point, but if it works for your family, do whats best. since there's no manual or anything to say everyone should do the same thing, who really knows best? i dont believe theres certain time for each child to learn and grow. that will come on its own

Don't change a thing! My girls were the same - never tried to get out and slept very well in their cribs, but they both got big girl bed around 2 years old for financial reasons; I had extra money and didn't know when I would again!

Experts do say to keep kids in their cribs as long as you can and as long as they fit, they're comfortable, and they sleep well, why change that? Consider yourself one of the lucky ones!

T.
http://hubpages.com/hub/sleep-training-good-night-sleep-t...

Ain't broken--don't fix it

I'd leave them, but my son is 2 1/2 & in a crib (so I may be biased :) he likes it & I know he is safe - I'd leave him there forever but potty use is becoming an issue. He is fully potty trained so he needs to call us to get to the bathroom -usually either late at night or early in the morning (but he does go back to sleep)... I love that all but one Mom said crib- makes me feel better too :)

I wouldn't push it. They sleep well, are safe, comfortable and so just let it ride for a while longer.

Keep them in their cribs! You are SO lucky that they'll stay in their cribs and sleep for so long! My son was just over 2 when he started climbing out of his crib and my daughter was only 21 months! I and I agree with all the other posters who said that toddler beds are a waste. My mother-in-law bought one for my son and we only used it for about 2 months. He liked the twin bed much better. I think your girls will let you know when they're ready to transition. But for now just count your blessings that they sleep good through the night and take a nap!

Cribs! You bought two cribs, might as well get your money's worth. The girls seem comfortable and safe.
If you don't mind lifting them in or out, why change?
If they are potty training and need to get out to go...that might be a sign to switch.
Also, I found that switching to toddler beds is not good. Then you just have to do another transition to a real bed once the child outgrows the toddler one. And, then you have two toddler beds to store.

my son is turning 3 in a few days and i have been wondering the exact same thing. same situation-never tried to get out and a great sleeper ! so i think i'm just gonna let it be.
i tell my husband, one day he will have a friend over to our house and the friend will say "its not cool to still sleep in a crib !" then he will probably want to go to his big boy bed after that :-)

K.,
I would leave them in their cribs. They are safe & clearly happy in there.
As the old saying goes, "If it aint broke, then dont fix it".
Heather

If it aint broken why fix it. My son jumped out of his crib at 1 1/2 so we changed him to a toddler bed. My daughter is 2 1/2 and praise the Lord she still sleeps in her crib. I will NOT change her till she is closer to 4.

You are so blessed to have almost 3 year olds that nap (for a long time) AND sleep 12 hours a night. My son dropped naps the same time he got his big boy bed. Of course he was climbing out at 2 1/2 and is WAY too big to even fit in a crib now at 3 1/2. The girls will have plenty of time to sleep in big beds. Although you could always ask them what they would like to do. I have learned that toddlers like to have a choice in things so ask them and if they are happy in cribs then let it be. You lucky mamma you!!!

hi K.,
if it ain't broke, don't fix it! :) my rule of thumb for switching from a crib to a bed, if climbing out isn't an issue, is if they ask to go to a big girl bed then the time is right. if they don't ask, don't worry about it. by the time they move out of a crib you can probably just buy a twin bed (add a safety rail) and forego the toddler bed altogether.

Sounds like they're happy to me. Now..if you said they were sleeping in cages in the garage, I'd be concerned...but really, where they sleep as long as they are taken care of shouldn't matter.

Do what makes you happy.

Why break a good thing. When they are ready, you will know.

Honey, you have 3 year old, twin toddlers who are sleeping. Don't fix what isn't broken!! You'd be nuts to mess with a good thing like that. :)

If they are happy,safe,comfortable and healthy don't change a thing. My grandma talks all the time about my aunt being in her crib until she was 5... it is safe and even manufactured up to 5 so let them stay there.
All of my kids were crawling out by the time they were 2 (my youngest was alittle over 1) so I never had to think about that but don't worry about it.
:)

As long as they're safe and comfortable and have enough room, let them stay in the cribs. My husband actually cried when he put the bed together for my daughter, because he said she's growing up too fast.

We also went straight to a regular twin-sized bed that is low to the ground. We bought it at IKEA. It's in the regular bed section. My daughter loves it and it's low so in case she falls out, it's not that far.

They need to be in toddler beds to get used to the idea. They are not going to be babies forever no matter how much they like the crib!

If they are happy there- leave them there!
best,k

Hey K.!

I just wanted to thank you so much for asking this question. My husband’s siblings have been giving us a hard time about our son who is 28 months old and still HAPPILY sleeping in his crib. He was fully potty trained at about 22 months old and I don’t mind getting up once a night maybe 2 times per week so he can go potty (he calls me when he has to go potty). He always goes right back to sleep. None of their kids ever slept in their cribs and I thought they just don’t understand why my son is happy as a clam in there. I would also like to thank all the moms who replied to you as well!!! My husband and I had said ok in January we will get him a big boy bed and take the crib down…but now I think we will just leave well enough alone. My son sleeps 11 hours at night and naps for 3 hours in the afternoon…and that is the way it shall be!

Thanks again!!

As long as they are happy why change? They don't seem to know the difference yet.

The crib mattress is made to fit toddler beds, and even up to 5 years old! :)

If they are enjoying it, they are not climbing out, and sleeping great...there is no harm in them staying right where they are. Why ruin a good thing? :)

My son would have still been in his crib at age 3 if it wasn't for the fact we had another child, and he needed to be moved at 2.5...He loved it and slept great!

There is no emotional distress because they enjoy it. They are sleeping great, so why transfer them and perhaps start a distress that is not necessary?

The key (IMO) is that when they start climbing out, or ask for big gyrl beds, you can transfer them then.

And we never did the toddler bed thing, waste of money IMO...we went from the crib to a twin bed.