At What Age Do You Move Your Toddler from Crib to Toddler Bed?

Hi Trish, the good rule of thumb is when they try and climb out. I wasn't ready to move my son b/c I knew he would get out of his "big boy" bed, but he kept CLIMBING out of his crib so we had to. He was about 2 when we did that.

I move mine at 2 years old he didn't miss his crib an love his new bed.

my twins went into regular beds in April when they were 22 months old

I've heard that once they are 35 or 36 inches tall, they should be sleeping in a big bed (this info would be with the paperwork that came with your crib). However, when I was researching the issue, I read numerous articles that stated it was better to wait until the child is closer to 3 years old. Sleep problems are less likely the longer you wait according to many experts. I moved my son at 2 years and 4 months because of my second son's impending arrival. He was fine with it because I tied his crib bumpers around the wooden bed rails. He felt right at home!

We moved both of ours at 17 months and they did great. It's nice to do it before they are tall enough to reach the door knob :-). I didn't have to worry about a toddler roaming the halls at night.

I just moved my girls to toddler beds with rails after they started to climb out of their cribs. They were good climbers at about 1 1/2 years of age.

Well I have a 2 yr old girl and a 3 1/2 yr old boy and they both went to a toddler bed 1st and then to a twin.

MY son started climbing out so we had to move him at about 18 mo.
My daughter was her brothers bed and she she moved into a toddler bed about 16 months, and we moved her brother in a twin bed.
Then she didn't want the toddler bed she wanted a big bed like her brother at about 2 birthday. They both started with beds that have the drawers underneath and top mattress so they were easy to get into.

We also had a side toddler rail when we 1st moved them. My son rolled out of his bed the 1st time out of his crib. They work great. We use it for both kids.

Hi Trish,

My daughter doesn't turn 2 until next month but this past weekend she started sleeping in her new Twin size bed. She loves it and sleeps very well in it! We put a gate in front of her door and once we put her down, she'll get out of bed and come cry and scream at the gate for a few minutes but eventually once she calms down, she goes and crawls back into bed on her own and goes to sleep. It's amazing!!

We never converted her crib into a toddler bed because I knew she'd outgrow it pretty quick, so I thought the transition to a Big Girl Bed would be much better. And she's doing great!

Good luck to you when your time comes!

-Char

I moved my daughter into a big girl bed a month after she turned 2. She started telling me that she wanted to sleep in her big girl bed at night when I was putting her in her crib. It has not been the easiest transition; she went from sleep through the night in her crib to waking up at 4 every morning in her big girl bed. I am trying new things to help her fall asleep on her own and stay asleep. My advice….keep her in a crib until she climbs out! Good luck!

I started putting my girls in a big girl bed at about two. They adjusted very well and were actually very excited to have there toddler beds. If She is able to get out of her crib its probably time to switch. Hope this helps! :)

My pedi gave me some really great advice on this subject...When my son was around 18 months old he started attempting to escape his crib. He was successfula few times and I felt like he was too young to be in a big boy bed. He was (and still is!) a really crazy sleeper. He was CONSTANTLY waking up in the middle of the night because he was banging himself against the crib! He like to sleep diagonally in bed, so the crib jsut wasn't cutting it. When I questioned my pedi about it, he said that every child is different. Some kids love their cribs and other don't. He basically told me to read my sons cues - and escaping from the crib can potentially be very dangerous. So I went out and bought him a full size bed and he loved his bed! He never gets out, he doesn't play at night and he sleeps better than he ever did in the crib! Read the cues from your little one - they will let you know!
Good Luck!

My first child was about 19 months old, and we moved her to a full sized bed without the box springs. She has done great. My second child will be 18 months next month and we are already planning to move her around the same time to a full sized bed (with one side rail and by the wall). Hope that helps.

They are fine in their crib until they start climbing out of it. Then they need to be moved to a toddler bed r big bedfor their saety.