Time for a Big Girl Bed?

The only way to know if she is ready is to put her in one. When my daughter was almost 2 we took the side off of her crib, so it looked more like a day bed. We told her it was her big girl bed. She was excited, probably because we were excited. We didn't really know what we were doing, but our doctor told us that when she turned 2, it would be time to switch her to a new bed. It took her about 2 days to figure out that even with out the side it was still a bed. We have always had the same bed time routine, so that never changed. And she was not really hesitant to the change. She felt like she had some freedom and control in her life. She did't have to lay there and wait for someone to get her out of bed, she woke up and she got out on her own. You know your kids better than anyone else you know how to make transitions easier and when to know when your child is ready. Sometimes it's harder for us to make the transitions because that means our kids are growing up. The best of luck to ya.

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Hi C.,
I would say yes~she is ready :) I recently transferred my 20 month old son into his big boy bed. The first night is really the 'longest' but it's not hard. As long as you make it exciting for her, she will want to try it out. For my son, Parker, we put him to bed with his stuffed dog, turned on some light music and closed the door. He got up several times and each time we'd put him back in, rub his back and tell him bed time. Within 30-40 minutes he was asleep. Guaranteed she will get up during the night but as long as you put her back, she will get into that routine. We did have to use a side rail with Parker where we didn't with our older son. His transition was the same but he didn't cuddle on the sides like Parker. Good luck with the move and don't worry, eventually she will stop getting up (I'm still waiting :) ) lol....

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i'd say she's ready too. we've actually had my youngest in a twin pretty much since birth but had it wedged against the wall with the crib (which she napped in). mostly did this so i could breastfeed her in bed. so we never had any transition problems. with my first, we didn't have any trouble transitioning. you might be pleasantly surprised and it won't bother her at all. i'm sure she'll enjoy her new freedom.

my only advice would be to skip the toddler bed entirely. kids outgrow them quickly so you won't get much mileage and you can't cuddle them or sit on them cause they can't take an adults' weight. you could probably get away with putting the crib mattress on the floor. this way she wouldn't roll off very far and it will be easy for her to get in and out of bed. we had our twin on the floor with the boxspring so it wasn't as high. when she got bigger, we put it on the frame.

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If she's trying to climb out of her crib then it's time for a toddler bed. She will eventually succeed at getting out of the crib and you don't want her to get hurt.

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I felt the exact same way with my daughter. We put her in a toddler bed because I felt like it was time and she was 18 months also. I quickly found it was way too early for her. She rolled right out of the bed! A good way to try is temporarily putting the mattress on the floor. It will get her used to no rails and if she rolls out it is just simply on the floor. Than you can move up to a larger bed and you can buy those rails that you can buy to go under the matress.. LIFE SAVERS!
hope this helps!

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C.,
My girls both climbed out of their beds at 18 mos so i got them a toddler bed, they did great w/ it. For my 2nd daughter I got a bed guard to slip under the toddler matteress for the 1st few mos. Each child will adapt in there own way to a new bed, just have patience. Good luck

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My daughter was 1 when her grandma bought her a toddler bed. I thought I would have trouble changing over from a crib to a semi-big girl bed but, I didn't. Since crib sheets and blankets interchange with eachother it was a snap. She still had the things that she was comfortable with all around her when she went to sleep. As she has grown (now 13 1/2) I have noticed that she still has her infant blanket and toddler pillow on her now twin daybed. I guess they never really grow up. I think as long as you keep the things around her that make her happy she will be fine. I think it was more of a mom not wanting her little girl to grow up thing with me back then. Maybe, it's the same thing with you. As you know, moms never want them to grow up to fast.

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My daughter did the same thing at 18 months. I didn't want her to climb out and fall so we got her a toddler bed and she loved it! We put pillows around the bed the first couple months so if she fell it would be soft landing. After the first few nights she learned she could get off and stall bedtime (asking for water, hugs, kisses, etc.) But the excitement for that died down. I'd say your daughter is ready for a toddler bed also. She'll love it.

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she is ready it is better for her to fall out of a toddler bed than to climb out of her crib and fall she'll be fine and if she does fall out the sell guards that you can put on her bed that are about 6 in. high so it is safer but honestly you shouldn't have any trouble you can even make it exciting for her by letting her pick out her new big girl bed.

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when they start trying to get out, i think its time. i waited to long with my son and he ended up falling out and hurting himself. she doesnt want to be restricted anymore. be prepared though, they love to take advantage of the extra freedom, when my son first started in his toddler bed, i used to get up in the middle of the night and find him on the couch.

Hello,
My little girl turned to in Feb. and she's been in a big girl bed for almost a year because she hated the crib and all she did was cry when she was in it. Probably it would be safer for your daughter to be in a big girl bed before she can actually climb out of the crib. As far as the method in making the switch. We still struggle with it. She can get out of bed on her own so that sometimes makes going to sleep really difficult for her and me. But I would say she's probably old enough just be ready for some frustrating evenings and nights at first. And who knows she might do great. Good luck.
A.