Toddler Bed - Orchard,NE

Hi J.. I started my son in one when he was about 18-19 months old, because he started climbing out of his crib. (He actually fell out of his crib the first time, trying to climb out of it.) We switched him right away. He didn't like it at first, and the first week was a little stressful at night for him, but after that, he was fine. He slept in it for almost 2 years and loved it. Good luck!

My daughter moved to a mattress on the floor at about 14 months. She was refusing to sleep in a crib at home and at daycare. They came up with the mattress on the floor solution and it worked for us at home, too.

Hello J.! We bought the toddler bed and had it in the room for a while before moving our son into it for the same reason as you. Our son was 25 months old when #2 came along. We moved him into the toddler bed at about 22 mths. We talked about it, we played with him in it, to get him comfortable. And then I think we started with naps in it. WE also had a pretty long rail so it felt like a crib to him. It only gave him maybe 6 inches to get in and out of. When we took the rail off (it was on a lot longer than I wanted) we put some folded blanket/ comforters down to cushion him if he fell, but those were gone in a week or so.

One tip we just went through - if you need to sleep train #2, and you're afraid of #2 waking #1, have #1 sleep on the floor in your room for a week or two while #2 cries it out.

Good luck!

I think it is different for each child and family situation as to when is the right time to transition out of the crib. When it was time for my kids to transition out of the crib, we put the a mattress directly on the floor - not even the box spring under it. We had our kids sleep on that for about 3 months, until they got used to not being in the crib. And if they rolled out...not far to fall! Then we transitioned to the box spring with the mattress, and finally added the bedframe. Took about 6 months total. Also be sure to invest in a side bedrail...not expensive at WalMart.

I have three children who are approximately 20 months apart each. I moved both of them directly from the crib to a bed (full size) at that age. In both cases, the crib remained empty for the most part as I was nursing and had the baby in the room with me. I really had no issues at all with either of them. The most resistance was my 2nd got out of bed and stood at the door crying for 20 minutes. She found her own way back into bed and hasn't looked back. Both beds were placed against the wall with a railing.

Good luck and congrats on the new baby!!!!

Our son was 18 months old when our daughter arrived. We transitioned him to a "big boy bed" (twin bed) when he was about 15 or 16 months old. We set up the Twin bed, talked about it, and I took him to the store to buy sheets for HIS new bed. He chose Blue's Clues sheets. Once I made the twin, he wanted to sleep in it. He loved it! The next day, I told him I was going to take the sheets off the crib, and he told me that was for the baby, and since he was a big boy and had a big boy bed, he didn't need the crib anymore. It was great and easy. We were glad we made the move before the baby while it was "calm" around the house. When it got closer to the time for the baby to come, we made the crib together. I think he had already forgotten he used to sleep in that bed.

Good luck!

I would say it really depends on your son. Is he totally in love with his crib, or is he always trying to find a way out of it? If you bring up the idea of a Big Boy Bed does he even like the idea?

My daughter was a few months shy of 2 when my other daughter was born. I was freaking about getting her into a bed before we brought the baby home so she was used to it too. I think we did it a few months before. We made kind of a big deal about it and made sure she knew it was her BIG girl bed. We did the special sheet thing too and asked which friends she wanted in with her. She went over pretty easy and understood the crib was a baby bed. There were a few nights of getting up, but nothing too bad. We have it set up so if she wakes up at night, she can come right into our room.

I think my advice would be try out the idea with him, then try out the bed. If he totally freaks on you, then have the baby in a bassinet next to your bed for the first few months. Most go up to about 15 or so lbs. We always start out with ours in the bassinet anyway.

A bedtime hint if he has a hard time getting in there- my daughter has a bff stuffed penguin named Buddy and we tell her he is tired and she needs to tuck him in. It works like a charm! We think it's because she gets to be the boss of someone!

Good luck and congrats on your family!

J.,

My first two were 17-18 months old out of necessity. My third was 24 months and my last was 26 months. The experience was about the same for all four. We didn't want to kick anyone out of a crib and give it to a new baby, so we tried to make sure toddler was comfortable with the new bed before the baby came.

Good luck,
S.

J. -

We were in the same situation when our second was due. We moved our older son to a toddler bed when he was about 14 months old, he was able to climb and safely climb down as well so that wasn't a concern. It went really well actually. Good luck and congratulations.

My boys are 20 months apart and I have 2 cribs. My first really wasn't ready to transition until he was actually 3 years old. He never climbed out, so that was a blessing :) It really helped me to be able to put him in his crib for nap and not have to worry about him while I laid down with the new baby.

I bought a cheap ($30) crib at a garage sale.

J.

We put our now 2 year old in a toddler bed when she was 16 months old. The first night she cried. By the next day she loved her bed and now sleeps in it happily and she never gets out of it at night. I think it just depends on the kid.

Hi J.

Congrats on number two! It's been a long time, but I had 3 under 3 1/2 at one time. I would wait with the toddler bed for your son. There will be so many changes with the new baby, letting him stay in his familiar surroundings as long as you can may help him get used to your new situation easier. I kept mine in their bassinette as long as they were not rolling over. Then it's time to move to the crib. Keep in mind they will also be on very different schedules for at least 6 months. By then your son will be almost 2 and may be ready for his "Big Boy" bed. Does he move around a lot in his crib? It is time for a toddler bed when he starts climbing out of his crib, or stops moving around so very much.

I purchased toddler beds and used the crib matresses. If you choose to purchase a twin, leave the matress on the floor so if he rolls out then he won't have very far to fall. My youngest daughter never woke up in the same position she started in. Even in the toddler bed. Years ago, Fisher Price made a great one. Don't know if they still do. Just make sure it has side rails.

Try and keep your son on his same schedule, activities, as he has now and fit the baby around it. He's had you for a while all to himself. The baby will be adaptable! Good luck! Hope all goes well.

J.

I would say it all depends on the kid and when they are ready. We didnt try our son in a twin bed until he was 24 months but it could of worked sooner I dont know didnt try. First I just took the rail off the crib and put up a bed rail he did great for a week so we got a twin bed for him and have 2 rails on the sides and he to this day still wont get out of bed at all until someone goes to get him and hes now 31 months old. Our baby #2 is not due until Feb. so the crib has been put away since our son was 2.
I personally woulndt rush the whole bigger bed thing if he isnt ready cause if you do it soon and give the new baby the crib you may end up with a toddler sleeping with you. If your son isnt ready he wont stay in it then you will be up at night with 2 kids. You could try it now and see what happens but make sure its awhile before the baby comes otherwise there will be to much going on for him and he could try to revert back to the crib. Maybe try a pack n' play for the baby for awhile if your son isnt ready to move out of the crib yet. Good Luck!

I would suggest looking at garage sales for a cheap crib. It is recommended to keep your child in a crib for as long as you can or until they are 3. Or does somebody you know have an extra crib you could borrow for awhile?
Good luck!

My first and second children were both in toddler beds by 18 months because of a new baby. We'd start the transition a couple months out so they were used to having a "big girl/boy" bed and that their "old" bed/crib was for the new baby. It takes a little effort on your part, but it'll be just fine.

We also transitioned to toddler bed out of necessity. We made the transition a good 2 months before baby came so that there wasn't "too much new" going on. That way the empty crib was "babies bed" before baby even came. But I know mom's who have waited until after baby came to make the transition too and did fine.
I think you'll be fine going to a toddler bed anytime now. They are low to the ground and have sides to them. My oldest took didn't take too long before learning how to get out on her own, and my youngest to this day doesn't get out of bed without calling to us to come in, and she's in a twin size bed now! Every child is different.
We have friends who never went to toddler sized bed--but went straight to twin bed with rails and were fine. A twin with rails would mean he couldn't get out without help which is similar to a crib. I wouldn't worry about him falling out. It's really just an issue of learning a new environment/bedtime situation.
Good luck!

We moved our first born to his toddler bed when he was around 18 months, and he was great with it. We put a side rail on it to make it seem more "secure" for him, but even if he had fallen out, it is practically on the ground. He loved it. Good luck!

I usually did mine about 2 years old. It really dependds on the child. If you don't think your son is ready I would wait. Maybe keep your baby in your room longer or put the baby in the room with your son in whatever you were using in your room. This way your can transition them both at a later time.

Hi

We put our daughter in a toddler bed at 15 months because our two are 16 months apart . She did pretty good once the baby was in the crib . Before he was born she wanted to go back and sleep in the crib once in a while and we let her . But would tell her it was for the new baby and she was a big girl . She loved her bed . It all depends on if you think he will be ok in a bed .