Transfer from Crib to Toddler Bed

I would take it out but you don't have to be mean about it. Just have her be there when you take the crib out and have her say goodbye to it. Let her know Big girls sleep in big girl beds and this is such a special bed for her. This is how we did it and no problems!

If she isn't trying to climb out and likes being in her crib, it seems like she's not the type who is a big "climbing out" risk. I agree with Heather, at some point she's going to decide she *wants* to move to the bed and the transition will be easier and happier for everyone.

My (now 7YO) twins liked their cribs and liked climbing in but they're pretty cautious and were afraid to try to climb out on their own. I think they were about 3YO when we moved them from the cribs to twin beds with a side rail.

Hi B.,

What's the rush? Maybe she was showing "signs" of being ready before which is why you purchased the toddler bed, but now that it's here.....it wasn't as secure as she thought :O)

If there is enough space, I would leave them both in her room. This way she can "pick" when she is ready for the big girl bed.

I believe your instincs are right on!

~N. :O)

Eh, I would just let her stay in her crib, if you want. Eventually she will want a 'big girl bed' and then it will be easy. My oldest loooved her crib, but i was never really afraid of her climbing out. She could have, but just never did. We finally got her a twin bed as part of a new bedroom set since we needed the baby furniture for #2. When we did that, we made it a fun thing, she helped pick her bedspread, we painted her room, etc.
So if you want her out, my advice is to make it fun for her, and get rid of the crib.

I suggest you tell her the crib is going to have to go soon, since she's getting to be a big girl, and cribs are for babies. Then get rid of it when she's not around. If she asks for it, tell her it went to the old cribs' retirement home, or it went to the used furniture store so some other baby could use it, or something along those lines. Be matter-of-fact about it --- if you make a big deal of it, so will she. She doesn't need a choice of beds, and you aren't being heartless.

Clearly she's telling you that she stil wants to sleep in her crib so let her.

Hi Beverley,

If you got the toddler bed because you were afraid she would climb out... she could still do that.

I think your options are to either make a clean break from the crib, or find a way to make the crib safe to give you piece of mind.

My daughter's friend at daycare is 3 this month and still sleeps in her crib. They have some sort of "top" to it so that she doesn't climb out. My daughter, on the other hand, transitioned to the bottom bunk of her brothers bunk bed a year ago. (She will also be 3 this month.) We bi-passed the toddler bed altoghether. She didn't miss her crib at all after the first week.

Here's a list of some of the Cribs with safety top info:

Document Type and Number:
United States Patent ###-###-####

Abstract:
A cover which forms a semi-circular canopy over the top of children's crib in order to prevent accidental injuries caused by children falling out of cribs. The cover is supported by rods spaced apart in intervals with said rods attached at each end of the headboard or footboard of the crib in such a manner to allow the rotation of the rods. The cover is opened easily by pushing it back over the crib from either side, thereby giving access to approximately two-thirds of the crib so the child can be removed or placed in the crib quickly and easily. Straps are also provided which fasten to the siderails of the crib to keep the cover closed and the siderails from dropping while the child is in the crib.

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I don't know if these can be bought separately or not - but it's worth a try to find out.

Hope this helps,
S.

Have you thought about taking off the front panel of the crib and putting a removable rail (the kind you put on a regular bed) on it? Just about any crib can technically be turned into a toddler bed by removing the front panel. This would give you the peace of mind that she wouldn't be crawling over the rail and give her the transitional stage from the crib to the bed.

T.

I say if it ain't broke don't fix it. You'll look back when she's 10 and say what was the rush to put her in her big crib. I think putting them in the big bed crib is overrated especially if they are not ready :) I think this is one decision you should let her make. We kept my daughter in her crib till she was 4 and when she started actually climbing out on more than one occasion. She used to sleep and wait for us in her crib till around 8:00-9:00am till we came and got her and now she wakes up at 6:00am-7:00am cause she can get out of her bed when it's daylight and comes in our room and wakes up. I really think you'll be happy you waited, but that's just my 2 cents :) Good Luck BTW are you planning on having a second one soon cause it also helped that she was still in her crib while I was taking care of newborn and she didn't or wouldn't come out and wake us in the night on top of that :) Happy Sleeping

Hi B.,
Here's the deal. When given a choice, children almost always will choose what they are most familiar with....thus the choice for the crib. 2 years old is more than old enough to go to a toddler bed. We can't continually wait until our kids seem ready to make a change or they would never grow up. It's time to put the crib away so she doesn't have a choice. As far as keeping her in it, that's another learning process. When she gets out of bed, give her a swat and put her back in....EVERY TIME. It will only take a few days before she learns she has to stay in the bed. This is part of helping our children grow up in a timely and appropriate manner. I've done it with all my children and believe it or not, they're not traumatized, they're not axe murderers or anything else. They are well grounded, obedient children that people love to be around! Good luck and God bless.

Let her keep the crib for another year. When my daughter was two I did the toddler bed thing because we moved and she climbed in and out all night - wouldnt stay in her bed - would get up and play or go in the fridge all night long.

They feel safe and secure in their crib - she obviously still needs that feeling... Just put something soft on the floor in case she does slip climbing out.

The advice from my mother (3 children) and grandmother (6 children) is to wait until you have to move them out of the crib. Once they are able to climb out (and have done it), it is time to change over to a bed. Other reasons to switch: too big to sleep comfortably on small mattress, potty training (they have to be able to get to the potty), or you need the crib for the next baby. Keep in mind that she might fall out of the bed in the night, even with a safety rail.

If you don't have to, don't rush this. Enjoy each stage. It will be gone soon enough and you will wonder what happened to the time. Let your daughter progress at her own pace when you can. It will be much less stressful for both of you.

If you decide it is time, take the crib out. Don't give her a choice about sleeping in the bed. Do give her a choice between two acceptable options: would you like to sleep in your bed with this pillow or that one. The countdown idea is excellent. But however you do it, tell her what is going to happen so that she knows what to expect (and what you expect).

Make the transition a special time. Give her special privileges during the transition and tell her that's what you're doing because she's a big girl who sleeps in a bed. Read books with pictures of children sleeping in a bed. Also, when you do this, expect about a week of having to put her back in the bed many, many times. Be firm, don't talk to her, just pick her up and put her back in bed quickly, every time. If you aren't consistent or give her any attention, you can expect the transition to take longer, which will be harder on both of you.

What we did was have our son "help" with disassembling the crib and taking it out of his room. Then we had him "help" assemble the toddler bed. After he went to bed we put the crib away out of sight. It worked like a charm on him.

Try a count-down, make it fun, and then have the crib disappear. If she likes being a "big girl", focus on that. If she needs a new bed toy to help her adjust, tell her it is only for the "big girl bed". I think having the two beds in there is confusing. If you're sure she's ready (i.e always sleeps through and wouldn't consider getting out of it to search for you at night), then just remove the crib and make the transition fun and exciting. You know your girl. Find something she LOVES and offer it to her as a reward for sleeping in her big girl bed.

I don't think it is being heartless to take out the crib....its being the parent, and making the decision. Of course she is more comfortable in her crib becasue that is what she knows but if it is becoming unsafe for her in the crib (becasue she can now climb in and out) then as her parents it is your responisiblity (it has nothing to do with being mean) to transition her to something more appropriate, and safe.

Having sad that, you can definetly make the transition easier for her. What I have done with my two girls is that I told them that this was thier last week in the crib and then we were saying goodbye to the crib. I took each of them to the store (Ikea) and let them pick out a comforter cover that they liked. I got the blanket, pillow and sheets (although you could probabaly let her pick some of that out too) and then we went home and made their bed. It was totally cozy and they were so excited to sleep in their new big girl bed which they had a part of putting together.

Hope this helps. good luck.

M

I've read guidelines that suggest age 3 is a good time to transition to a bed. Unless you've have a baby on the way who needs the crib this is a battle you don't need to fight. Both my daughters graduated to a toddler bed around age three and they were really excited to make the move. Good-luck!