3.5 Year Old Still in Crib?

If my kids weren't so close in age I'd keep them in the crib as long as possible.
The only thing to worry about is night time potty training and when you want to enforce it.

If it weren't for the fact that my beautiful little girl COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLED her crib at about 20 months old...she's still be in it!!!

It sounds like he stays perfectly safe and happy in the crib, so the main issue is potty training. Once you train, he needs to be able to get up to go potty in the night or at nap time. It's likely that he won't train at night right away, but some kids do.

Don't listen to your "mommy friends". You know what's best for your child.

He's YOUR child. Do what YOU feel is best. There's nothing wrong with it. You're smart for keeping him in a crib. Many (including me--caved to those mommy friend comments) rush it and it's a nightmare to get them to grasp the concept of staying in bed at night...gates...crying...sleeping on the floor...Your son loves his crib, is not climbing out, and safe.
I've heard if they are not climbing out--leave them. Your son will most likely transition to a large bed much more easily. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You'll know when it's time.

our son was 2 years old when he went to full sized bunk beds. Of course he slept on the bottom..LOL. The only reason he went to a bed is because we bought a house and during the moving process we had to get the UHAUL back so we unloaded everything real fast unto the driveway so our father could return the truck while we brought the stuff in the house and somewhere along the line people can up and stole our baby's crib from the driveway while i was in taking a load to a bedroom. I was in the house maybe 2 minutes. We called the cops and nothing could be done. This was around 9pm at night so we had no place for our son to sleep. We had to go out that night and buy a bed from walmart in which thats why he got bunk beds. If you are having no problems with your son being in the crib then that is great. Only you know your child and whats best for him.

If my kids hadn't figured out how to climb out they'd all still be in their cribs LOL!!

My nephew was in his until 3.5 and when they did transition him it was soooo smooth!! I was jealous. I think because his sleep routine was so firmly set by being in the crib so long that the change to a twin bed was uneventful for them.

By the way, the other moms that I'm around are all astonished that my 2.5 year old isn't enrolled in preschool for next year. I'm not planning on starting him in any kind of preschool for another year. Their reactions made me second guess myself briefly but then I came to my senses :-)!

Good luck!
K.

I agree that there is nothing wrong with it. I think it's a personal choice. For me I was having another baby so I had by daughter out of her crib just a few months before she turned 2 but that is what worked for me. But I do have a friend who had her little girl in a crib until she was almost 4. And then the only reason she switched was because she finally started to climb out. So I wouldn't worry about it I wouldn't worry about putting him a regular bed until you are both ready.

Nothing wrong with it! Our boy is 3 plus 1 month, and the reason he is not in his crib still is because he is too tall now. His feet and hands were regularly hanging out between the slats. We were afraid he might get caught when he rolled over.

Keep him where he feels safe and comforted. He'll tell you when he's finished with it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your son still being in his crib! If he's happy, why change it? And you're super lucky! My boys are 15 mos. and climbing like monkeys all over their cribs in an effort to escape! lol

If you're concerned about the transition, and you have a convertible crib, you could attempt to remove the one side to see how your son does, but that is completely up to you. I wouldn't do it because other moms are giving you a hard time. I would be frank with them, especially if they are your friends, and let them know that they can do what they feel best for their children, and you'll do what you feel is best for yours. As mothers, they should understand that every child is different, and that there is no "exact" age for any step to be taken.
Good luck!

Hi Kristy,

I was in MY crib til I was 4! Granted, we lived in a small house and there were no other bedrooms that were available, but I actually remember enjoying it and being safe. Don't stress over what your "friends" say. I'm sure you could find some things to give them a hard time about as well, lol.

You're job is to keep him safe, warm, fed, nurtured and loved! Sounds like you've accomplished just that.

God bless,

M.

If he's sleeping well in the crib, there is no reason to move him to a big boy bed. My daughter stayed in her crib until she was about 2 years, then in a toddler bed (the front of the crib came off to convert into a small daybed) for another year. She is very tall, and was just too long for the small mattress; otherwise, she would likely still be in the toddler bed. She will be five in a few months, and still asks about her little bed. She liked the secure feeling of having the crib sides around her while she slept.

Don't worry about what other people think of his sleeping arrangements. You are his mother and know what's best for him. You'll know when he's ready for another bed.

We kept our son in his crib until 3ish. It was fantastic. :)

Ditto the uber-easy transition, because he was past the toddler "I want what I want when I want it" stage. It was as simple as telling him he needed to stay in bed. No battles of wills, or constantly up and out because of the "freedom" because by being older, he had better impulse control. He DID go through that phase, but since he was in his crib, we just raised the side if he was getting out. Climbing out of his crib meant big trouble, so as ticked as he was about it, it meant about a week of getting in trouble for climbing out, and then the rule was set.

My personal feeling is that toddler beds are the ultimate rip off. We switched straight from the crib in a real bed. We used bunkbeds for several months (because of where we were living) and then bought him a double bed.. so we could curl up with him/ read books/ make tents/ etc. It also saves us needing to move him into a "bigger" bed, until the matress wears out. AKA, we can use it for the next 10-15 years. So he'll probably get a new bed as a moving out gift. Until then, we're stellar.

THere is nothing wrong with it. I would love for my dd to be in hers still but she was out at 18 months and I had a lot for problems with her. So I say leave him there cause when you move him he might not sleep as well.

I think whatever makes you feel comfortable. Who care what other people say. If he feels secure than I think its fine. If you feel you want to start transitioning him, he would probably feel more comfortable if his crib converted into a toddler bed because the bars are still up on 3 of the 4 sides.
But if you don't mind and neither does he don't worry about it! My children didn't like the hardness of the baby mattress so I had to put them in regular twin size beds real early. I probable would have kept them in there a while just so I wouldn't have to buy a new bed. LOL!

No offense to you, but, THOSE arent true friends. I would never in a million years "make fun" or "give a hard time" to one of my friends regarding parenting. I have a really good friend. She and I have been friends for 20+ years. Our parenting ideals are completely opposite. I would never say anything to hurt her feelings.
The next time one of them says something to you about the crib issue, just stick to MY common reply...."when they are all in the fifth grade, it wont matter!!"....because its true!!!

Good Luck and remember, YOU know your child better than ANYONE on the face of the Earth!!!!! ....tell the rest to stick it!!!!! :)

M;)

my youngest is almost 3 1/2 and is still in the crib(we use crib tent though since he climbed out at 15 months) He too loves it. Sometimes my hubby wants to bring him in our bed to snuggle, but our son says " I want my frib (crib):)) Growing up in russia I had many friends who were in the cribs till they were 5 years old due to lack of space (of course they could get in and out by themselves).

I transitioned my boys at 16 months, and they were ready. That said, if he is not trying to climb out I see no reason he can not be in a crib. The reason most transition their children earlier is because a child can have a serious fall trying to climb out of a crib. My only question is, if he could get out of bed would he be dry in the morning? Many kids his age would be, but since he can not get up to pee in the morning does he wet in his diaper after waking, or is he truly still wetting at night? Kids develop the ability to stay dry at night anywhere between 2 and 7 (my boys were 24 months and 3 1/2). I know they would have been discouraged if they had woken dry and than could not get to the potty and there for had to pee in their diaper.

i would love for my son to be in his crib still!!! HE started climbing out at 22 months and would not go back in so we had no choice!!

do what works for you and tell the others to MYOB!!!

As long as he fits comfortably and isn't climbing out...I say keep him in it. I suspect your "mommy friends" are just jealous.

We just transitioned our son, at 29 months, because he started climbing out of his crib. He went happily to his big boy bed and never looked back, but I agree with you, and I would have left him in the crib as long as he was happy there. Parenting is hard enough, why go looking for drama?

My son was in his crib till 3.5 yrs and he could climb in and out when ever he wanted. Other Moms can do what they want for their kids, and just because it worked for them does not mean everyone has to do the same thing.