Going from a Crib to Toddler Bed

My boys (twins) are famous climbers as well. They started climbing out of their cribs at 14 months and would get out of their room and walk the halls at night. I finally had to lock their door and let them cry if they got out of bed. We finally bought them twin beds with the side rails from one step ahead at 18 months and put them on the floor so if they get out of bed they can easily climb back in. We just didn't feel like buying two toddler beds now and two years later two twin beds. The boys got used to sleeping in their beds and have no problem with it. The room is child proof and we have no worries. Although sometimes we have to lay on the floor to keep them in their beds at nap time. To get them used to sleeping in the beds initially we had to just lock the door and ignore their crying until they fell asleep, usually on the floor, and we would just go in later and pick them up and put them in their beds. I think it took them a little over a week to get used to it and then it was fine after that. Good luck! Hope that helps!

J....

The best advice I can give you is to get a crib tent! It is mesh and is shaped like a dome. it fits over the crib and all you do is zip it up and he can't get out. My son was young too when he started trying to get out and was getting up in the middle of the night. this went on for about a week when I wasn't getting any sleep either I knew I had to do something. So my husband went to Babys R Us and purchased it. It was the best money I spent! Yeah, my son was very upset the first few times I zipped him in, but once he was asleep and realized he couldn't get out, he slept until I went in to get him in the morning. You just have to stick to your guns and even if he crys you just have to let him and each night it will get less and less. My son turned 3 in September and just went into his toddler bed. We knew he was ready (he was getting too long for the crib). Good luck!

My son used to climb everything too (okay, well, given a chance he still does). He hated the crib and I was terrified he'd get so mad that he'd take a dive over the edge (I did when I was little), so we moved him into a toddler bed when he was about your son's age. The result was fabulous. He didn't fuss when we put him to sleep or when he woke in the morning. His ability to get in and out worked wonders. The first few nights it was definitely a game of getting in and out, but after the novelty wore off, he fell asleep quicker and woke happier. Good luck.
M.

Sounds like you are thinking of the safety factors. Check all of the outlets and make sure you have covers that he can't pull out. Like you mentioned, mount the dresser...and any shelves or other furniture. Try to continue your bedtime routine to encourage him to fall asleep as close to then as possible, but if he can't open the door and you've proofed the inside, he'll just need to learn to fall asleep. I think most soon figure out that the bed is the most comfortable spot and end up there eventually. If you find him sleeping on the floor, you can move him to the bed once he's asleep and perhaps he'll get the picture sooner.

i think alot of ppl are going to give you their opinions on this... my daughter went from a crib next to my bed (til she was 2), to a pack-n- play in her own room, to a big girl bed (with a guard up) or anywhere on the floor she fell asleep. she had a wiggles couch she sometimes slept on, sometimes just on a bunch pillows.. now she is 4 and has slept in her own bed for quite a while now... we also put the baby gate up in her door way to "keep the dog from bothering her" but really to keep her in the room. i wasnt so strict as to where she slept in her room, but the rule was, it had to be in her room... i knew in the big picture, she wouldnt be sleeping on the floor when she was 15. and also i pointed out how some of her TV friends (cauillo, dragon tails, etc.) slept, so she wanted to be like them. your doing the right thing.. keep em safe. but dont sweat it if he sleeps on the floor a few times. get him a fun sleeping bag... pick your battles, but set firm "golden " rules. good luck---- i only have 1 too, and its hard to know what your suppose to do...sometimes its right, sometimes its not... i didnt get a manual.. did you?

also, alittle hard learned lesson, dont put on the tv, thats a hard habit to break...

my son was 21 months when we moved him. He spent about 2 1/2 months sleeping on the floor right next to the door! LOL! Then one day he slept in his bed. We never minded if he played in his room before falling asleep and we still don't. Sme nights he goes right to sleep and some nights he is up for a while. I fiure he knows when he is tired.

Hi J.,
My son's 20 mos now but went to a toddler bed last month. I was the same way. I thought he would fall or hurt himself b/c he rolls in my bed and was always on the rails in his crib in the morning. He's fine. He's up to 5 hrs a night-not a full night on his own yet, but working on it. I did get a sleigh bed though because when he does wake up in the middle of the night to come down the hall to our room, I didn't want him to hit his head on a corner bed and hurt himself. We light the hall and his room with night-lights and he's fine!
The best to you and your "big boy!"

I had the same question a few months ago i found that having the crib and the toddler bed works wonders i would suggest if he falls asleep on the couch put him in the toddler bed and if you put him to bed alone go with the crib eventually he will get used to waking up in the toddler bed and go to sllep in it by himself

Nope. I say go for it. There's more of a chance that he could be hurt if he decides to climb out of the crib. Just make sure that the room is childproof (cover all the sockets, mount dressers to the wall, etc), put some safe toys in there, and enjoy. Both my sons were in toddler beds by about 19 months (although neither of them were really climbers). There's no harm in him playing in there by himself, and you may even find you get to sleep in a bit in the mornings because he might be more content. Good luck!