Good Time to Switch from Crib to Jr. Bed

There's no rush. If he isn't climbing out, I'd keep him in the crib. If the crib converts to a toddler bed, you could convert it to that. I wouldn't keep him in the crib much past three, though. :)

pillows are fine now, but keep him in the crib as long as he will fit and will stay in there. Once my daughter started climbing out, we took one side off so that it made a day bed. She slept in that until she was probably 4.

My son was about 3 1/2 when he moved to his "big boy" bed this summer. He loved his crib, was happy and safe there, and never tried to climb out of it. He slept so well in his crib at night and for naps. By the time he was ready for a big bed, his nighttime and nap routines were so well established that he transitioned to his big bed with little disruption to his routine. There is no rush if your son is happy and safe in his crib (meaning he does not try to climb out of it). I think difficulties happen when parents try to rush the process. Occasionally, I would get some snide remarks about him still being in a crib from other moms (who, by the way, were complaining that their kids wouldn't nap!). I just ignored them and did what I knew was best and right for my son. There is no universal standard. Each child is different. But, as you said, your son is happy, so there is no immediate rush. You can use this time to start researching what kind of bed and furniture (different styles, prices, stores, etc.) you want for his "big boy" room. Also, a company called One Step Ahead makes a great toddler pillow. It's hypoallergenic and just the right size for little ones. My son still uses his in his big bed. You can look them up online and order that way or by phone at
1-800-274-8440. Best to you and your family.

J.

Hi M., I am a Sleep Consultant and Parenting Coach. My advice is to keep your son in his crib until at least 3, and even 3 1/2 if he is happy there. Right now he is too little to have impulse control and stay in his bed. Also, too much freedom at this young age can be scary to children. However, you should be fine to introduce a small pillow and blankets in his crib. Pottery Barn kids has small pillows and super soft cases for them. Good Luck
K. Smith www.theindependentchild.com

Hi M., he could go in a twin bed now, I took my kids out of the crib beten 15 and 18 months old, and what I did was put the crib mattress on the floor and put their stuffted animals around it, and starte them off like that, then into a twin bed. My kids needed to be able to go to the bathroom at night if they needed to go potty. Thats what was good for my kids. J. L.

My son is 26 months old.. and he LOVES his crib & sleeps well in it! (I"m glad!). So we are keeping him in it until otherwise. Then, we will convert his crib to a toddler bed and lower the railings.

I would leave your son in the crib since he is happy there and still fits it.

He can use a pillow already. My son has been using a pillow since he was about 15-18 months old. Of course, go according to your sons motor ability, and his ability to navigate himself to pull things off of himself.

Good luck,
Susan

I have three kids the two oldest stayed in the crib until about 3.5 or so before I switched them. They LOVEd the crib and slept so good that I did not want to make any changes LOL. But when I did they were old enough to know to stay in bed unless they NEEDED to get out of it. My youngest just turned 3 and who knows when I will move him out of the crib. He might be in there for awhile, I am too sad to take the crib down. He is the baby and I know that once I take the crib down this time I will NOT be using it again! So I say let you baby stay as long as they are happy in the crib, better to have wonderful sleepers anyway. GOod luck

I have a 3 yr old who is happy in her crib-she never tries to get out and never even stands up in it until I go in to get her. Her crib is also a convertible crib and is on the big side-she has lots of room- So I feel if she is secure in there-the longer the wait the better then she will adapt to a big bed better.Each child is different-it is whatever works for you.Hope it helps. L. :)

Hi M.,

Our daughter is a little over 3 and we've had the same discussions...she's totally happy in her crib and has plenty of room...I've heard both sides and we even received a toddler bed as a gift last year and have yet to open it. I agree with all the other moms that think it's a good idea to leave it up to the child, although I know we're getting close. :) As for the pillow, my daughter has been sleeping with one ever since she could walk...there's so many to choose from nowadays that are the perfect size & shape. Hope this helps! :) -M.

Keep the crib for as long as you can. Containment is a wonderful thing! I think my daughter was about your son's age when she came walking into my bedroom asking for milk (she had climbed out of her crib) so I took it down that day and placed her crib mattress on the floor (hooray!! Big girl bed!!) She rolled around the room for weeks before she figured out how to stay on the mattress. When you finally switch to the big boy bed, then get him a pillow.

My son is 2 and I am going to keep him in his crib as long as he fits. I've gotten advice from so many moms to keep them in there as long as possible because it's a whole new ball game when they can just walk to the door if they want out. I don't think there is anything wrong with the crib at all.

my daughter is 19 months and has been in a toddler bed for a month now. she has been using a pillow since about 9 months (she was strong enough and ready). my daughter climbed out of her crib 1 time thats it. we actually returned her crib due to a recall and just decided to get a toddler bed for her. she rarely gets up from it when put in bed. if you think your son is ready try putting his matress on the floor and let him sleep on it for a week. if you have little issues with keeping him down then move forward to the toddler bed. as for the pillow he should be fine with one. i would get one thats not too fluffy. good luck!

Wait as long as possible!! I didn't move my oldest daughter until 3. She was happy as pie in her crib! Now at 4 1/2 , she stays in her bed, never tried to escape, etc. I think if you move them too soon, they aren't old enough to stay in bed and you exhaust yourself at night. My 2 year old will be in her crib as long as possible too.

I've heard from sleep experts who agree to keep them in the crib as long as possible!

Hello M.. I moved my kids to their toddler beds as soon as they could walk (with ease). I don't see any reason to keep them in a crib once they are mobile. My kids would try to climb out, which freaked me out, so the crib went bye-bye after that. LOL Good luck to you.

Use the flattest pillow you can find....if you are going to use one. If he is a stomach or back sleepwe, then you really don't need a pillow. If he graviates toward his side, then sometimes taking 1/2 the stuffing out if what you need to do. These kids are destroying their necks on these huge pillows.

We transitioned our son from the crib, to the crib mattress on the floor and then into his own queen size bed. I didn't want one more cost of a Jr. Bed that he was going to outgrow.

Ialso have a son the same age and we bought him a pillow that is really flat and he loves it. I think I will switch him to a toddler bed when he can figure out how to get out of his crib.

Let him stay in there as long as he's happy and safe! My older son stayed in his crib until 3 1/2 when new baby came along. He probably would have stayed longer but we needed the crib! He was fine then to switch to a big boy bed. My second son wanted out of the crib asap so we followed his lead as well and switched him to a toddler bed at around 2. Just go with the flow. He'll let you know when he's ready. :-)as for the pillow, I think we introduced that at the same time as the switch to the bed in both cases. But at 2 1/2 he should be ready for a pillow and blanket setup just like a real bed.