How Old Is Too Old for My Child to Be Sleeping in a Crib?

Updated on July 12, 2007
C.C. asks from Gloucester, MA
22 answers

My daughter is 2 1/2 and very petite, she sleeps perfectly well in her crib, however she began to climb out a few months ago, and we've put up a crib tent. I don't want to move her too soon but I don't want her to be sleeping in a crib forever. Please help.

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your advice, I've taken the side rail off her convertable crib and we're going shopping today for some new bedding that she can pick out as well as a safety rail so she can't fall out.

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C.

answers from Providence on

Hi C.
I did the same with my daughter but when she got potty training down. I converted her bed into a toddler bed so she would be able to use the potty (she's never been one to have bed wetting problems).
Good luck.
C.

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T.H.

answers from Boston on

I have a 3-year old and she never climbed out of her crib. We took a family trip when she was 2 and she was forced to sleep on a twin bed and she loved it! As a result of that trip, we decided to transition her directly from her crib to a Twin bed and she adapted right away. Every child is different but if you plan to start the potty training process, the crib will be restrictive, making the nighttime bathroom runs challenging...

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D.M.

answers from Portland on

That is actually a personal preference but at 2 1/2 yrs old and climbing out she is definately ready to be moving to a toddler bed or a regular bed with the side rails. Just remember to set boundries and to not let her get out of the bed when ever she wants too.

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K.D.

answers from Providence on

My son is 3 1/2 and still sleeps in his crib, luckily he has never tried to climb out. Once in a while he sleeps in his big boy bed, he has both but usually says he wants the crib. I figure when he is ready he will stay in his bed.

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J.S.

answers from Springfield on

Just as everyone else said, if she's climbing out at 2.5 the answer is 'bed', not 'baby cage' ;). Congratulations on the milestone!

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W.D.

answers from Boston on

she's definately old enough.. my son was out of his crib at 14 months and my daughter was about 15 mos.. if they can climb out, they need to be in a bed.. go straight to a real size bed - let her pick out her own sheets and where it goes.. let her help buy the new bed.. keep her very involved and she'll have no problem.. tell her you are giving the crib to a new baby who needs it more that her.. she should understand fine..

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M.T.

answers from Springfield on

Most doctors will tell you to let them sleep in their cribs until they start to climb out. when my was about ready for the toddler bed we took the front bar off the front of the crib and installed a bed rail so she couldn't fall out. That way she still had the safety of her "crib" but was learning to transition to her big girl bedroom set. We put a gate in the door and bolted/strapped all the furniture to the walls (literally) and made her room a place that even if she got out of her bed there was no where to go and nothing she could get hurt on.

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S.P.

answers from Glens Falls on

myson is the same age,and he sleeps in a toddler bed. He never slept well in his crib and was always in our bed so we got him a bed for christmas last year, and we made a big deal about getting a big boy bed,, and he loves it. It probably doesn't hurt that its diego, he loves diego.

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L.B.

answers from Boston on

My daughter is 4 1/2 now. She never showed any signs of wanting a big girl bed and we had to remove or when she turned 4. I just didn't want her in a crib any longer. She has adjusted well to the new bed. If there are signs that your child is trying to crawl out I would for there own safety more them into a toddler bed. My daughter tends to get into everything so we also use a baby gate on the door to her bedroom. The Bedroom door is always open.

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M.W.

answers from Boston on

My oldest (now 12) slept in her crib right up until she turned 3...I would leave the side down so she could climb out.

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T.W.

answers from Springfield on

My son was also tiny and slept in a crib until he was 3 and a half. He fit comfortably!

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L.B.

answers from Providence on

I'm not sure if there are any "rules" governing when you should switch your child out of a crib. But, for us, when our 2 year old started climbing out, we switched him to a regular bed. He loved the new bed and the idea that he was now "a big boy". We didn't have any problems with him getting out of bed or anything. We now have a 19 month old he sleeps in the crib. When he decides to start climbing out we will switch him to a toddler bed (because we don't have the room for a twin bed). I have a feeling it won't be too long now because he is a monkey and climbs EVERYTHING!!!! Anyways, hope it helps.

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J.C.

answers from Boston on

The make toddler beds that fit a crib matress. Then she will be able to get in and out no problem. Two is too old for a crib.

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J.M.

answers from Boston on

My son was in his crib till right before his third birthday. If she is comfortable and sleeps well, then wait until you think she's ready for a bed.

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E.S.

answers from Boston on

I wiould think if she's climbing out then it's time for a toddler bed. It may take some getting used to but she has to get in ne eventually. My neice went into a crib right around 2 and 1/2 and did very well. Good Luck

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P.P.

answers from Boston on

Hey C.,
i moved my son out of his crib at 1 1/2 and put him in his toddler bed that the crib transformed into. Now he is 2 1/2 and he is in a twin bed with a rail. Things worked out very well for him and he is quite independant. good luck

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S.B.

answers from Bangor on

C., both of my daughters were out of the crib by the age of two. The younger of the two was very petite as well.

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M.W.

answers from Boston on

Hi C. I just thought I would let you know that my son who is also 2 1/2 has been sleeping in his toddler bed since the week of his second birthday. We did it cause he kept climbing in his bed and couldn't get out. I was afraid he would fall and get hurt. I dreaded taking him out of his crib I was afraid I would never get him to go to sleep and he would be up for hours.It was just the opposite he got so excited and wouldn't get up not even when he woke up he would still call for us to get him. So all I'm saying is you might be worrying over nothing she might be ready for a toddler bed and your scared to give up the crib. I understand. Good luck!

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L.M.

answers from Boston on

Hi, I moved my little girl out when she was about 3 years old. It took her a few nights to get used to her bed it but it was great. She never climbed out of her crib. I have a 2 year old now who has been climbing out for months and I am afraid to put her in a bed b/c it may make her getting up and out much too easy. Does her crib convert to a toddler bed? You may want to try that first and see how it goes. Good luck.

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K.K.

answers from Boston on

She is old enough for a toddler bed.

My daughter is 2 months older than your daughter. She got her "big girl" bed for her second birthday. We moved her out of the crib only because the new baby needed it. I thought it was too soon, but I didn't want to buy a second crib to only use for a few months. I though she would be scared, she wasn't. I thought she would get out and roam the house, she didn't, but even so that's a problem easily fixed with strategically placed child gates and locking the bathroom door. She was fine! She loves it.

It is just a small toddler bed that I paid $30 for on craigslist. It uses the crib mattress and all the same bedding. There are half rails on the sides so she doesn't roll out (she did once, before I clipped the rails on, but the bed is only a few inches off the floor, she didn't even wake up)

Buy the bed, put it in her room, let her get used to it. Let her take her naps on it, before you know it she will using her crib to hold her extra toys :)

Good luck,
K.

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M.

answers from Boston on

My daughter's pediatrician wanted her in a bed by the time she was two. She is almost 5 now and did well. We debated about a toddler bed but decided not to waste our money and she has a full size bed. We bought her a big girl frame for it this past December for her birthday and she loves it.

Good luck.

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D.P.

answers from Springfield on

If she can climb out, it's probably time for a bed, at least a toddler bed. Once they can climb out, safety becomes the biggest issue. She's at a great age for her first bed. My son was born in August of 2004, and he's taller than most 5 year olds. We tried a toddler bed, and he fell out every night. Then we switched to a full size bed with a siderail, and it works like a charm. There is no magic age. Just do what works for you (even if you have to try a few different options).

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