Moving from Crib to Toddler Bed

My children are 27, 24, and 17 and this is how I handeled this. When I caught them trying to climb out of their crib, I put the crib mattress on the floor. After they got used to this, I put a twin matress and box springs on the floor. Next I used a twin bed with only the matress and finally the twin bed with both the matress and box springs. The timing with each was different. My cue was then attempting to climb out of the crib. They all made the adjustment rather easily.

Well, I have a 22 month old boy and I was told...when they start outgrowing the crib or climbing out. My husband is so excited and wants to move him to a bed already, but I think I will give it a while. He is close to outgrowing it...but has never tried to climb out. I will want to start potty training at 2( we are getting him used to it already) so I will definetly want him comfortable in a bed by 2 1/2 or 3.. Good luck...

With our first, I put the toddler bed in her room while she was still sleeping in her crib. She was fascinated with it and eventually wanted to nap in it, then sleep in it. By then, the new baby arrived (she was 23 months old) and we never looked back. We did the same thing with each child except the 4th. With the 4th she went from the crib to the bottom bunk b/c we have 2 sets of bunks in their room and the one in the corner has the end of the other up next to it and it forms a safe tucked away place for her to sleep.

Since your 16-month-old is your first, and you have 2 girls, I assume that you already have two cribs. If this is the case, and you don't need that crib for your second child, you can take your time. You can wait till you daughter attempts to climb out of her crib. If she doesn't, and her crib continues to be a safe place, I've read that you can wail until they're 3. I was lucky that my daughter never tried to climb out, so we got to wait until she was three. That was a much easier transition than friends who had to teach their kids to stay in their beds earlier, but they had no choice because the kids were climbers, and the crib isn't safe if they climb out.

When you are ready to deal with her getting up early in the morning and possibly some during the night. Once they can get up by themselves....they will. Mainly becuase it is a new adventure.

Also if they start climbing out of the crib, it is safer to put them in a bed.

We put our oldest in a low bunk bed with side rail when he was 13 months old because his sister was born. We did not have a second crib. It worked just fine for us because he was a snuggle bug and just came to bed with me ta 6 when he woke up.

Dd woke up later than him so I was already up.

Third kid pretty much same story. But they key, I think is...that I got up when my kids were up no matter what. If I was tired then I tried to keep things subdued but I did not expect them to stay in their room and be good while I slept.

So basically move to the big bed when you are ready. It does not hurt to do it at this age or wait till 18-20 months like I did with the others. Some people even make the big bed their 2 yr birthday thing.

Good luck

HI L.! I moved my kids into their toddler beds when they were about 18 months because they all started to crawl out of their beds. When she starts crwling out,...Thats your que to move her to a toddler bed in my opinion.
J.

Hi L.! I have girls too, age 3 1/2 yrs, 2 yrs, and 4 months. Fun stuff! :)

I would say it varies with the child, but we moved our oldest into a bed when she turned 2, and our second oldest at about the same time, just a couple months later. Our first is more mature than her younger sister, so we adjusted a bit. In both cases the transition went just fine. Actually, I would advise to keep your baby in her crib for as long as it seems to be working out. We would have delayed our second daughter's transition, but her baby sister is outgrowing her cradle and needs the crib.

Good luck!

C.
www.LiveTotalWellnes.com/carolyns

I moved my son at 16 months also. I got a mesh bed rail at Baby's R Us to keep him from falling out of bed. He did really well and enjoyed the fact that he was a big boy now.

There really isn't a set age, but she has to be moved out once she starts trying to climb out. Friends of ours had a son who was over 6 months younger than ours, but their little boy had to be moved over 6 months sooner (he was less than 18 months when he was moved; my son was over 2 1/2 years old). Our son just never tried to climb out; we actually moved him because I'd strained my chest wall and couldn't lift him out of his crib while it healed. I can tell you from experience--there's something very appealing over being able to control when a little one gets out of bed! Since we've moved our son to a toddler bed he's given us a few night time shocks (until we were able to train him to stay in his room until morning). :-)

hi L.
cribs were originally called 7 year beds...that being said, if your daughter isn't climbing out and is still cozy in her crib, let her be. a toddler bed is not really necessary. when she is ready i would suggest a big girl bed, meaning a twin, so you or hubby can sleep with her if ever necessary. she'll let you know when she's ready and that will make for a smooth transition...16 months is way to soon though in my personal opinion. blessings! about me...i am mother to 4 kiddos under 5 yrs...married 5 1/2 years...catholic and stay at home mom as well as homeschooling :)

Personally it is your decision to make. My oldest went to a toddler bed when she could climb out of her crib and I was afraid she would get hurt. We tried the crib tent thing but she was just to smart for it so to the toddler bed she went. With my yougest once she starts climbing out of her crib she will be going to a toddler bed as well.

Every child is different, but typically parents do the transition when they start to climb out of the crib on their own. Depends also on you, I know I let them sleep in the crib for as long as possible, because the transition is h*** o* naps and night sleep sometimes.

I am there with you on this one. I have two sons...twenty months apart. My oldest is 2 1/2 and has been in his toddler bed since about age 2. I have heard girls can move sooner than boys. Of course I don't know the layout of your home so I am not sure if you have stairs or if she could get up and get hurt. We waited because my husband was deployed and it was easier for me. Just my random thoughts

Usually between the ages of 2 and 3. When ever they are not tossing nd turning so much at night and there is less chance that they will roll out of the bed.

- B.

Usually, it is when they start trying to get out on their own. I would even go as far as saying when they start standing up on their own. The mother that said 2-3 years old is crazy. That must've been my mother-in-law. Along with the one that said whenever you are ready to start getting up in the middle of the night. Ummm, dont you do that already. When I first got preg, I remember someone telling me to kiss my sleep good bye forever. My daughter is 8 now and she still wakes me up. She doesnt feel good, I can hear her coughing, I hear her get up to go to the restroom and I make sure she is ok. Its a mothers intuition. When you feel in your heart that your baby is ready, then you will just know. If you are still not sure, then try it out. If it doesnt workout, then put him back in the crib. I have an 18 month old who started sleeping in a todler bed when he turned 1. It worked out, so we did away with the crib. Let me put it to you this way. Lets say that you were 8 months pregnant right now. What would you do? Would you buy another crib until your 16 MONTH OLD is "ready" or would you say, "ok, no more crib for you?" Everything will be just fine...you'll see.

Hi there, I think you should leave her in there until she either climbs out (safety) or she wants a big girl bed. The crib is the safest place for her to sleep and the transition to a toddler bed is sometimes difficult...even if they ask or if they have climb out! ha!:) Plus, when she is in the crib, you know where she is, and you can contain her...once you switch over, it is a whole new game! So, if you haven't seen a sign that she is ready, don't rush it. :) You will be glad you didn't ! Good luck! jen

L., it is up to you really. I have four children and they all moved on at different ages. The first at 12 mo becasue she could throw herself over the edge after climbing up the bummper pads. Then number two, he moved at about 16 months for the same reason, and I HAD removed the bummper pads, he was just a climber and wanted to be out!!! Number three was taken out at 9mo. becasue she had had surgery and her crib in the hospital was white as well as her crib at home and it terrified her and she wouldn't sleep. We put her on the mattress on the floor, no frame under her, until she turned 12mo.Then put her in the toddler frame when she wiggled less at night. THe last little guy wanted out at 11 mo. He hated not being able to find me when he woke up. ALl this said, it really depends on: are you ready to return them to the bed a million times at night, and sleep on the floor trying to get them to stay, having them wake you before you are ready to wake becasue they are able to move from room to room ( was a big issue in our home with stairs). THere is no real age that is best or to early. IT is up to what works for you. I had a girl friend that had her kids in it til they turned three. THey would wake and just play til she retrieved them. I was so jealous wishing mine would have like the crib more. Good luck!!!

It varies. Unless your child is trying to launch overboard out of the crib, keep your daughter in the crib. Some mothers will say that they want their child to wait for them so when they wake up they can get them out of the crib, but some children are not going to wait. My son launched out of his crib when he was 16 months old. He is still in the crib, but we use a bed side rail on the crib, tucked well under the mattress, so he can easily crawl out of the crib by himself when he wakes up (there is about an 8" gap between the frame of the crib and the side rail). He somehow understands not to launch over the top of the side rail and crawl out. We have never had an accident with this unconventional arrangement. We are going to move him to a full size bed next month when he turns three and use the side rail again. We didn't use a toddler bed for any of our three children, because it seemed like just one more adjustment to a new sleep situation. My recommendation is to keep her in her crib as long as possible, than move her to an adult bed when she is around 3.

The only real time to move them out is when they start to try to climb out of the crib and that is a safety issue. I put my 18 month in a toddler bed because I needed the crib for the baby. I just got a safety first bedrail and put it on the bed and got a sturdy little stuffed chair she could use to get into bed. It worked fine...just know that if they don't have those bars, they will be out of bed in the morning and your days may start sooner!

I have had friends tell me and I have donbe this myself too.Wait till there ready to move out is long as they are not out of room.You will know when it is time from the signs they send out.And it is hard for some to deal with but I know a few others that siad no problems moving from one to the next.You will want to be ready for the ones that get up alot as infeants because they can come in and wake you up now.

I still had my oldest in a crib when my second came along they are 27 months apart.He started runnning out of room because he is tall for his age,we skipped that toddler bed because of him being tall it was like being in the crib and a waste of money.We found a great twin sized low to the ground bed at walmart.It is a great stater bed for what you need now it has three drawers and a book case headbroad.I belief we paid less the 2 hundred shipped

I would not be in a fast pace about it on less you need the crib and do not want to buy another,it just means time is flying by.My second who is alomost 29mo is still in her crib and is not at all wanting to be out of the crib yet she is happy and a small for her age kinda girl so she has plenty of room.

Sorry for the long story here,really my best advice is just like everything with kiddos wait till there ready or showing signs to let you know they want to change.

Good Luck

I moved my DD to her toddler bed when she was about 18 months. She hadn't climbed out of the bed yet but I saw her hike her leg up and I just imagined her falling out. So we took her crib and converted it. The best thing I can tell you let her watch you change the bed. Make it a big deal that she's getting a bed like mommy and daddy. Then just make sure you put some pillows or blankets down on the ground right below the bed. Sydney fell out of the bed 1 time but we have all sorts of pillows and stuff down there to soften her fall. The first couple nights she's probably going to get out of her bed and wander around so make sure her room is baby proofed. She'll figure it out in time. Sydney plays around in her room but always seems to make it back into her bed at night. Hope that's helpful!