Moving Her Out of the Crid?

Updated on October 17, 2009
C.D. asks from Harpers Ferry, WV
15 answers

My boyfriend and i are planning on giving our daughter a big girl bed and bedspread for Christmas. She'll be just over 2 1/2 then and we believe she is ready to move out of her crib. My mother on the other hand thinks that she is too small for a bed (even though her crib has the side down so she can get up in the morning. she's never rolled out or gotten hurt. Although my daughter is on the smaller side I believe she's ready for the change from baby to toddler. any opinion would be helpful. Thanks :)

2 moms found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.D.

answers from Dallas on

I would take the crib out of her room and leave her mattress on the floor until Christmas. That way she will be fully prepared for the change.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.K.

answers from Washington DC on

We put my son in his big boy bed a few months before he turned 3. His bed is the full size guest bed that we didn't want to have to get rid of (husband brought it with him from Sweden). We were worried about him falling out because he would travel circles around his crib throughout the night, so we took the feet off the bed, put it against two walls, and put a guardrail type thing against the open long side. Ends up he barely moves during the night now, and he's never fallen out. He stays put until he wakes up in the morning and comes running to our room. He had no problems transitioning (very excited about the new room). The only thing we do differently is make sure our gate is closed at the top of the stairs all night long just in case he gets up. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Washington DC on

You know your girl best.
Here's what we did- if you have the space (it was cramped for a little while but it was nice.) we had the toddler bed in the room for a month or so before we got her out of the crib. we did story time on the toddler bed and snuggles and then put her to bed in the crib.
She got used to laying there and being peaceful.
That was our first daughter and she was 23 months.

Our second daughter, is 2.5 and she is NO WHERE NEAR ready for it. We are following our instincts and will wait with her, though I cannot wait to get rid of the crib and all.

S0- each kid is different. You know her. But you could try having both in the room, too. :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi

You need to do what you think is best for your daughter , if she has the side off the crib then she is practically there anyway , regular beds are highrer off the floor so if you do have any concers then you could get a bed guard just incase she does fall out. She will love it and no she is not too young at 2 1/2 , my son was 18 months when he went into a bed but he was quite big for his age and my daughter was almost 2 1/2.

Hope this helps

K.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.L.

answers from Washington DC on

We moved our daughter out of her crib to a twin mattress on the floor when she was 16 months out of necessity (a new baby on the way, didn't want to buy a new crib). We got these things called Bedbug Bumpers that go under the fitted sheet and prevent her from rolling out of bed, and they work great. To be honest, we were way more nervous about the transition than she was. She's never even asked about her crib since the day we moved it out of her room.

L.M.

answers from Norfolk on

My guess is that you've either put the crib rail way down or removed it to make a toddler bed, either of which is probably safe. Are you thinking of getting her a toddler bed, full or twin size? Either way, just be sure to get a crib rail for it. I bet she'll love all the room! No offense, but most of our moms still see us as children not capable of making decisions on our own, so thank her for her advice, and do what you and your boyfriend think is best for your little girl!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Dover on

All of mine were out of the crib before 2. The first two due to an addition but the baby started climbing out at 15 months. She sleeps in the crib for naps and with her sisters in the big bed at night. I put the mattress on the floor against a wall for the first one but didn't worry so much with the next ones. DO what works for your family.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

It's not safe having her climb in and out of a crib. She could very easily tip it over on herself. A bed will only be safer. Get her dual bed rails (don't push against the wall where she could be trapped). She will love it and you will be mosre certain of her safety. She is also an appropriate age, assuming the room and other rooms she has access to are childproofed.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.W.

answers from Washington DC on

My daughter is 3 and still sleeps in her crib (funny at times and people make fun of me all the time) - I even have a toddler elmo bed that I have had since last Christmas- we haven't put it up yet - she LOVES climbing in and out of it - and she hasn't hurt herself by doing that (for you concerned moms out there) and I figure it won't hurt her -I mean the crib mattress is the same as the toddler bed mattress - so it's just up to you - Do what works for YOU, you kids and your family.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.K.

answers from Washington DC on

One of my sons was ready to get to a big boy at 18months, the other at 24 months. It sounds like yours is ready too. He will look small in that bed, bed that will change. Have fun and enjoy!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Lynchburg on

My son was done with his crib when he was 1, so we had him in a toddler bed. He was in a regular twin bed at 2, but ours had a board across the whole frame, so we didn't use the box springs so he'd be able to get up and down easier. A few months later we added the box spring, and a step stool. He did fine-no problems transitioning or getting hurt or anything. The one thing I'd say is to get one or two of those bed guards (depending on how you have the bed positioned-if it's against a wall it obviously doesn't need one) that keep the child from falling off if they move a lot. My daughter will be in her toddler bed for a while though. She moved to that about 3 months ago, and could have stayed in the crib longer, probably, but it was okay and more convenient when we moved. I can tell she's not ready for the changes the way my son was. I think it's much more about knowing your child than an age. If you think it'll be absolutely fine-go for it!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.R.

answers from Washington DC on

C. - I think the more important part of the equation here is not how big she is but how mature she is. If she's mature enough for the bed then her size will catch up. If she's not mature then more time in the crib might be beneficial.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Moving your daughter is when you and she think she is ready. We moved my daughter 2 1/2 year old daughter in the last month. We have kept up her crib incase it doesn't work out, but she seems to be doing great. If you have the space, it's a great way to make sure. I would also recommend a railing for the side of the bed. I understand she has been in the crib with no side rail, but the big girl bed is a little higher. Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.B.

answers from Norfolk on

our daughter is 2 1/2 as well. we took the side rail off her bed at 18 months ( she was jumping out) and so it appears as if she has a daybed. I am thinking of moving her into a tot bed. since it would be the same size as her crib...just without sides. however she seems quite pleased with where she is now. I wish ya luck! they have to move up sometime!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Your mom means well but you know your child best. Smile at her, thank her sincerely, and do what you think is best here. A toddler bed or mattress on the floor is fine. Your daughter is already pretty old to be in a crib (in my opinion) because I bet she's more than able to climb out of it if you put the side up -- you know that already since you've kept the side down, so why not get rid of the crib? Regarding cribs overall, I've said it before in other posts but I'll say it again -- think of the distance from the top of a raised crib rail to the floor, and how far that distance is to a toddler. Now imagine her falling from that height -- onto her head. My friend's daughter broke her arm falling onto the floor as she climbed out of a crib; if she'd fallen on her head or neck, who knows what the result might have been? You say you're not putting up the side of the crib, but a fall onto her head or neck from even that height could be, at a minimum, scary for you all....Be aware, you will have to have some new routines for bedtime and will have the classic problem of "how do we keep her in her toddler bed, she's up 10 times after lights out" etc. Search Mamasource past postings for lots of those postings and advice! But it's worth it to get rid of the crib. She's ready.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches