Transitioning to a Toddler Bed from Crib

Hi J.,
I put my 19 month old into her toddler bed at 15 months. We too have the 3 in one crib. The first night she did get up and wonder around, but we just put a rail up and then shut her door the next night. She climbed right back in her bed and went to sleep. It hasn't been an issue since. Well, I wouldn't say totally. She has gotten up a couple of times and climbed into our bed. But I don't mind that every once in a while. My kids like to sleep with us if they had a nightmare or something. So, I say it just depends on your kid, and your own gut feeling. If you think your child is mature enough, go for it. I don't think there is a magic age. BTW we have also started introducing the potty and it is hit and miss for us. BUt I am not pushing the issue right now.

Wait i put my son in a toddler bed at 1 1/4 years old. I regret it because he did great for a week. Then he keept getting out of bed especially when it was nap time. My advice would be to wait until about 2. Once you give them a bed with freedom they will never go back to a crib.
S. c

We moved both our oldest and youngest daughter into toddler beds at around 14-15 months. We moved them into a toddler bed when they started to look a little to tall for the crib. I was fearful of them climbing out of the crib. We called it "the big girl bed" and they could not wait to sleep in their new bed. I was a little worried about them getting up and roaming around the house all night long, but a dark house isn't very inviting. We had a little trouble keeping our youngest in the bed but she eventually learned. My husband and I created a new bedtime routine when our oldest first slept in her toddler bed. She would choose a book, my husband and I took turns tucking her in and reading aloud. After that it was lights out. The routine worked for us and both our daughters.

You will find what works for your family and your child.

Hi J., I don't think there is any magic age, I think it depends on the child, 11 months would be to young if the child would get up and wonder through the house at night, but one who wouldn't it would be fine, before I put my kids in a twin bed I first started them out on their crib mattress on the floor, I put their stuffed animals all the aroung the mattress, and then when they could sleep on that with out rolloing off them I put them in the twin bed, all before 2 years old. J.

J.,
I also have a 15 month old and he is in a crib. I probably won't put him in the toddler bed for a while- I guess I'm concerned with him climbing out of it in the middle of the night. We've also started potty training (just letting him know that he has to sit in his potty chair after he poops). Anyway, I guess my advice is to just watch your child and take her cues. She'll let you know when she is ready.
Good luck,
F.

The answer is as long as they'll stay in the crib. What's the rush? My friends moved their little girl to a bed before she was two and they're miserable. Are you ready for your child to roam around the house at night? There is no benefit to moving a child to a bed early. Also, with potty training, just be ready at 18 months. Wait for her to tell you. My daughter is 21 months and she started a couple of months ago. I have to tell you it's still pretty young. Just try not to push these things. They'll be apparent to you if you are looking for them. Good luck!

We moved our first daughter into her big girl bed at 19 months, and our second daughter at 15 months. Both times, we did it because we were expecting our next child, and we wanted them to be in their new beds for a few months before the baby arrived. We never wanted them to feel displaced from their crib for the new baby. (The crib would sit empty for months, so that once the newborn moved out of the bassinet in our room, the girls never even thought of the crib as 'theirs'). I don't think there is any reason to rush, though.

We found that although they were on the young side, we were very successful at transferring the "crib rules" to the bed. They never get out. My oldest daughter got out once, but scared herself by getting stuck between the sliding closet doors. She didn't get out again for months, and only occasionally in the morning to come to our room. She has modeled this beautifully for our second daughter, who has always just called for us or cried to be gotten out. I'm sure that it helped that the bed had rails on all sides, to help with the 'crib-like' feeling.