What Is an Appropriate Age to Put My Daughter in a Toddler Bed?

I have a friend who has done daycare for years. She said their rules is a child can stay in a playpen/crib til 18mos. So when my oldest got to be about 23-24 months old I put her into a toddler bed to put my 4mos old in a crib. It was a new thing to her to have the freedom to get up instead of the bars on all sides. But after the new wore off it helped. I just had to remind her it's her bed and at naptime and bedtime she had to be in the bed just as she did her crib. Patience worked too, they'll pick up what they're supposed to do.

I put my daughter in a toddler bed when she was 15 months old. She is now 19 months old and weve only had one rough night, and that was her first night. We bought her the Dora bed and bedding from Wal-Mart and there is a princess drape that hangs from the ceiling and goes around the bed to make her feel like a princess and she loves it. She does get out of the bed at times to play with her toys but I just let her stay in there until she falls asleep. At first she was falling asleep on the floor and i would put her back in the bed, but after a month or so she puts her self back in the bed. She also sleeps with 3 of her favorite stuffed animals and her blanky of course. If you just make it fun for them then I think it may be easier then it sounds!

Our daughter went to a toddler bed at 2 and then a twin size bed at 3. The first time she slept in it was for nap time (practice run so she knew what to expect at night). She got oup once and I firmly told to she had to stay in her bed. She stayed in it every time there after. I would make it exciting for her and talk about how she's getting a big girl bed and include her in picking it out and all of the bedding. They have those cute toddler boxes that has a toddler bed, table/two chairs/ and a toy shelf for around $100 at WalMart. They have lots of cool characters to choose from too. Get her ready by telling her since she's a big girl now, her baby sister needs the baby bed so she needs to share. Maybe your oldest can buy your youngest something for the crib so it's like she's physically giving the bed to the baby. That might help her not be jealous when someone else is sleeping in her old bed :)

We put our daughter in a twin bed when dhe was like 25 months. Yes they will get out of bed a few times! If your worried about her getting up and getting in to things you could always put a baby gate up in the door way. As for explaining it to her maybe get a new bedset or "buddy" to sleep with. Good Luck!

Hi M.,
I would make it a "BIG DEAL" if you are. I don't think there is a correct age. I think it depends on the child. I watch a little girl that is 19 months and she has slept in a toddler bed for 6 months or so now. she is doing awesome in it. we started here at daycare just getting her to sleep on the couch with a pillow and a blanket. thats where the kids nap my daughter and this little girl.
I would take her shopping for new bedding, new bed if you need to get one and other things that may seem like a "BIG GIRL'S" room. If you are gonna change your youngest one's bed it would probably be a good idea for the oldest also.
My 3 yr old wouldn't sleep in her crib from about 9 months on so I changed her to a toddler bed and she has slept in it, now she sleeps in a regular bed and haven't had any problems.
Now that doesn't mean she won't come in your room towards the early morning but you can either take her back to her bed or let her stay depending on what time you guys get up in the mornings. hope this helps W. mom of 4

The general rule is to take a child out of the crib when they start climbing out of the crib. I think an even better one is to take them out when you need the crib as you do.

My oldest was out of the crib at about 18 months because we didn't have one at my grandmother's house when my ex sent us home from Ft. Campbell. I didn't have room in the car for it to drive home.

My middle boy was in his until well over 2 because we didn't have a toddler bed nor the money to buy one. We were given one and he slept in it for about 2 weeks before my mom bought him a twin sized race car bed.

My youngest was in a play pen until he turned about 2 1/2 simply because we moved and he needed the continuity.

You also have to make a choice between transitioning beds and potty training because trying to do both is rough on the kid.

I think every child is different. The sleep books I've read say around the age of 3 is a good time to transition from a crib to a bed, but both of my girl moved around the age of 2.

We had to try three times with our eldest. She kept getting out of bed and not falling asleep until very late. It was making her overtired and cranky, so we would wait a week or so and try again (her little sis needed the crib!). With my youngest there wasn't much effort involved because she wanted to sleep with big sis. Every kid is different and you'll know whether the time is "right" or not by the degree of difficulty you are having.

Some tips: ask her if she wants to nap there and let it feel like her decision. Make it a fun milestone to being a big girl. After a few successful naps you might ask her at bedtime where she wants to sleep. I would put the focus on her and refrain from mentioning that her crib is going to be occupied soon! We also put a body pillow along the side of the bed that was against the wall and that helped my daughter feel more secure (she was afraid of the crack) and kept any books or animals from falling back there.

All my best to you - I send you tons of patience!

I put my oldest in a toddler bed at 11 months and my youngest in one at 16 months. Whenever you feel they are ready to go into a toddler bed then i would do it. i also put a gate at her door so that if they got up and i wasnt up yet they couldnt get into anything.

Hi M., I have a son that is almost 3 and we put him in a toddler bed a few months ago and we haven't had a problem with him staying in bed. The key to it is to establish a bedtime routine and she will know it is bed time and if she does get up tell her it is time to go night-night and put her back in her bed everytime she gets up. If our son calls to us we see what he needs and take care of it for him. He usually won't even get out of bed in the morning unless we come in and tell him it is okay. Good luck!!

My daughter is 22 months old and we just moved her to a twin bed about a month-in-a-half ago because I'm due with a little boy in two weeks. We hated to buy another crib for the short time it'd get used. I had the same fears that she wouldn't stay in bed, etc. But to my surprise she loves her new big girl bed. She even wants to play in it all day long. We just made a really big deal about how she's such a big girl. We all climbed in it and laid the first day. Then come bedtime she just went in and climbed in her new bed like it was nothing. So you maybe surprised at how well she'll adapt. Good luck.

We also re-did her bedroom right before we put her in the bed so she would feel even more special. (New paint, bedding, and then new furniture).

When it was time for my son to move to a toddler bed he went with us to pick it out and helped my husband put it together. The whole time we were telling him what a big boy he was and hoy babies sleep in cribs and big boys sleep in big boy beds. At first he wanted nothing to do with it, but after he helped dad put it together he was excited. Of course, we put up the bed rails. Hope this helps!

My daughter was about 24 months when we transitioned her, but I'm sure 21 months would be fine. Like someone else said, lots of people have to do it younger because the child is in danger due to climbing out. My daughter has never gotten out of bed in the middle of the night. I think the biggest thing to start out with is: Don't put the idea in her head. Don't start out by telling her not to get out of bed. The only thing she's going to hear is: Get out of bed. Just go through your normal routine and put her to bed like normal. I know all kids aren't the same, but that's what we did with our daughter, and it has been a success so far (she's 27-months now).

I am a SAHM with a 23 month old son. We moved my son to a toddler bed when he was about 15 mo. old b/c he climbed out of his bed and fell onto our hardwood floors. You are right it is an adjustment you can't just put them in there and expect them to take a nap or go to sleep. We are still adjusting to the new freedom. If she doesn't seem to be trying to get out of the crib leave here there as long as it is safe. You will both rest easier.

I don't know if there is an appropriate age or not, I think it is just when you feel your child is ready. I moved my twins to toddler beds at 22 1/2 months and then my youngest I moved at 2 years. They all did great with it and I loved them not being in a crib any longer. Good Luck