When Should I Transfer My 20-Month Old Daughter to a Toddler Bed?

My 4yr old made the switch aorund 2yrs. He has always fallen asleep to a music cd. When we switched him he was allowed to pick out 2 toys to take to bed (usually he picked hot wheels cars). He was told not to get out of bed while his music was playing. He'd play for a little bit but by the time the cd was over he'd be asleep. We put a gate on his door so he couldn't roam the house alone. He'd wake in the morning and call for me from the gate.

I would change to a toddler bed now. As for keeping her in her bed, that shouldnt be too hard. Leave her bedroom door open, and set a baby gate up in the door way, so if she does wake up in the night she wont be able to leave her bedroom. Hope this was helpful..Good luck

Hi A.,

my advise to you is keep her in crib as long as possible. I have a 21 month old who loves to climb but never out of her crib. I put her down for naps and bed time she is still up and i know that if it were not for the crib she would not stay. My older daughter (4 in dec.) only came out of the crib when seh was 2 because the baby was coming and i didnt want her to feel like once the baby was here she got the boot.
Good luck!
M.

A.,
I would love to find out how people respond to your question! We have an 18 month old and I have been thinking about putting her into a toddler bed sometime down the road, but I'm not sure when is a good time. I'm sure at first it will be a learning process for everyone. We'll have to "teach" her how to sleep in the bed.

A.

Well I missed the boat so to speak with my eldest and he did fall out of the crib. So we bought those bedrails and put him in a double and he did get out and we had to make sure the bedroom was toddler proof but eventually he would go to sleep, albeit on the floor at times. The good news he is now 19 and sleeps in a bed and is very successful in the Navy.

My other 3 were transfered into a toddler bed at about 2 and it was a big to do with new pj's and sheets. All three of the toddler beds came from garage sales or resale shops. The first couple nights will be new so she wont' want to go to sleep right away but she will get the hang of it.
I like the idea of a screen door that you can lock from the outside or a baby gate in front of the toddler's room. I never liked closing the door on my kids.

We moved my oldest son out of his crib and into his toddler bed about 20ish months. It is expected that your little girl will get out of bed for a bit, but you can just calmly put her back to bed, tell her goodnight, and shut the door. She'll get it. You might be surprised, even! My son LOVED his bed. He felt so special and like a big boy. We would put him in his room and close the door and, while we would hear him get up and play some, he always crawled into his bed before long and fell asleep. Besides, it's just a stage to fight through if she does keep getting up. Better than her getting hurt, I imagine.

Good luck! Maybe you can let her pick out her own bed so that she will be more excited about it?

I transfered all of my kids when I first noticed that they were able to climb out of their crib which was right around 2 years old. Of course b/c of the freedom they did get up and wander about in their room, but that eventually gets old and they would just lay down and go to sleep. If it did become a problem, I would just be firm and consistent by making them stay in their bed.

I asked some friends of ours the same thing, as they had two children, the youngest of which was four at the time. The response? "When she can climb out." She climbed over the edge (and fell to the floor, unscathed) for the first time when she was about 21 months old. She didn't attempt to climb out (to our knowledge, at least) again for about four more months. Then she seemed interested in climbing again, and let herself down pretty gently to the floor about three times in a week and a half. At that point, we went to a toddler bed (her crib converted to one).

I'm sure every child is different, so I don't know what you'll experience with regard to letting herself out of bed. Our little girl initially would get up when she heard the first one of us up and about in the morning, which was usually before she ought to get up, and it meant an earlier nap was in order on those days. But within about five or six weeks, when the novelty wore off, she resumed sleeping in and waiting for us to open her bedroom door before getting up, even if she had been awake and talking to one of her stuffed animals for twenty minutes. Or, from upstairs, over the baby monitor she would holler out
Mommy or Daddy, we would respond good morning, and yell back to her to get up and come see us downstairs, which she would do immediately. She's three and a half now, and that is still the routine. Without talking to her about it, she seems to have recognized on her own that when we come and get her in her room is when she should get out of bed, and no sooner (i.e. Saturday morning later sleep in for her parents is not a problem, provided the chit-chat on the baby monitor is not too loud or too entertaining :)

Good luck!

Hey A., I will help you the best I can. With my daughter's the I never used a toddler bed. With my oldest we used our full size which was too small for my husband and I so we gave it to her. She did really well. I thought for sure she'd get out all of the time to play but I am so glad she never did. My youngest who just turned 3 a month ago or so just went into her big girl bed. We got her a twin. It was one of those bed in a box type things that Wal-Mart has. She loves it. She is more energetic than my oldest and I was terrified that she'd never stay in it either. She knows that when it's bedtime she is to stay in her bed. She doesn't go right to sleep either, she'll sing and scream happily until she is tired enough to sleep. I think your daughter will do the same. If you tell her that it's bedtime and to stay in her bed and not to get out unless she has a very good reason too, then she should stay put. I know she's only 20 months old but they do understand more than we give them credit for. I hope this helps you. If your daughter isn't climbing out of her crib, I would keep her in it as long as you can, that's just my advice, mine never climbed out of their crib and I kept them in it utnil they turned 3 and they are fine for being in a crib that long. Take care, best of luck. J. A.

We did it at 17 months. I caught my son climbing out of the crib, after I started to breath again, we got him a toddler bed. But I agree with another mom who said to simply transition her to a full size with guardrails. That way you will not have to worry about getting her another bed ever again. YAY!

Good luck and God Bless,

I guess it depends on how well she minds you. We changed ours over at 26 monts. We really could have waited, I just became impatient about fixing her a cute roome without a baby bed. I guess because she couldn't get out of the baby bed and she had to stay there, she apparently thought that is how it is in her big bed. I have never put her down sleeping. SHe has always been awake when I lay her down. And to this day she has never gotten out of her bed once we lay her down. She wakes up and it has been a while before I went to get her BUT she always has stayed in her bed.
I guess you just never know till you try it.
But that is why I waited till she was 26 months before I put her in a big bed.... I didn't want to have to deal with her getting out all of the time.... but turns out she is real good about that.

Every child is different. I moved my older son to a toddler bed when he was about 15 months old (my younger son was born when he was 19 m/o, so I wanted to make the change a few months before he was born). He had been climbing into and out of his crib since he was about 13 m/o, but was always a good sleeper, and was never really a problem once in the toddler bed. My younger son was a bit older when we changed him -- I finally moved him because my older son was wanting to climb back into the crib, and the two of them would end up jumping up and down in it, which wasn't good! He also made the switch w/o any problems. He also had been climbing in and out of his crib for a while, so although he would get up in the middle of the night and come to me, it wasn't any different from when he was in the crib.

I'm definitely in the wait-as-long-as-possible camp. We moved our oldest early (he was close to two but had never given a thought to climbing out) because we needed to use the crib for his new little brother. It was a long struggle to teach him to stay in bed to go to sleep (although both of our kids tend to stay in bed during the night, they both have had a hard time with learning to stay in bed to fall asleep--and both were good sleepers beforehand). Our youngest was just over two when he started climbing out of the crib. I wasn't really worried about him getting hurt (climbing the crib is really no trickier than what they climb at the playground after all), but if he wasn't staying put in the crib, there was no point in keeping him there. However, even though he would pop out of the crib repeatedly once he could, he would stop and go to sleep sooner while still in the crib than in the toddler bed. It's been a few months now, and we have a reward chart going and everything because the youngest still won't just stay in bed at bedtime. I think our main issue is that the boys share a room, so we can't let them both wander around it until they decide to go to sleep. Our rule is that they have to stay in bed, and that was a rule that we had with our eldest too. The bright side is that the older one is great about staying in his bed once he's put there--but it did take work. I think it's great for all these parents who have kids who happily stay in their new big kid beds, but if you're daughter likes to climb and is energetic, she might not be one of those kids. Since you don't know for sure and your life really could be turned upside down once you make the switch, just wait. Good luck!

My son wasn't a climber and we only had to get him a bed on his 3rd birthday. But maybe you could do it for her 2nd birthday, have it be a "big girl" present. And then just put a gate up either at her door or the top of the stairs.

I've done this three times and vote for as late as possible. My kids all three could climb out but I enforced no climbing (it didn't take much) and they were all in their cribs until right at their third birthday. It's all they know, so it's not them wanting somewhere else to sleep, it's usually the parents who want the change (some just for the heck of it, they like toddler beds better than cribs I guess). My child was actually good at the climbing, so even if they ever did (and only one did), I wasn't worried about it. Putting her in a toddler bed at 20 months will change the whole house's sleep patterns. She will be up at will and will not feel any need to stay put (and it may even add to insecurity and make her get up more). You will need to secure not only her door but every door in the house for your peace of mind. I always remembered the stories of the kids walking out the front door while the parents were asleep, so you'd just want to secure her in her room or she will be able to wander the house at will. For awhile, I would just correct her when you see her climbing and keep her in as long as possible. Good luck!

I had this issue about 2 months ago. My daughter actually climbed out of her crib a couple of times, so I knew it was time. I removed anything that was potentially dangerous from the room (extra lamps, her dresser that could be pulled on top of her, etc) and put them where she can not get to them. I know this may be tough if your living space is small (secure what you can't move). What she required in her room was secured with double sided tape (so it will take her a while to be able to pry that up). I put her in bed every night and have doorknob covers on the door to her room and the closet door. I read her a story, then close the door and allow her to "play". The bed time never changed, but when she actually falls asleep has to some degree (she used to play in her crib too). I still have her baby monitor on and can assist her if she needs it. She has a nightlight in her room, so it is not scary. I have learned to adjust my expectations of bedtime and that seems to work for both of us. She will fall asleep when she is ready and the novelty of being "FREE" will wear off sooner than later. I hope this helps.

Hi A.,

We changed our daugthers bed about the same time and had the same fears. The first night was great. The next day she fiqured out that she could get out and she did. We followed the Super Nanny's rules. First time give kisses, tell her night night, tuck her in and leave. If she comes out take her back to the bed tell her it is time to go to bed and give her a kiss and then leave. Every time after that just take her back to bed and put her in the bed and then leave, do not say anything to her. I would lie IT IS HARD!! You get tired of taking them back to the bed, and when they cry your heart just breaks. After about a week it is done. Our daugther goes right to bed now. Every once in a while she will come out a second time but after we put her back she does not come back out. Sometimes she does come into the bedroom during the night and we just let her come in our bed. But that is our choice. Watch Super Nanny for helpful tips for sleep time.
Good Luck

My daughter was the same age when we put her in a toddler bed. She loved it. We have a side rail so she won't fall out. If you have the room set the bed up let her play on it for a few days to get used to it. Then put her down for bed in it. We did that with my daughter and son and it made for a very easy transition. Good luck.

Hi A.,

I recently had to make the same call with my son. I say wait until she actually climbs out of her crib. I had the same concern with my son because he was such a climber but I just held out, he actually did fall one time and he wasn't too keen on trying it again after that scare (thankfully he didn't seriously hurt himself, it's amazing what kids can survive.) He'll be three in January. I had to move him out of his crib because we started potty training him. I also had to leave him in his crib sometimes until he fell asleep. The amazing thing is that he's only gotten out of his "big boy" bed a couple of times. Each time I just calmly led him back to bed and said "it's bedtime please don't get out of bed again." Believe me I almost fell over the first time and he actually listened. He tends to be HARDHEADED. Anyway, hold out for as long as you can (within reason of course-hehe) because the more age and maturity they have the more likely they are to listen and understand when you tell them to stay in bed. Good luck. This is such a major transition for us moms. I hated to take the step because it just meant one step more away from my sweetheart being a baby. I also think that just moving her straight into a regular size bed is the way to go. I moved my son into a twin and he really seems to love it. I put one side against the wall but I never bothered with a guardrail. A dear friend who has two children with kids of their own advised against them saying they were a money racket. My son has never fallen out of his "big boy" bed. Of course you have to do what makes you comfortable. Take care!

Katie

She is ready now. Get a bed off of Craig's list or from a consignment shop. They don't get used too long. My daughter put her first in one, then had a gate across the doorway. Her now 3 yr old second child went right into a twin bed, with a good rail on it. She did great. Also a gate across the doorway.

A.
my 2 yr old is really big for his age and broke his crib so we put him in a twin bed right after my youngest son was born in january so he was around 27 months old but im not going to tell you its been easy because it hasnt till this day he has trouble falling asleep in that bed but i can put him in my fullsize bed andhes asleep in like 5-10 minutes hope this helped

tear

Make sure to get her up and OUT of the bed ASAP when she WANTS out. Keep 'beddy-bye' time pleasant and something to be looked forward to instead of something to 'fight'. That'll help you keep her in the crib longer until she's old enough that you can trust her to go to bed herself and get up herself. I don't know of any kids getting seriously injured while learning to climb out of a crib. (Thank God for Guardian angels!!) Just keep potentially dangerous objects away from where she WOULD fall if she DID fall, and maybe some stuffed animals around the base of the crib 'just in case'.

(My kids are 20, 23, 28, and 31 and HER kids [my grandkids] are 6, 2 and 1). Don't sweat the small stuff. Use your own feelings, morals, and beliefs to develop your OWN child-rearing strategy/strategies. THERE ARE NO HARD AND FAST PARENTING RULES!! Everyone has to make up their own as they go along, I'm afraid . . . ; )

I WOULD recommend that whenever you do make the shift from crib to toddler- or half-bed, change the bedtime routine as little as possible (bathtime, read a book, hugs, prayers, drinks, etc. -- whatever you do already)

Happy parenting!

If the baby does not roll off the bed then it may be safe. My son's room was right next to the stairs so I would put a baby gate at his doorway during naptime and nighttime. If I didn't he would either fall down the stairs or I would wake up in the middle of the night hearing horrible screams(not a way to wake up). My son had found his way downstairs and freaked out when it was dark and mommy wasn't there.

You could ease her into the bed by allowing her to sleep in it during the day. When she gets used to it then add in nighttime. God Bless~

I would recommend against a toddler bed. It's just another transition. We put my son in a full size bed with a guard on one side and the bed pushed up against the wall.

It's just another change you and your daughter will go through...I remember fondly when my son was in his crib and 'contained'! Then a friend's son who was a year older taught him how to climb in and out of the crib, and the crib went away and we got him a full size bed.

Our daughter was showing signs of trying to climb out of the crib as she approached her second birthday. We switched her to a "big girl bed" at 23 months. At first, she was so well trained from the crib that she would just stay in her bed until I went to get her up. But it didn't take her long to figure out that she could get up on her own. After she got me up at 2:30 in the morning, bright-eyed and ready to play in her playroom, my husband and I decided to put a baby gate across her door. I talked to her about it during the day before we first put it up, telling her that she would have a special gate at her door, and it would let her know that it was time to go back to her bed until Mommy came to get her up. She adjusted to it very quickly, probably because she was used to hanging out in her crib sometimes as she settled for sleep or when she first woke up in the mornings. There is still the risk of your child climbing over the gate, but that would be a much shorter fall than a fall out of the crib. If you're concerned about that, you could put a cushion in front of the gate. Good luck!