When to Move from a Crib to Big Boy Bed???

Once they start climbing out, it's time. They're going to get out anyway, need to prevent the 'fall'! Usually, you can get them a cute bed-set in a character they love, and that helps entice them into their 'big' bed.

We moved both our kids to a regular bed and added those safety rails on the sides of the bed when they turned 2. Both were out of necessity for the same reason, they were climbing out and I was afraid they were going to fall.

Realistically, if the kid is getting out of the crib, you have little choice and it is safer to have him in a bed he won't hurt himself getting out of. My kids were weird, they didn't want out of the crib. I moved my daughter to a bed because I didn't want her thinking she was getting kicked out of the bed by the new baby that was born when she was 3.

If mine had been climbers, I would have put them in a bed much sooner than I did but even then, I think all three were in a regular bed around 2 years of age so you are on track if you do it now I think. It should really be the child's behavior and needs that determine the bed thing.

HI J.,

I'm a mom of three boys, now almost grown but when they were babies I transitioned them into a regular "big boy" bed around 14 months. My first son was climbing out at an early age so we got him a bed. He did just fine and never fell out or anything. So, with my second and third sons, I did the same thing and never had issues with it. Good Luck!!

LOL my son scaled the baby gate as soon as he got out of the crib! We just went straight from crib to reg. sized twin bed that is low to the ground already.

I would get a toddler bed and put the side rails on it to help keep him in it and then put a baby gate at the door to his room.

Our oldest son was 2 when we put him into a twin size bed - It was very very h*** o* him... He was so attached to his baby bed by that time. The other two boys we put into a twin between 9 and 12 months with a side rail... They did great with no attachments to the baby bed. If you are wanting them closer to the floor in case they happen to wiggle up past the rail don't put the box springs on it, just the mattress and he will be closer to the ground.

We went straight from the crib that he was climbing out of to a twin size bed from IKEA. I believe it's the MALM bed. He has done fine.

When my son was 24 months he climbed/fell out of his crib several days in a row as well. I ordered a crib tent but while waiting for it to arrive we just put the side rail of the crib down. It doesn't go all the way down, just about halfway. Strangest thing is, once we lowered the rail, he hasn't tried to climb out again! It's now been about 6 months and he still sleeps in his crib without trying to get out. We put a baby gate at the door just in case he does climb out, but so far he hasn't. My daughter was in a crib until 3 and we're hoping to do the same for my son. It's just EASIER. So maybe try lowering the rails and just see what happens?

We moved my son right after his 2nd birthday, just because I was pregnant with my daughter and needed the crib to get her room ready. It took him about a month to get used to the big boy bed. I had to do the whole "SuperNanny" bed time routine where I sit in the room until he falls asleep. It worked, but it took a while. I would definitely look into getting him out of the crib, since he's falling out of it.

Definitely time to put him in a toddler bed. We moved our daughter to a bed when she was 17 months because our son was on the way and would need the crib. You'll need the side rails for a couple of months, but after that should be fine. It's great when they're younger because many of them don't realize they can get down and run around. They wake up and stay sitting on their bed waiting for you to get them, just like when they were in a crib. Also, they transition much better before they're 2!
We ended up moving my son at 17 months too because I went to get him up one morning and he had one leg over the top of the rail, ready to climb out. That night we disassembled the crib and put a bed in it's place. The bed was shaped like a fire truck. He was so awestruck by it that he didn't say a word. Never had a problem going to bed in it.