When to Move to Toddler Bed? - Green Bay,WI

You'll need him out of the crib when he potty trains so he can get to the washroom. My boys went from the crib to the big bed (twin size, not toddler) at about 2 1/2 and potty trained at 3. We had a railing that kept them from falling out of the bed, but they could climb out the end to get to the bathroom.

We went from crib to a twin mattress on the floor for all three of our kids, at around 18 months.
They were in a regular bed (twin frame/box springs) by age two, no biggie.
I never even thought about it, honestly, I just liked the idea of putting them in a regular bed around the same time they were weaned, it just felt natural, and they responded well so I suppose it was a good idea!
To me toddler beds always just seemed like a waste of money.

He's too old for a toddler bed. He is old enough to go in a regular bed. A toddler bed is for toddlers not preschool age kids. They are usually labeled for ages 12 months up to ages 24 months.

Skip it since you've waited too long. He will be much more comfortable in a bed that is his size.

My oldest son was @ 12 months and we moved him b/c he kept climbing out of his crib! Auntie bought him a firetruck bed and the transition was a breeze!

2nd son was closer to 2y/o when he started escaping and his transition was just as easy b/c by then we had bought the boys a set of bunk beds and they were both in love with them and the idea of sharing a room, which they had to do to make way for baby sister!

Daughter was exactly 2y/o and we moved her not b/c she learned to climb out of her crib but b/c MIL bought her a cute twin size bed, she was also easy to transition b/c she loved shopping for her new sheet/quilt set, she's such a girl!

~I agree that at 2.5 he is too big for a toddler bed, it will be a waste of money...if I were you, I would go straight to a regular size bed, twin or full, whichever way you are going to go.

at least 3..mine stayed in a crib till 3 and 3.5. wait till they climb out.

it is nice to put them in a crib an know they are safe.

If he's not trying to get out, I would not switch him yet. Then you just have a 2 yr old able to get up and run around. Switch when he tries to get out of the crib. We switched after 3 and he did fine. We switched because he was able to get out of the crib. He loved his crib but then had a buzz Lightyear toddler bed so he loved that too. He did start getting up which was a pain but probably normal.

I moved my little one out of the crib and into the toddler bed somewhere between 2 and 2.5. She wasn't a climber and would have never climbed out, but we were potty training for naptime and night-time, so we knew she would need to be able to get up and go. Also, I could just tell that sometimes she just wanted in her bed during the day to relax or play a bit or get to her blankie. She would try to climb in, but never out. She did just fine switching her to a "big girl" bed. I wouldn't say that she "never" got out of bed, but usually it was only once or twice a night, if at all.

I think you probably have the same crib set up as we did. She slept in the toddler bed until she was 3.5. Then she was too big for the toddler bed so we changed it to the full size bed. Now she looks so small in that big bed :) I would say the plus about switching to the crib toddler bed, over a twin or full size bed, is that they don't get it into their heads that you can lay with them or sleep with them in their bed. It also keeps you from crawling in his bed if it's a bad night and you just want him to go to sleep. Once you do it once, they remember! Good luck.

My daughter moved her first child from the crib to the toddler bed when she started climbing out of the crib. I don't remember her age. My daughter did not use the toddler bed, even tho I still had it, with her next 2 children. They went from the crib to a twin bed. For her second she put a mesh railing with a base that slipped under the mattress to provide a barrier. With her third she didn't even use that. I suggest you can save yourself the cost of a toddler bed. He will outgrow the toddler bed quickly. The mattress is a crib mattress. How long is he now in comparison to the length of his bed?

Move him when he's able to climb out of the crib, or anytime you want before that. My grandchildren had no difficulty transition to the twin bed. And it was easier to sit down with them for bedtime stories.

3rd bday we set bed up. Few weeks later she said she wanted to sleep tgere n did great!

Your little one is growing up. Is it time to switch him from his crib to a bed of his own? If so, how do you help him make that transition safely and easily?

Most kids make the transition from crib to bed between the ages of 1 ½ and 3 ½ years of age. The development level of each child will vary, and kids should not move from crib to bed until they are ready to do so. Factors to consider when deciding if it’s time to make the big move: does your little one fit comfortably in his crib or is he getting too big for it: Is he an active sleeper? Is he potty trained?

Once you’ve decided it’s time for the change, as a parent or nanny, here are some tips for making the transition as smooth as possible.

Make a fuss over him for becoming “soooo big” and getting his own “real bed”, instill in him a sense of pride for this accomplishment
Let him help pick out his new bed
Install bumpers or guardrails on the bed and leave them in place until he gets used to sleeping on the bed
Place the bed where the crib used to be so he can sleep in the same location as always (even though on a different surface)
Let him take crib bedding to bed with him for the comfort of the familiar
For the first few weeks, focus extra attention on him each night leading up to going to bed, and make sure to cuddle with him in bed for a while as you read a bedtime story to him.
http://blog.nannies4hire.com/cribtobed/767

My oldest son slept in his crib until he was nearly 3, when we converted it to a toddler bed. My second son started to climb out around 20 mos, and it was HELL trying to get him to stay in bed once he moved to the toddler bed. Baby #3 is still in his crib, and is nearly 20 mos. I am dreading the transition out of the crib, because right now he is a phenomenal sleeper (usually 7pm-7am + 1-2 naps per day). I say, don't mess with a good thing. If he's doing well in it, let him keep sleeping in it until it no longer works for him (meaning, he is climbing out, or isn't comfy in it).

My oldest had just turned 3 and he was moved out of the crib to get ready for his new brother. We moved him into a Little Tikes race car bed that we bought gently used for a reasonable price and he used it until he was 5. My younger son transitioned at 18 months because he jumped out of his crib. He started with just a mattress on the floor and then went to the toddler bed. It was tough. He did NOT want to stay in bed, but we couldn't leave him safely in the crib. I didn't trust the crib netting--he was a very active and persistent little guy. He used the race car toddler bed too. I personally like the toddler bed option, made for a nice transition for us. They loved having a "race car" bed. My kids are on the small side and did not outgrow it quickly. I also think 2 1/2 is still a "toddler" IMO.

When my daughter started climbing out too.

We moved ours to a toddler around 18 months. Both kids climbed out of the crib by that point. It took quite a bit of work to get them to stay in their new bed, but it was certainly safer than having them fall off the side of the crib.