STM+ transferring from crib to bed

ac1259

OK...So I know I've asked this before. But now that we know LO is definitely a girl, DH and I are trying to decide if we should just keep the nursery the nursery and just put DD in a "big girl" room, or if we should just suck it up and get another crib. DD's crib is convertible so I don't really know if it's that big of an issue to just get another crib but who knows. 

So for those of you that have done an earlier transition to a toddler bed/possibly twin...would you think 14 months is too young? I would want to make the transition before new baby gets here, so I'd personally want that done in the beginning of December to give her a chance to adjust before we have a newborn. Or should I just let her stay in her crib where she's happy and just get to decorate a new room for a new baby? Thoughts from mom's who've BTDT would be appreciated:)

Piach

I'm definitely not in the same situation, but as a late transferrer (DD just switched at over 2.5), I would say that you could try converting to a toddler bed to see how it goes for a few weeks.  DD loved her crib and probably would have stayed in it until she physically out grew it, but the transition to the big bed hasn't been too bad.

Is your DD a good sleeper? Has she tried climbing out?

ac1259

@Piach- She is usually a good sleeper, she's teething right now so not as good currently, but typically very good. And she's not really interested in going anywhere, not climbing at all yet (knock on wood!). Thats what I'm wondering if it would just be worth it to leave her in there for awhile because we could probably get another year out of the crib if we wanted, then just convert to a toddler bed a little later. I'm just nervous about springing too much change on her at once. 

rowanthefrog

We transferred DS1 at 19 months and in retrospect I think it was too young. DS2 is about 28 months now and he's still in his crib, though we will be transferring him before the baby comes. 

But, in your situation I wouldn't want to buy another crib, so I'd probably try a toddler bed and see how she does. Also, could baby sleep in a pack n play or cosleeper for the first few months? That might buy you some more time.

A

sugarland726

If I were in your shoes, I would leave her be and keep her in her crib. At our daycare they switched to nap mats at 12 months as they moved to the toddler room, but we kept her in a crib until 2y3m. Since it converts, just leave her where she is, get a new set for the new baby, and then you'll have a convertible for them both.

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ac1259

@rowanthefrog- Yeah we used the rock n play last time for the first 6 weeks or so, but I'm a really light sleeper and barely slept because DD was a very grunty sleeper...every time she grunted I thought she was waking up so I'd wake up..We put her in the crib fairly early and it was a smooth transition and everyone slept better, so I was considering doing the same again. Plus both kids rooms are like 2 steps from the master bedroom so she'd be close to me anyway. 

Emily6778

sugarland726 said:

If I were in your shoes, I would leave her be and keep her in her crib. At our daycare they switched to nap mats at 12 months as they moved to the toddler room, but we kept her in a crib until 2y3m. Since it converts, just leave her where she is, get a new set for the new baby, and then you'll have a convertible for them both.

This!  My DD will be 23m when DS gets here and I have no plans of switching her before.  Mostly because her crib is convertible and I plan on using it for her for many more years.  DS is getting a brand new crib. Either way, I can't even imagine the struggle of transitioning at 14m!

MrsGraham06

My boys were 17 months apart, and we got a crib for both. Our older one wouldn't stay in his when we converted it to a toddler bed, so we had to keep it a crib for a while (I don't remember how long anymore).

ac1259

Emily6778 said:

sugarland726 said:

If I were in your shoes, I would leave her be and keep her in her crib. At our daycare they switched to nap mats at 12 months as they moved to the toddler room, but we kept her in a crib until 2y3m. Since it converts, just leave her where she is, get a new set for the new baby, and then you'll have a convertible for them both.

This!  My DD will be 23m when DS gets here and I have no plans of switching her before.  Mostly because her crib is convertible and I plan on using it for her for many more years.  DS is getting a brand new crib. Either way, I can't even imagine the struggle of transitioning at 14m!

Yeah that is more what I'm leaning towards. DH just wants to wait and see what she's doing at that point because if she is like climbing out or something it would make more sense to just do the transition. I just feel like I'm not really doing much to prepare for this baby (we already have girl clothes and all the "little baby" stuff we need) ...I just kind of want to make up the room and get things done, not leave it until the last minute and see how it goes. I know she won't need a room right away, DD's room was mostly storage for the first month or so, but I'd rather just be prepared. Idk I guess nesting is kicking in!

Piach

I would say just suck it up and have two cribs.  My DD was a horrible sleeper in the beginning and I just can't imagine messing with a young toddler's sleep habits before having a newborn. I still get woken up about every third night with my daughter, now that we have transitioned.  When she was in her crib, we didn't have any problems

sugarland726

FWIW, daycare had DD so trained to stay in her bed it wasn't until about 2 months ago (at 3 years old) that she would even get out of her toddler bed. She would sit there and call for us. So she might not climb out for a long time.

valigrl21

DD is 2 years and 3 months, we just made the switch to a toddler bed about a week and a half ag because we want to use her crib for this LO. But I already want to go back to the crib! She doesn't get up that much, but just knowing that she can is keeping me up at night. She got up once in the middle of the night to try to use the bathroom by herself. Otherwise, she only comes in our room in the morning which has been about 6 (even on the weekends). But when she was in her crib she would just lay in it happily talking to herself. Ohhh I miss those days!

RingOfFire11

We're moving DD to a twin bed next month and I'm really nervous (she'll be 2y4m though). I am just starting to feel like she's ready.