Crib or toddler bed?

kmonroe2 · December 2013

I have LO #2 due in April. LO #1 will be 17 months old when LO#2 is born. I figure the baby will be sleeping in my room in a bassinet for about 3 months before I move him to his room & crib. Do I buy a second crib for #2 or a toddler bed for #1?

FmrAFBrat · December 2013

My 26 month old still sleeps in his crib. We went ahead and got a second crib on sale this time last year off of Walmart.com and took advantage of the free mattress as well. It seems to have worked out well for us since both boys sleep in cribs in their rooms.

FWIW both boys beds came with the toddler rail, so I can covert each boy over when they are ready, instead of forcing the issue.

bookworm982 · December 2013

Mine are a little closer in age, so I have a 4-month-old DS and 17-month-old DD. I have two cribs even though DS still sleeps in my room at night. He naps in the nursery (sometimes) and will transition to sleeping in the nursery within the next couple months (hopefully). I have no desire to move DD out of her crib until she can climb out and we have to deal with safety issues. For me, the ease of putting her to bed contained is worth two cribs.

ebp913 · December 2013

If you oldest sleeps well now, I would do a second crib. The last thing you want is to have your oldest up at night while you are dealing with a newborn. DD is still in her crib at 26 months but we are about to move her soon because she just started climbing out. It's been entirely worth it for the last 10 months though and we have the toddler rail too so we may just do that. Undecided on our plan right now.

nawlinsgrl · December 2013

Mine are 14 months apart, currently 18m and 4 mo, and both are doing great in their own cribs. DD has not tried to climb out of her crib yet and still seems happy with it, so we're not in any hurry to convert to a toddler bed. I can't imagine doing that until she is at least 2, and possibly even 3 years old.

laura1 · December 2013

You could wait and decide after #2 gets here. Mine were 15 months apart, and that is what we did. When #1 was 18 months old, it was clear that he was nowhere near ready to be out of his crib, so we bought another one. Best decision ever - he was in it until he turned 3. Then DD#1 was in hers until she was 3yrs 4 months, at which point we converted it to a toddler bed - that is what she is still in. Having a place to contain the toddler was key for me. Good luck!

bruinjamie21 · December 2013

I am curious about this too. My DS will be 21.5 months when DS2 is born and I am going back and forth on what to do! He definitely isn't ready for a bed yet at this point.

L0L0 · December 2013

We are planning to have 2 cribs. DD is 21 months and DS is due on Monday! I don't want DD to transition yet because I don't trust her unsupervised. She is a climber but has not climbed out of the crib yet.

drcolleen · December 2013

DD1 slept in a twin bed around 18mo, DD2 had a crib but we converted it around 16mo, neither had anything to do with having a sibling and they do fine with it. There is no right answer to this one!