When did you move your toddler to a bed from a crib ?

cwallin500

My DS is 21 months old and I have just started thinking about moving him out of his crib.   We just set up a bed in our guest room, so now he keeps talking about the 'big bed' (which is also what he calls our bed).   Last night he wanted to lay down in the "big bed' which he's never wanted to do before.    We have a crib that will convert to a toddler bed by taking the sides off.   My concern is that he is a serious mover and shaker in bed.   He will cover the entire length of the crib and back several times while he's sleeping, so I worry about him falling out.   When did everyone else move their LOs from the crib ?

ashiscute

Ditto there being a few other posts like this fairly recently.

DD was 3.  DS will be 2 next month and is still in a crib.  DD went into a twin bed.  She loves her new big girl bed.  She has fallen out once.  She cried for like 1 minute and then fell back asleep.  Her bed is pretty low and she has carpet.  

mamom0103

We have a climber so we went to twin bed at 14 months. We have box spring and mattress on the floor. DS (19 months) can climb in and out but sleeps great in it. He only fell out the first 2 nights. I just lined the floor with couch cushions for the first week.

fusionbride

we're aiming for at least 2 and half, or up to three to stay in the crib.  Unless they are climbing out of the crib and at risk of hurting themselves in the process, I say leave them in the crib as long as possible so you don't hav eto worry about them roaming the room or halls at night.

DawnJM25

DD was 28 mo when we converted her crib to a toddler bed.  She does get out sometimes, but we make sure she's gone potty and has what she needs, and remind her to stay in bed.  She's pretty good about it at night, naptime takes a little longer to settle down.  No HUGE issues with it.  She's almost 3 now and does fine.  DS is 20 mo and he's a totally different kid.  I don't know how old he will be when we make the transition, but he definitely still needs a crib.

SummerBabyLove

We moved DD1 when she was 4 months shy of 3.  She never minded being in there and never tried to climb out.  We moved when she was around 27 months old so we didn't want to change her bed on top of that.  She was old enough to understand that she was now in a "big girl" bed and we have absolutely NO issues.  I am only hoping DD2 follows in her big sister's foot steps!

cwallin500

Thanks everyone !  My husband is pushing back - thinks we should keep him in the crib a while longer....He's positive he'll be wandering all over the house.   I've already told him we can just put up a baby gate in the hall so he can only get to our room or his.  Pretty sure he's worried about being woken up and losing sleep more than anything LOL.  We'll see.   I do like the idea of the mattress on the floor, so if we wait a while longer, I may just do that.   I was just doing the toddler because we already have it and won't cost us anything.

foodie12rn

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Doubletrouble12

My girls are almost 23 months and still in cribs. They haven't tried climbing out yet, so I will figure I will keep them in them a little longer. 

ASmallWonder

OMG not until they're about ready to climb out and hurt themselves  If you're worried about him falling out just get a bed rail.  It covers the majority of the side but leaves enough space for them to get in and out without having to climb over (and hurt themselves )

kjsmith9

fusionbride said:

we're aiming for at least 2 and half, or up to three to stay in the crib.  Unless they are climbing out of the crib and at risk of hurting themselves in the process, I say leave them in the crib as long as possible so you don't hav eto worry about them roaming the room or halls at night.

This exactly.

maybebride

DS is 21 months and we are likely going to put his bed back together as the toddler bed instead of the crib (we just moved). DS never liked his crib that much and has only ever stayed in it all night once. We took to exclusively co-sleeping in our bed about six months ago for all our sanity. So, we think he will transition to sleeping in his new room better in a toddler bed where I can be really close when he is falling asleep/wakes in the MOTN.

shipsshoessealingwax

We moved my son at 15mo. He was still waking several times at night to nurse at that time, but we were switching to milk & did both together. He sleep SO much better in a bed! We had some issues switching to milk (he is casein-sensitive & has to drink almond milk) but his night-waking was eliminated after only a week! He sleeps better, longer & doesn't get upset now when he does wake b/c he can just get out of bed & play.

stgn01

Keep him in as long as possible!!  We switched DD to a toddler bed 3 months shy of 3 years old and then to a full size bed 5 months shy of 4 years old.  I'm keeping DD in his crib for as long as humanly possible!!  3 years for DS sounds good to me.