toddlers in cribs--a few questions

cjsbdl

If you have a toddler who has already transitioned out of the crib, how old was he/she when that happened?  Did you move LO because they started to climb out, etc, or just because you thought it was time?

Has anyone had LO actually outgrow the crib? The manual that came with ours said that baby should be moved out of the crib once he/she reaches 35 inches in length. Henry was 31" at his 9-month check-up!! I know his growth will probably slow down some, but I'm concerned he'll hit this limit before I'm ready to move him out.

Just trying to figure out what to do about the crib situation when the new baby comes. At first I just assumed that we'd do a second crib, but the more I think about it the more I'm not so certain.

Thoughts?

ETA: I should've mentioned that one of the reasons I'm scared about putting him in a big-boy bed too early is because we all sleep upstairs and I'm terrified of him somehow getting out of his room and falling down the stairs.

LisaMarisa

My DS will be older than yours when my second baby comes (2y3m) but I am planning on keeping him in his crib as long as possible and keeping the baby in our room in a bassinet if he is still in his crib when the baby comes.  I think moving him out of the crib before he is ready will be a disaster, he'll never sleep, but he hates sleeping anyway.  Other kids do great when moved to a bed.

I would say dont make any plans yet and just wait to see what happens.  You can always keep the baby in your room for a little while if you end up needing to buy another crib.  No need to make a decision now, he will change so much in the next 6-9 months that you can't imagine what he'll be ready for at that point.

MayDayGirl

I just transitioned Bright at 19 month and it went perfectly smooth (for the most part). We just did it so I would have the crib when a new baby joins our family and I didn't want to have it do it after we have another baby.

He is a runt so he is no where near outgrowing it, nor was he trying to climb but it really has gone quite smooth.

LisaandBryan

I have no idea but all I know is that I want to keep them in theri cribs as long as possible . I can't imagine what life will be like when the can get out themselves. I don't know if its realistic but I'm hoping to keep them in a crib until at  least 2 if not longer!

scally

We just transitioned my DD this past weekend because she climed/fell out.  I didn't feel comfortable hoping it didn't happen again so we switched.  (She climbed over the rail but then fell to the floor.)

We close her door at night now and we have a gate at the top of the stairs just in case she figures out how to open the door.

 I wasn't planning on switching so soon, but I guess she had other plans.  We already purchased another crib, but we got convertible ones and would have gotten another one either way.

DavezWife

Ava is just about 2 1/2 and super tall... and she's still in the crib. I plan on moving the big bed (full size) end of August.

FWIW, I've heard to do it BEFORE a new baby comes, not after. Or the child will feel like the new baby "stole" his crib and have resentment. Not sure I buy that, but I've read that a lot.

 

 

Carrie25

We haven't transtioned Aaron yet...I don't really think he's ready.  All of his toys are kept in his room for lack of space anywhere else.  So I think he would just play with them.  He's hasn't climbed out yet and fits fine.  I think he's 34" too.  

JGirl2005

DS has his own big boy bed (just a queen bed on the floor)...he has been in it more than a month now.  He is 18m tomorrow.

I would recommend not doing it before 2yo.  I don't know...

He is good at getting in and out and knowing not to walk off the end of the bed.

We close his door at night, but he can open doors sometimes.  We have a gate at the top of our stairs, but how I really know he isn't gettint out is because I still sleep in his big boy bed.  He was sleeping in a king with me, but we just wanted him to be inhis own bed for naps mainly.  At night, I am going to try to wean him from me or DH having to be there, but that isn't the case right now. 

We switched to a big bed because DS would not do a crib and sleeping on a king was getting iffy because if he rolled off etc - even though we had pillows all around.  We didn't do it necessarily because we have number 2 on the way, but it will make things easier (in some aspects).  Had we had a child who spent more than 1 night in his crib, we might have just bought a new one for baby 2.  That wasn't hte case for us and I've bedshared since 2m old. 

Naps are so much better because before I had to lie down with him (which was ok honestly since I'm pregnant and tired and wanting naps)...but now we can put him down and he can wake up whenever and crawl out of bed and out into the play area.

Kim&Jim

My twins will be 2 on August 5th and they are still in cribs.  I just purchased crib tents for them and will keep them in their cribs as long as I can!  Several moms in my moms group have kids in their cribs until 3 and even older.  Too many issues with multiple kids running around!! 

One of my friends converted her girls' cribs at 2 1/2 and now it's an hour process to get them to bed whereas it was only about 10 minutes before.  They want to run, play, jump, etc.

I guess I don't see the rush in moving kids out of cribs.

CMM05

Honestly (flame away!) I have never even looked at the "guidelines" for my crib as to when to "move them out!" 

Its totally a personal choice, but you need to do it when its best for you and most importantly, when HE is ready.

Don't move him just b/c the new baby is coming.......I have heard this is the biggest mistake parents make!

All that being said........DS1 will be 3 in October and he is still in the crib. He sleeps great in there and we have had no issues. He tried to climb out once right when he was about 2 and fell and it scared him........and he hasn't done it since.

We are in the process of buying a new house and hope to move in the next month or so and we will do the transition then.

All I can say (from a mom of 2....) is that knowing your toddler is "safe" in his crib (and not climbing out of his bed....) is a wonderful feeling. Trust me.....when the new baby comes, you are not going to have the energy to deal with your toddler if they are not taking to the bed well.

Also, I have heard from many friends with more than one child, that if you are going to make any transitions (big boy bed, potty training, etc.) that you do it far in advance of the new baby's arrival, or else they will regress.

GL!

 

wvagirl

Eli is still in his crib, but I took the side off and turned it into a "toddler bed."  I transitioned him about two months ago b/c he was screaming his head off at night when he would wake up and I thought a little more independence would help him out. 

And it totally has.  For the first time in two odd years he is finally sleeping in his own room all night most nights, and staying in there until 6am. Yay!!!!

That said, our stairs our super steep and dangerous, and there is no way to gate them, so I gated E's room.  It works great actually b/c I don't have to worry about him falling down the stairs while we're sleeping, and I can leave the door to his room open and hear him if he calls out, or is up.