The switcheroo

H@ppyMom2Be

When did you make the jump from a crib to a big-kid bed? Wondering if I need to buy a new crib for baby #2 or if DS will be ready to transfer to his big boy bed...

rnin02

We switched to a toddler bed at 26 months, because he was starting to climb out of his crib. For us it was an extremely smooth transition, he didn't fight it at all, bedtime was so easy. Good luck!

vml14

Our baby #2 is due when my LO will be 20 months old, and we're planning to try to move her into a big girl bed before the baby arrives... we figure if it doesn't go well, we'll put her back in the crib and keep the baby in the pack-n-play for another couple months.  I have several friends who transitioned them at 18 months with no problems.

LindseyJW

we switched from a crib to a toddler bed when DS started potty training. somewhere around 29 months. we put him in a twin sized bed when he was 44 months, so we could convert the toddler bed back to a crib for #2.

Hey Jellisy

We transitioned DD at 21 months.  The transition went really well and DD liked her bed.  DS was born when she was 22 months and she regressed back to the crib.  We should have taken down the crib when we transitioned DD.  I think that would have solidified the transition.  But we were lazy since we knew we would need it soon.

Artslvr

22 months for DD #1

19 months for DD #2

Both because another baby needed the crib. 

We have bedrails on both sides of the (twin) beds for both girls. 

Sofka

we were going to do it before DS was born but didn't b/c of various issues; we ended up doing it when he was about a month old, DD was almost 21 mo at that time. (he was still in the bassinet)

I took a page out of Artslvr's book and really talked up the big girl room and bed and made a big deal out of it; she played in it for weeks before sleeping in it. Let your LO pick out something for the room.

 

Artslvr

Sofka:

we were going to do it before DS was born but didn't b/c of various issues; we ended up doing it when he was about a month old, DD was almost 21 mo at that time. (he was still in the bassinet)

I took a page out of Artslvr's book and really talked up the big girl room and bed and made a big deal out of it; she played in it for weeks before sleeping in it. Let your LO pick out something for the room.

 

Yes - with both the girls we started weeks in advance talking it up.  It really helps.  We are trying to switch DD #2 from her high chair to a booster at the dinner table and we have NOT talked it up enough and she's really resisting.  Nothing like some corny play-acting to get a kid excited about something new!

AgrippaRidesAgain

We switched DS at 26 months. It was relatively painless. Eta: We moved him to a twin bed right away. We put the crib away and didn't pull it back out until right before DD arrived. DS was 30 months at that point.

vtkgirl77

DD#2 will be born when DD#1 is 23 months old and we had the same question. We bought DD#1 another crib because we felt like she won't need to transition to a big girl bed for a while. We got one of the cribs from Ikea that's less than $100 and I really like it. DD#1 has made no signs of trying to climb out and in general she seems to like her crib and feels safe and secure in it. So, we'll be keeping her in the crib for a while. I like the idea of keeping her in the crib because I feel like "if it's not broken, don't fix it". She likes it, she doesn't fuss when we put her to bed, she's safe, and she sleeps well so I will pay $100 to keep that trend going. 

Sofka

I forgot to mention, we moved DD to a queen-size bed b/c we arleady had it; we kept the crib for the baby.

 

2vthokies

We switched around 17/18 months bc DD #1 refused to sleep in the crib, prefering instead, to sleep on the floor.  We put her in a twin/trundle day bed and haven't looked back (she's 31 months now).  Don't know when we'll do DD #2 - I guess whenever she's ready she'll tell us (she's only 6 months now, lol).

JKM416

DD went from the crib into a full-size bed with rails at 23 months without a single problem.  She'd need the regular bed eventually, and we wanted to skip the toddler bed stage if possible (one less transition to make).