When did you put LO#1 into a toddler bed?

Mrs.T22308

I am due with LO#2 in about 6 months.  LO #1 is currently 13 months and I'm wondering if I can get him into a toddler bed BEFORE LO#2 arrives?

 I'd much prefer to get the new baby into a crib right away as opposed to a bassinet or pack and play.  We're trying to avoid having to buy a new crib if we can.  My concern is that DS is a wiggler in his sleep and moves around/flips to each corner in his crib all night.  I'm sure thats not a good sign that he's ready for a toddler bed.  I'm also concerned that he would just hop out of his bed in the night and play with anything he could find!

Any insight/advice?

The Housewife

We put DS into a twin bed at 15 months and for the most part it worked out. There were a couple weeks around 18 months that he decieded to scream at his bedroom door (def. put a baby gate at the door) and sleep on the floor. I've heard the advice that everytime they get out of bed to go in and lay them back down, but that's not really my style. I figured a few nights of sleeping on the floor and he would figure it out. He tried to play with his toys when he got a little older (over 2y/o) so we started saying goodnight to his toys as part of his bedtime routine. We havent had any issues with him rolling out of the bed (there is a bed rail) and he still flip flops all around at night.

 

maramarrie

DS is currently still in his crib, but he could go into a toddler bed by now. We'll probably switch him over in the next couple months.

roundtheworldgirl

She's 21 months and still not in a toddler bed.  They share a room and I like having her contained in the crib.  We plan to keep her in the crib until 2.5 if at all possible.

ShannonSky

We just moved DD1 over to her toddler bed this week and it's gone really well. We did it after we got back from a vacation, so she was kind of out of the habit of sleeping in her crib (she was in a PNP). Her bed is an Ikea adjustable bed, so it goes from toddler size all the way to a full twin. It's nice b/c at the smallest setting and with one of those pop-up rails, it's fully contained. 13 mos is kind of young, though, I don't think I would have tried switching her before at least 18 mos or so.

tpandr08

We tried about 2 months ago with Riley and it was an epic fail.  She had an entire month of terrible sleep both at nights and at nap.  We chalked it up as a loss and bought another crib.  With the deal we got at Walmart, it actually cost us less to buy a crib and mattress than it would have for a mattress set for her twin bed frame sitting in the basement.

You can just try it for a month and see what happens.  You have enough time to buy a second crib if need be.