Converting to toddler bed - roaming at night?

julieb00lie

I'm ready to convert the crib to the toddler bed, but DH is concerned that DD will wake in the middle of the night, roam the house, and get into things.

I don't personally see her doing this because she never wakes up at night unless she is sick.  If she IS waking, then she is going straight back to sleep because I never hear her.  And I guess I think that IF she was to wake and get out of bed, she would just roam over to our room.

Regardless, we can put up a gate in front of her door for peace of mind (because I don't want to close her door).

But I'm just curious to hear everyone's opinion on this. Do you close the door or put up a gate?

djandkellen

Just curious - why do you want to change her to a toddler bed now?  She's not even 2 yet.  Has she climbed out and you're concerned for her safety?  Is she too big for her crib now?  If no to those, then I would wait a little longer.  Oftentimes, when switched too early, an array of sleep problems arise (even with perfect sleepers).  

If you DO decide to switch her, I would definitely put up the gate so that she doesn't roam.  

BUT, I would wait if I were you (heck, DS will be 3 in 3 months and we're not going to switch him until at least his 3rd bday - he's contained, sleeps well and hasn't climbed out).  

Good luck with whichever you choose! 

melrrr

re timing: are you planning on using the crib for the new baby? If so, I can understand the need to switch so soon. 

We started with the door knob cover, but she figured out how to hit it so it comes off. Now we keep a pressure gate in her doorway. Our bedrooms are all on the second floor and we don't have stairs on the gate, so I have to keep her confined to her room. She also sleeps with the door open so I can hear her even with our door shut.  

water-fairy

Gate. DS can open doors and I am not locking my child in as if he were in jail. That would freak him out. We put a gate because the bedrooms are on the second floor, I don't want him to end up down the stairs while still sleepy.

KariChadDora

We converted DS's crib to a toddler bed about a month ago and the first 4-5 nights he did get out several times (at bedtime) and come to his door and open it.  We returned him to bed quickly each time and closed the door behind us and within about 10 days he was staying in bed from the moment we put him down and not getting up once.  He usually sleeps straight through the night, occassionally he'll wake and cry out but if I wait a couple minutes he roll over and go back to bed without ever getting up.  He has never once came out of his room in the middle of the night, we keep his door closed, as that is what we did before when he was in his crib.  He even stays in his bed in the morning until I come and get him up eventually.  For us it really was a pretty easy transition. 

pam1005

We always close DS's door.  He has a child lock on the knob and he cannot open it. Our kid's doors are always closed when they sleep, for DH gets up super early and we have a very loud dog.  The kiddos would never sleep if we didn't shut their doors and DS has never had a problem with us closing his door for naps or at night.

LoveEeyore

My first converted around 21 months and my second right at 24 months.  Neither of mine wandered- in fact DD#1 only started getting out of bed to use the toilet right at 3 and only then did she begin to come out of her room when she woke.  DD#2 also stays in bed and howls "Mommy where are you?" until I come to her.  It is weird that they just don't up and out. 

OUr gate is at the top of the stairs, but that's because I love my #1 to come crawl in bed to snuggle if she wakes too early so I don't have to get up and start the day.  Plus for toileting she needs to be able to come out.  Good luck!  so far for us it's been a surprisingly easy transition.

wall0307

We've had many sleep issues but changing to the toddler bed wasn't a problem.  He has never gotten out of his bed after we've left his room.  We do shut his door, but he is able to open doors.  I would have a gate ready, but try putting her to bed without it.

KathrynMD

We just close DD's door and there is a child proof knob cover on it.

I'm TERRIFIED that pretty soon, I'm going to have to take the cover off so she can get up to use the potty at night. 

2dogmom

We switched DD at 15 months b/c I have a bad back and couldn't lift her out of her crib anymore.  She did wonderfully.  Like some PPs said, we put a door knob cover on the inside...she's never tried to mess with it.  She always has enough toys in her room, that she's not terribly eager to get out.  GL!

lewis514

It took at least 2 months from when we converted her bed before she even started coming out of her room. We have a gate at the top of the stairs so she just comes in our room. It's usually because she needs to use the potty and wants help. I get up and take her. Sometimes she goes back to sleep in her bed after or she sleeps on the floor in our room.

smitt2619

We haven't converted DS2's crib yet to a daybed, but we did early with DS1.  At that point, we were at a townhouse with just his and our bedroom and the bathroom upstairs.  So we had the gate at the top of the steps and closed the bathroom door.  If he woke, the only place to look for us was our room.  When we moved to our current house, he was 2.5yo and we then started closing his door, and still do.  And because our rooms are all on the same level as each other and the living room and kitchen, we already close DS2's door so sounds don't wake him.  When we switch him to a daybed, I expect to continue to close the door and use the monitor.  If you don't want to close the door, closing other doors or a gate is a perfect idea. 

pensparade

We have always closed the door just because I am so paranoid about noise waking her up. God forbid I drop something in the kitchen or the tv is too loud. I don't know why I'm paranoid about it but I am. ANYWHO, I would just do whatever it is you have been doing. The less things that are different, the less she will care.