Do I need a second crib? Advice appreciated!!

KatieCC08

My husband and I are expecting our second baby. Our first born will be 22 months when baby # 2 arrives. Our pediatrician recommended we buy a second crib that converts to a toddler crib, but we're just not sure its worth the investment. 

The way I picture things going...

Baby #2 arrives and sleeps in our moses basket for the first few months. We could probably get a few more months using our pack and play. I really hate to leave our new baby in a pack and play beyond 6 months. That leaves us with a 2.4 year old and a 6 month old...SO where do they sleep?! My toddler will be too young for a twin bed but baby number 2 will need the crib.  Do we buy another crib that converts with the toddler crib rails leaving us with two cribs, buy a toddler bed, or hope she can swing a twin bed?

I would really love some tips from those of you who may have gone through this already! 

ladysaceb

We moved DS1 to a toddler bed at about 18 months.  Some kids are ready for toddler/twin beds sooner than others.  My suggestion would be to wait it out and see what your toddler is ready for.  When its time to move baby 2 to a crib try out a twin or toddler bed, whichever you prefer and see how your toddler does.  If your toddler isn't ready, you buy a second crib.  We bought our toddler bed from a second hand store to save money and just bought a second mattress.

laura1

My 2 are still in their cribs  We are planning on moving DS soon to a twin bed, but haven't done it yet...and he is almost 3.  

We waited until DD was 3 months old, and it was clear that DS wasn't ready to move into a big boy bed and then we ordered DD's crib (DS was only 18 months old at the time).  Personally I loved having a place to contain my toddler when I was busy with the baby.  But my DS was nowhere near climbing out.  If he was, I probably would have moved him to a toddler bed and given DD his crib.  

Good luck! 

blackqueen416

My two are 21 months apart.  DS1 was moved out of the crib and into the guest room into a queen size bed with bed rails on his 2nd bday.  DS1 moved from our bed/bassinet on the same night into the crib.  Transition wnet smoothly for everyone.  DS1 didnt know DS2 was in his crib for about 1 month since we would read books in DS1 bed the I would leave with DS2 and DS1 went to sleep.

What I did when about a month before the transition was I started including DS2 in DS1 bedtime routine and after baths we got into pjs and read books in the guest room instead of DS1s original room.  So the night when we moved him into the guest room completely he was fine with it.

12bailey18

Each LO has their own crib that converts into a toddler bed. That way, each child can have their own bed and can convert whenever we choose, not based on the other child.

sweetpea2003

Mine are 16 months apart so we have two cribs.

That being said, I don't think 2.4 is too young for a twin bed.  DD is 2.5 and we are going to be taking off her crib rail any day now and doing a toddler rail.  I think she would be fine in a twin (with a rail to make sure she didn't roll out) too.  I have several friends with their 2.5ish year olds in twin beds.

You will be AMAZED at how much different your LO will be at 2 and a half.  My DD has completely changed in the past 6 months.  I have been floored. 

If you want two cribs - that is totally understandable.  We have two (that both convert to toddler beds) and I am happy we have them.  I do agree with containment when the new baby is here.  But if you plan on keeping LO#2 in your room for 6 months in bassinets and pack 'n plays I think it is completely reasonable to skip a crib and just get your toddler at twin bed.

All things being equal, I would just wait.  See how your older baby is doing once you have had your baby home for a few months.  If a twin bed seems like it isn't going to work out, go ahead and buy a second crib.  Nothing says you have to buy anything while you are pregnant.

Lastly, I bought my second crib on craigslist.  I was VERY picky about it coming with the manual and I made sure it had every original bolt and screw before I took it home.  But I ended up with a Pottery Barn Kids crib for a fraction of the cost.  It even came with the toddler rail (still in the box).  The only thing I bought new for it was the mattress.

kayetbug

We are in the exact same siuation as our kids will be 22 months apart.  I have decided to just wait it out.  My son currently has a crib that can convert to a toddler bed.  Im not sure if he will be in the toddler bed or want a big boy bed at that point.  I dont want to buy another crib just to have him transition to another bed.  Im hoping by the time baby is ready for the crib he will want a bed but I dont want to push the issue.  My Mom told me if he likes the crib/ toddler bed to let him stay in it as long as possible so thats what we are doing.  I think it all comes down to your childs personality and what stage they will be at, at that point.

Ryan&Kristin062009

I'm just lurking here but we bought a conversion crib/set for our DS and plan to do so for the next as well. I know its more expensive, but I love the idea that it grows with them... so in the long run it's cheaper and easier.. no looking for toddler beds and then twin and so forth! GL with your decision!

kagl08

Scout2005:

12bailey18:

Each LO has their own crib that converts into a toddler bed. That way, each child can have their own bed and can convert whenever we choose, not based on the other child.

This is exactly what we will be doing, and for this reason. The crib we have turns into a full size bed after the toddler bed, so it will be her bed for a long time. We will get the same idea for #2.

But my LOs will be 16 months apart, so DD will still need her crib. 

All of this! My 2 are 13.5 months apart...

meg193

Do you have an IKEA near you?  If so you could buy there $100 crib.  It gets good safety ratings but it does not convert to a toddler bed.  You new baby could stay in the crib until they are ready for a toddler bed.  At that point your older child would be ready for a twin bed so you could put the new baby in their toddler bed.

yourmomwreckedmybike

LO will be 20 months when #2 arrives.  

LO was in our room until this week. We co-slept. He slept in our bed some parts of the night, but mostly in his crib -- naps were also in his crib. We converted his crib to a toddler bed when he was 16-18 months old (could climb out of our bed/starting climbing out of the crib). 

We now have our second bedroom set up as a room for LO#1. We have a kids bed that is very low to the ground. He slept in there for naps for the last month or so, and just this week we transitioned him to sleeping in there at night. 

I did consider keeping LO#1 in our room for a bit longer, but I felt that it would just be too hard for everyone. I didn't think it would be fair to LO#1 to wait until #2 arrived before we switched him to his room -- too much change too fast. I also wanted to be able to help with him the transition to his own room, and I felt that I wouldn't be able to do that as well as I would like if I had a newborn to take care of as well.