Toddler bed vs. two cribs

nevjcu

How old was your lo when you moved them to a toddler bed?

DS will be 19 months when our new LO arrives, and we'll want to have the new baby in the crib within 3-4 months.  DS will be 22 months at that point.  Too soon?  Will another crib just make my life easier?

MammaBear81

Honestly it depends on your older child's temperament.  My boys stayed in their cribs until they were around 2 1/2, the girls both moved to toddler beds at 21 months and did fine. GL

l_elizabeth

I went back on forth with this for MONTHS. My biggest and best advice? Get another crib, especially since your older child is a boy. I feel like boys tend to stay in cribs longer. I thank god we forked over the $150 for another crib (Graco), vs. moving my older son to a toddler bed. Now I only have to worry about one baby being up at night, not two. 

And FWIW, my good friend was just over yesterday, and they moved her son to a bed at 2.5 when their new baby came. She said it was one of her biggest regrets, he's up and down 10 times a night, and she never ever sleeps anymore between the two kids!  

alixhayes

we bought a second crib for the newborn at a much lower price, and a convertible one (could have been the biggest deciding factor, actually.  we got a baby europa one)... i think that's the best solution b/c i don't really want to do the "toddler bed" thing, and plan on just having them both be in BIG beds when the time comes.  my 2 kids are 18mo apart and while some people have older child in beds by that age, or around yr 2, i just wasn't ready to make that decision till baby was HERE (don't want to upset his 'normal' more than necessary, with a newborn coming in!).  it's not like he's clammoring to escape the crib either.  i'm VERY happy we put our spare queen in the basement, and got that 2nd crib.  

dorothy&gail

I logged on and came to this board to search for this exact post or post one if I couldn't find one.  This is what I love about the bump!

My DS will be 20 months when LO #2 arrives in November and then I would plan to move LO #2 to the nursery where DS is now by 2 months.

My add on question is what mother's who have been through is did if their children are excellent sleepers and sleep through the night.  We were extremely lucky to have a DS who has slept through the night consistently from 2 months old on.  Would this make a difference in your advice for crib versus toddler/twin bed?

lemon.sarie

DD#1 moved into a toddler bed (and quickly into a full sized bed as she did better in that) at about 20 months.  DD#2 didn't arrive until DD#1 was 25.5 months, but she was very ready to be done with the crib (it stayed disassembled for a number of months until DD#2 was out of our bed).

As such, we're in the process of moving DD#2 (at 16 months) into a single bed to free up the crib, although if it doesn't go well we'll just keep her in the crib and this new one will co-sleep or use the pack and play until DD#2 is ready.  DD#2 will bebe 18 months when #3 arrives.

I personally have no desire to own more than one crib (so many more things I'd rather spend the cash on ;o).

eta: both my girls sleep through the night pretty well, and moving to a bed didn't really change that at all with DD#1.