When will you transition your 3 year old to bed

nikkim76

My LO's will be 3 on November. Any 3 years olds still in there crib and if so when do you plan to move them to a toddler or bed? Wa thinking after the holidays but haven't made up my mind since they still sleep great in there cribs.

sara785

No thoughts on WHEN to do it, but after 3 I would just skip the toddled bed and go for a twin or full or whatever you were intending to use.

Art Teacher

Zoe was about a year and a half when we moved her -- you are lucky your 3 year old is still in his/her crib!!

 I think waiting until after the holidays is a great idea.  We moved dd to a full size bed.  I didn't want to spend the money on a toddler bed and then a full size.  She did great from day one. 

lynsef

We converted DD's crib to toddler bed when she was about 2 yrs old and she is still sleeping in it.  We are TTC and plan to buy her a full bed when the next baby comes along (should we be so blessed) so that he/she can have the crib.

etude de la vie

WOW! I wish either kid would have lasted that long. 

I transitioned DD around 2 into toddler bed and 2.5 into a full bed. She LOVED her full bed because she had plenty of room to sleep with all her stuffed animals.

DS was 15 months old when he refused to sleep or nap in the crib but took 2.5 hour long naps in my bed (or any bed). I skipped the toddler bed with him and got him a full sized low platform bed with no box spring and guard rails. He gets out every so often but I just pick him up ...don't say anything, or make eye contact, and put him back in bed. After 3 times or so he goes right to sleep.

I also took out all of his toys except books. He can "read" to himself if he wants but thats about it. A night light that doesn't plug into the wall helps too. We have the cloud B turtle that automatically turns off in 45 min.  

TiffanyBerry

We have always coslept.  We moved from the attached co-sleeper to our bed around 9 or 10 months.  We moved from that to our old queen mattress on the floor next to our bed around 12 months.  Now, at nearly 2.5yrs, we've moved that queen mattress onto the floor in her room.

There's always a transition of some sort where you have to teach them to stay laying down, or in their bed, or in their room, or whatever your choice is. 

superaunt

we just transitioned Friday b/c she climbed out three times for the first time Thursday... had she not climbed out, she'd be in her crib till she climbed out or asked for a big girl bed. if it aint broke, don't fix it. ; )

moonfaerie

DD1 turned 3 in September and still sleeps in her crib. She has only tried to climb out when in there for a time out, and she scared the crap out of herself. We'll switch her soon, I imagine, I just don't know exactly when. We have the parts to convert to a toddler bed, so she'll sleep in that at least until we move sometime next year.

JPinkman

superaunt:

we just transitioned Friday b/c she climbed out three times for the first time Thursday... had she not climbed out, she'd be in her crib till she climbed out or asked for a big girl bed. if it aint broke, don't fix it. ; )

This - been trying to transition - not going well, but DD climbed out and fell during her nap last Friday and refused to stay in the crib for naps all weekend.  We bought a toddler bed over the weekend and put it together Sunday night after DD went to sleep in her crib.  Last night was the first time in the toddler bed - it wasn't too great.  I really wish she wasn't able to climb out of the crib.   

asyph107

DS1 loves his crib. He sleeps great in there and does not want a "big boy bed" , so we may just wait until he shows an interest. Honestly DS1 does not climb out, he is potty trained and just calls us if he needs to go. I am in NO rush! our Pedi said no rush as long as he is content.

joliemariée

My twins are 2ys8mths now and we will keep them in cribs until about 3.5yrs old or until they seem mature enough to handle being in a bed.

They both LOVE their cribs, sleep great in them, take 3 hour naps most day - you can bet I am not messing with that for a long long time!!! .

PS: our pedi agrees totally and gave us a great tip - we just put the mattresses on the floor in the crib so there is no chance of climing out, though they haven't shown interest in doing so yet anyway

Good luck and go with what works best for your family!