Move to Regular Bed?

p092907 · October 2011

Our DS will be 20 months when LO#2 arrives. We would like to transition him out of his crib a bit before then so that he has time to adjust. Anyone transition this early with success? Any tips/advice? Thanks

Dreamsicle23 · October 2011

I really, really think it's a bad idea to transition to a bed just because another sibling is coming. I would save yourself the misery and buy a cheap second crib.

JoannaJes · October 2011

Dreamsicle23:
I really, really think it's a bad idea to transition to a bed just because another sibling is coming. I would save yourself the misery and buy a cheap second crib.

This. You can always resell the second one once your older LO is into a toddler bed, and make back about 50% of your investment. My kids are 20 months apart. We tried at 18 months to put DS into a toddler bed, and it was a huge fail. So we bought a second crib, and DS moved into his toddler bed just shy of 2. And it was a very easy transition.

Jillibean85 · October 2011

We're doing the exact opposite of Nona... We'll be putting our new baby in the pack n' play and keeping that in our room by the bed for easy access while leaving our toddler in her crib for a few more months before transitioning.. We wont be buying a new crib for baby until he's around 3 or 4 months old, which is when we plan on putting him in a crib anyways because hopefully (*knock on wood*) he'll be sleeping through the night by then and we won't need him right beside us for feeding.. Our DD will just have turned 2 when baby is born, so we'll wait a bit for her to get used to baby before starting on her transition.

CRich15 · October 2011

We converts DSs crib to his toddler bed last week and last night he actually slept all the way through the night! There for a while he would only fall asleep in our bed and then we would have to move him to his crib. We bought another crib for #2 because I spent $400.00 on a convertible crib for a reason, so I wouldn't have to buy a bunch of beds for my kids before they eventually moved out. We still fall asleep with DS but in his room and then we get up and move to our room. It's really proving to work. Just do what you find works for you, if your LO is ready then it will work but if they aren't then just give it more time.

Temp937723687505543 · October 2011

I'm dealing with this issue right now. DS is due on Nov 4th, and DD will be almost 23 months. She's sleeping in her crib really well right now, so DH and I are still debating on exactly what we're going to do crib and bed-wise. We don't know. Let me know what you decide to do! GL!

jessielegendre · October 2011

My DD will be 19 months when #2 arrives and we are moving her into a new room and a twin bed. We are doing it slowly though. I have the bed set up already and just moved her toys and books in there yesterday. She plays in there during the day and gets in and out of the bed. I'm hoping that this will get her used to the room before she sleeps in it. We aren't planning on her sleeping in it until around thanksgiving. (#2 doesn't come til feb) I think every child is different. Some are ready earlier than others. Hopefully, mine will be ready!

Also, I had the idea of moving her crib into her new room for a few nights before actually taking her out of it. Not sure if we will do this. We'll see.

mlf625 · October 2011

Don't. Buy another crib, or keep the new baby in a PNP for as long as possible. I think it's a bad idea to mess with DS's sleep just when you're going to most need him to sleep well. 20 months is young, anyway.

We bought DD a crib when she was 4 months old and it was clear DS (who was then 21 months) was nowhere near ready for a big bed. He stayed in a crib until a few months before his 3rd birthday.

KoalaBear103 · October 2011

Ry will only be 16 months when DD arives, but we don't plan to buy a crib right away. We kept Ry in our room until he was 6 months old, and we may end up doing the same with DD.

If we do decide to move her early, we will just buy a 2nd crib. I really don't want to push Ry into a toddler bed before he's ready, and I know DH's sister/brother will end up needing cribs for their kids, so we could always sell it to them in the future

lifesadance · October 2011

Dreamsicle23:
I really, really think it's a bad idea to transition to a bed just because another sibling is coming.

I couldn't agree with this / more.

When DS was in infant, he slept in his crib only occasionally for naps and spent every night in the PnP (set up as a bassinet) until he was almost 6 months old.

If I were in your shoes, I'd plan on using a PnP someplace as the new baby's bed and let the older one stay in their bed. You might get lucky and your older child will be ready to transition to a regular bed right around the time that your new LO is outgrowing the PnP option. That, or buy a new crib for the new LO. If you get a convertible crib then it grows with the child for a while anyway so it's not a waste.

My DS is 21 mos and still very happily sleeping in his crib and I plan to keep it that way as long as possible. Big Smile

shortstuff15 · October 2011

We are doing just that and I personally don't think it's a bad idea at all. I have lots of friends who have kids around 20 months to 2 years apart and none of them have bought a second crib and none of them have had an issue beyond a couple days. We just set up the twin bed yesterday but we aren't putting her into it to sleep until probably a few days from now. We'll just get her used to the bed in general first. Then we'll probably do just naps first (so I can sleep with her then) and then start nights. By the time baby comes (January) she'll be used to the bed and it won't even phase her.

It would probably be a bigger problem if we would wait until closer to babies arrival, but by doing it earlier then our daughter isn't going to see the baby as taking away her bed.

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