On the fence...toddler bed or twin?

Babybear70 · August 2013

So DS has a crib that is fully convertible from a crib to a twin bed. DH and I talking about buying rails for him for Christmas so he can have a big boy bed, and have a little bit more freedom. So, the question is, do we purchase the toddler rail so there is only one little opening at the one end? Or do we purchase the twin rails and be done with it since his bed will be pushed up against the wall anyhow, and we could just get the small plastic/mesh rail that slips under the mattress?

RayRay007 · August 2013

We went straight from the crib to a full bed. It is up against the wall and we put a pillow lengthwise on the other side. We did this at just over two. I wouldn't bother with the expense and pain of assembling a toddler bed only to convert it to a full bed a short time later.

Babybear70 · August 2013

Thanks RayRay, that was what we were thinking too, but we just werent' sure if that is what others had done. DS will be 18M at Christmastime, so it will either be right at Christmas or a few months after.

SusieBW · August 2013

I agree with PP. We're not doing a toddler bed. We may put her mattress and boxspring on the floor at first so she wouldn't have as far to fall, but I can't see getting her an in-between-bed.

We have a full bed that we saved from when DD's room used to be a guest room, and we were going to give her that, but the more I look around her little room, I think it will monopolize too much play space. I think we might donate it or give it away or something and buy her a twin, just because it takes up less space in an already small room.

Babybear70 · August 2013

HIs will be right up against the wall with the head and foot boards so it might as well be a daybed...HAHAHAHAHAH!!!! And I have lots of pillows and cushions to put on the floor where he would have the potential to roll off. Thanks for all the advice ladies. I appreciate it.

FemShep · August 2013

Just curious-why are you looking to move your DS out of the crib so soon? We're not planning to move DD until she is too big for the crib or tries to climb out, but that's largely because I'm paranoid and don't like the idea of her having free, unobserved access to her room, especially while I'm asleep.

shannm · August 2013

My vote is twin bed up against the wall with a foam wedge or pool noodle under the sheet on the outer edge.

Babybear70 · August 2013

FemShep, I can understand your paranoia...I have a little bit of that as well when it comes to my son and him having free reign of his room. But we still use a monitor, I can literally see right into his room from laying in my bed, and I have a German Shepherd who will most likely get me up when DS wakes up. Not to mention she investigates every sound in the house so when she goes to see what he is up to he will most likely holler 'HI!" to her.

We just think that it is time to start thinking about moving him to a larger bed. I think he would be more comfortable, I wouldn't walk in to find his legs crammed through the slats on the crib any longer, and he is starting to figure out that if he piles his blankets just right he can get a boost to try and climb out. So, we will start to transition him on a Friday so we have the weekend to start to adjust when the time comes. Thankfully DS sleeps through the night, and normally doesn't put up much fuss to go to sleep, so we think that he is ready for the next step in growing up.

Babybear70 · August 2013

shannm said:

My vote is twin bed up against the wall with a foam wedge or pool noodle under the sheet on the outer edge.

Oh yea, I forgot about the pool noodle trick. Might be a better route since it will go the full length of the bed! Good thinking hun!! THanks for reminding me.

allardr · August 2013

We plan to skip a toddler bed and go right to a full. We have a mattress so why spend the extra money. We'll put box spring & mattress right on the floor at first until we build her her canopy bed. We'll move her somewhat early - 20 months-ish since we'll need the crib for the new baby shortly after.

JENandJEH · August 2013

With DS1 we went straight from the crib to a twin bed but he was 3. With DS2, we don't plan to move him until he is 3 or he starts climbing out of the crib but we will also move straight to a twin or full and skip the toddler bed.

FWIW, as soon as DS1 switched to a twin bed, naps went out the window and he begin waking up much earlier in the mornings. We got him an Ok to Wake Clock so he stays in bed until the light turns green but his sleep really suffered (and it's not like he was on the brink of giving up naps - he was still taking a solid 3 hour nap and it was overnight that he went from that to no naps at all) when he went to a twin bed. I have other friends who had the same experience at varying ages. I'm not willing to chance DS2 giving up naps so we'll stick with the crib as long as possible. Good luck to you guys!

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