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Transitioning into a Toddler Bed!

akrajnyakrajny member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
My DS is 14 Months old and so far we haven't had any issues with him climbing out of his crib yet. Lately, he has been waking up in the middle of the night because his foot is getting stuck between the crib slats and we do not use bumper pads!  Other than that, he sleeps really well through the night, and he doesn't require anything but a pacifier to go down.  He can be wide awake, and he will go down in his crib and fall asleep at bedtime.  I don't know how we got that lucky, but I will take it!

I know its recommended to keep them in the crib as long as possible, but I'm wondering when everyone transitioned their child into a toddler bed.  Did you have any special techniques that worked/didn't work?  What were the biggest struggles?  And when did you know it was time?  I am pregnant with #2 due to arrive when DS is about 21 months old.  Ideally I would like to have him in his own bed and out of the crib by then.

Thanks!
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Re: Transitioning into a Toddler Bed!

  • akrajnyakrajny member
    Starbuck128 said:
    I agree with waiting until at least 18 months, and maybe close to 19 months. That's when we switched, because DS was a pro at climbing out of his crib. It's also when I felt he was just beginning to be mentally mature enough to understand the transition, which I think made things easier. We have a very easy transition and I think a few things really helped.

    1) He was old enough to kind of understand the conversations we had with him about his new bed and this is where he would be sleeping now, etc. Use the same phrases you use when you usually talk to your LO, like "nighty night," "going to bed," etc.

    2) Set up the bed in the same spot as the crib, even if it is just temporarily there. DS's twin bed did not fit where the crib went, but we had it set up there for a little over a month anyway.

    3) Move all the extras from the crib to the bed. DS slept in an empty crib, no blanket, pillows, stuffed animals or bumpers. He did have a travel sleep sheep velcroed to the corner of his crib. It wasn't until he was dressed for bed and we put the sleep sheep by his new pillow that I saw everything click together in his eyes. He climbed up on the bed and curled up to go to sleep.
    Thank you!  Yes!  I plan on waiting as long as I can still, just wondering how much transition time I should give myself. DS started sleeping in his crib at 1.5 week old so we would like to do the same for Baby#2.  Those are some really good tips!  I didn't even think about putting it in the same spot.  I think we will definitely try that out first...Someone told me to just start him out for naps in the toddle bed, and sleep in the crib.  But I think that might just cause confusion.

    Thanks again!!
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  • kalettekalette member
    We will be transitioning DD to her toddler bed (a twin) in a few days. We already have the mattress and bedding set up in her room, just waiting on DH to finish the frame. She is really excited about it and tried to put herself to bed in it last night. We will also put it in the same spot as her crib is now. DS is due in may and will be in our room for a while.
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  • Daisy622Daisy622 member
    I actually put our bumpers back in for this reason (flameworthy yes - but personal choice).
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  • beachgirl1977beachgirl1977 member
    You are crazy! Keep them in a bed for as long as you can. Do you really want you child who is just over a year with the ability to get out and wander at night? They can change a lot in the next few months and sleep patterns can change. Think about naps etc, I kept my oldest in a crib until 3 and only moved my middle at 20 months because he was climbing. I would wait to see he facts to the baby before you move him.
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  • ashiscuteashiscute member
    Honestly, my DD was 19ish months when DS was born and we just bought a second crib.  The thought of dealing with an independent toddler and a baby at night was overwhelming.  She was not trying to climb out and has always liked her crib.  I didn't think it was was fair to make her give up her bed along with everything else that was happening with a new baby.  FWIW she's almost 3 and we haven't transitioned her yet.  
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  • dufferoodufferoo member
    I'm in the minority here, but we just switched over my son at 16 months with no problem at all. He wasn't climbing out of crib yet but we were just really excited to give him this pirate ship toddler bed for Christmas, so we went for it. The first night, it took a couple tries to get him to realize he was supposed to sleep in the thing, but by the second night, he got it. I would say he sleeps in it equally as well as he did in the crib. I was a little worried about naps, so we left the crib up for the first week, but I eventually got tired of moving the mattress back and forth, so we started using the bed all the time and he's totally fine. The best part is that he looooooves his bigboy bed! He's so proud to show it off to people and hops in whenever you ask him where his pirate ship is. And for the record, my son is generally one of those insane get-into-everything climbing machines, but I guess he just sleeps when he's tired!
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  • dufferoodufferoo member
    I'm in the minority here, but we just switched over my son at 16 months with no problem at all. He wasn't climbing out of crib yet but we were just really excited to give him this pirate ship toddler bed for Christmas, so we went for it. The first night, it took a couple tries to get him to realize he was supposed to sleep in the thing, but by the second night, he got it. I would say he sleeps in it equally as well as he did in the crib. I was a little worried about naps, so we left the crib up for the first week, but I eventually got tired of moving the mattress back and forth, so we started using the bed all the time and he's totally fine. The best part is that he looooooves his bigboy bed! He's so proud to show it off to people and hops in whenever you ask him where his pirate ship is. And for the record, my son is generally one of those insane get-into-everything climbing machines, but I guess he just sleeps when he's tired!
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  • BLPL101BLPL101 member
    I'll wait until she's 2.
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  • CurlyQ284CurlyQ284 member
    I am off to look for this pirate ship bed. It sounds sweet.
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  • AlfiesMOMAlfiesMOM member
    Daisy622 said:
    I actually put our bumpers back in for this reason (flameworthy yes - but personal choice).

    We did the same thing. I see no issue with this, I personally believe its only when they are really little!
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  • vamomtobevamomtobe member
    CurlyQ284 said:
    I am off to look for this pirate ship bed. It sounds sweet.
    They had it babies 'r us - I was there shopping for my sis's baby shower, and DS was obsessed with it!  It was pretty cool, it has little built in bookshelves, lights that work, and toy storage.  
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  • dufferoodufferoo member
    @CurlyQ284 It's Little Tikes. They have it a lot of places but we got it on sale at BRU for 250. Seriously worth every penny! (Word to the wise: dont put batteries in the lights!!)
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  • MommyAttyMommyAtty member
    We got a breathable bumper for this very issue when DD was about a year old! Word of warning, though. Had to take it off this weekend (at 18 mos) bc she started trying to use it to crawl out of her crib. Btw, I'm prego w #2, and mine will be 22 mos apart. Our pediatrician just said at her 18 mo check up last week don't make any big changes, esp to her sleep routine, close in time to when the new baby comes home. Said we could take a couple of months with baby in a bassinet, then try to convince her to give her crib to the baby. Ha! Fat chance. She loves her crib. We are just getting a second convertible crib.
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  • blk1978blk1978 member
    edited January 2014

    My daughters will be 18 months apart. We are putting #2 in a bassinet in our room for as long as she will fit before we make the decision to transition. Since we will have 2 girls and hubby wants to keep going until he gets his son (idiot), we will more than likely just buy a 2nd crib. I have a friend whose kids are 16 months apart and she moved her daughter to a toddler bed at 14 months. It did not go well.

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  • meganschneidermeganschneider member
    My oldest son got a new big boy room complete with a toddler bed, because I was due soon with #2. His room was completely safe. Nothing he could harm himself in. He has a color changing light if he gets up, but he loved his room. I never had any problems at all. He never tried to climb out of his bed. With two boys that are a year part, the sooner the better. Do what feels right to you! Good luck mama!
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  • jllmb79jllmb79 member
    I agree with some of the previous posts about keeping him in his crib. We bought a second convertible crib for DD#2.   DD#1 was 21m when DD#2 was born and it was nice to not have to deal with a roaming 21month old. 

    DD#1 at 2.5 has no desire to get out of her crib. She naps pretty well and sleeps great at night.


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