Toddler bed or twin bed?

LiveNLove44 · March 2015

We're going to transition DD into a different bed before LO arrives. She'll be 2 at the end of August, and I think we're going to transition before the school year begins to allow for time between her in that bed and someone taking over the crib. Who knows how that'll look when the time comes, though, because we very well may wait until December to transition since LO will be in a Rock n Play until then in our room.

The question:

STMs, do you recommend a toddler bed or going straight to a twin mattress? We have a transition-style crib right now, but I really don't want to buy another crib just to use the current one as a toddler bed (since toddler beds are actually way cheaper than a crib!).

Any ideas?

Amazing450 · March 2015

I went straight to a twin bed. One less transition to worry about.

ohjaime · March 2015

Ditto above! My son will be three next month. Baby will sleep in the bassinet or with us the first 3-6 months. And we'll get him the big boy bed around then. Ours transitions to the toddler bed too. I never though we would never get to use it. But he's never tired to climb out of the crib so...

LiveNLove44 · March 2015

@ohjaime and @Amazing450, twin mattress on the floor/box spring or on a bed frame with a side guard?

@ohjaime, I didn't realize at first that we wouldn't be using the crib for a toddler bed then a full, either, but I think when we get to our last child we will. I think it'll pay off in the long run...right?

nsaid4u · March 2015

We always put our little ones right from crib to twin bed when they turn 1. I feel the toddler beds are a waste of money.we put the under-mattress bedrails on the twin, with a little stool for them to get in and out if need be.

LiveNLove44 · March 2015

@nsaid4u, thanks! Did you have any issues with them crawling out in the middle of the night and getting into trouble? DD sleeps really well, but I think I worry that she'll take the new found freedom and it'll interrupt her sleeping. Maybe it's unnecessary worry because I can't predict the future...?

nsaid4u · March 2015

My babies never gave any trouble in the night.

maybe a rare trip to mommy and daddys bed in the night, which i dont mind.

MamaOwl15 · March 2015

I have a twin mattress set which I plan to use for DS eventually, but in the short run, we'll be using a toddler bed. The one that matches his current crib sells for $50 on Amazon and while it means having to invest in another crib mattress, that's still less than what if would cost us to travel to Martha's Vineyard, MA to retrieve my twin set from my parents house. But moreover, it's a space thing right now, as both kids will share a room and a twin bed would take up too much extra space.

ASalsgiver2010 · March 2015

We put out DD straight into a twin bed. It was up off the ground but we put rails on both sides

It was right before her 2nd birthday. I would recommend starting with starting with nap the day you transition though! That way they have already slept in it once before bed time!

ohjaime · March 2015

I would buy a twin set you wouldn't mind keeping around a while. Then add a rail if you think he needs it. Around 2 my son started to sleep more... straight? Does that make sense? Like he wouldn't roll over from the top to the bottom of the crib anymore. He understood a pillow and we had a small one from an ikea he uses. So, I would be less afraid of him sleeping all crazy and rolling out of the bed. At this point, I might skip the rail completely. But your situation may be different. Gotta trust your gut and know what your kid is like at night.

lanaloulittle · March 2015

My sister went straight to twins on the floor for both of her kids. One trick she used instead of buying a rail was take a pool noodle and slip it under the fitted sheet on the side, it kept the little one from rolling off but they were basically a foot off the floor if something did happen. When they stopped moving around as much during the night they moved to bed frames.

on_the_move · March 2015

We went straight to twins for both kids. I don't see the point of a toddler bed and it is one more transition you have to make.

amberrmariee20 · March 2015

I went to a twin bed aswell ! But I left out the bed frame for now, my son rolls a lot ! I read you could also put a pool noodle under the sheet so they don't roll off either !

Katey123 · March 2015

DD went right from a crib to a double-sized bed with rails. Never had any trouble. DS went to a toddler bed (crib with side removed) for about 3-4 months. He needed the transition time. I think it depends on the kid's personality and how well they handle change.

amberrmariee20 · March 2015

I went to a twin bed aswell ! But I left out the bed frame for now, my son rolls a lot !

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