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STM's - toddler sleep question

NLewis1NLewis1 member
in June 2016 Moms
So my 15 month old has never been a good sleeper. He goes to bed easily and quickly but he wakes up 4-5 times a night. I'm currently reading the no cry sleep solution for toddlers, but I'm wondering - with this baby due when he's 21 months old - when would you transition to a toddler bed? He's a fatty and not a very good climber because of it, so I doubt he'll be trying to climb out of his crib any time soon, but we will need the crib for this baby. Any ideas? My husband thinks it's way too early to even be considering this, but I almost wonder if he would sleep better in a normal "bed" because he's used to sleeping in ours most nights (after the 2nd wake up I am too tired to fight with him and give in and bring him to our bed, bad I know)
Mrs. H
Crohn's Dx: August 2008
Endometriosis Dx: May 2010
Married: 05/19/2012
TTC #1: June 2013
BFP: December 2013
DS: Born 08/29/2014
TTC #2: July 2015

BFP #2: September 25, 2015

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Re: STM's - toddler sleep question

  • RMR7779RMR7779 member
    I also have a terrible sleeper, except he's 2. We bring him in our bed when we're desperate too. We ended up switching to a twin bed pretty early because he just hated his crib, and it actually did help a lot. I think it feels a bit more like our bed, and gives him more room to move around since he's a pretty big boy. We got the kind of bed that has small rails around 3 sides, with one long side open. For now we have the open side facing the wall so we don't have to worry about him falling out. It definitely didn't solve all of our problems, but he does actually like his bed now!
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  • CourtJackCourtJack member

    Tough call. I think it'll totally depend on your LO's personality. My DD is 27 months and she's still in her crib mostly b/c I'm dreading giving her freedom. I read somewhere that around 2.5 years they develop a better understanding of consequences, and thus transitioning to a bed is easier. So, 21 mos might be a bit early, given that you're struggling with a sleep routine already. I would focus on getting him to sleep more consistently first, then look to a bed? Could you use a bassinet for a few months when this one comes along? Gives your older one more time in the crib?

    Again, you know your LO best. Good luck!

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  • nrs164nrs164 member
    We are in the same boat with my 2.5 year old. He loves to roll around so we are thinking about transitioning him to a full bed and put it on the floor to start. He has a toddler bed now but only stays put for part of the night then comes into our bed. I admit it was a bad habit to start but I do enjoy it (most nights) but I know we need to start a new schedule before baby #2 gets here. I figured I could at least go lay with him to keep him in his room and be able to sleep comfortably until he sleeps by himself.
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  • scottenscotten member
    I agree with PP's that it's totally dependent on your LO. You can always try it, and go back to the crib if he really hates it. We tried moving my DD to the "big girl bed" around 21 months. She's very tall for her age, and we thought the climbing was going to happen soon. She did perfect for the first week, and then got up every few hours for 3-4 weeks after that. We finally just put her back in the crib because we were all exhausted (and she sleeps a perfect 12 hours in her crib!).

    She's 25 months now, and we will be trying the twin bed again after the holidays. I don't plan to buy another crib, and I want her to be adjusted to her new room/bed well before this baby gets here.
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  • chelthornchelthorn member
    It honestly depends on the child.  My little girl was in a full size bed at 2 1/2 or a little younger.  She was getting to where she would not sleep in the crib and did not like the toddler bed at all.  I did use the cry it out method (I know I am terrible, but it is all that worked).  It lasted a few days and she slept all night.  We never let her cry more than a few minutes before we would go in and check on her.  She has now been sleeping thru the night for almost 2 years and very rarely cries when she wakes up (unless something is wrong).  

    @scotten 12 hours? You are so lucky! I have an early bird! No matter what time she goes to bed usually 8:30p she is up between 5:30 & 6:30... She doesn't nap much either. 
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  • colesmom33colesmom33 member
    I am in the exact situation as you are!!  My DS is 16 months old and is always in our bed!  I'm at a loss!  We were also thinking about moving to a twin and hope he does better.  He sleeps in a crib at his daycare and does okay.  I'm sure if we pushed it and made him cry it out, it'd work.   If you decide to move him to a bed, update us!  I'd be curious how it goes!
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  • CourtJackCourtJack member
    chelthorn said:
    It honestly depends on the child.  My little girl was in a full size bed at 2 1/2 or a little younger.  She was getting to where she would not sleep in the crib and did not like the toddler bed at all.  I did use the cry it out method (I know I am terrible, but it is all that worked).  It lasted a few days and she slept all night.  We never let her cry more than a few minutes before we would go in and check on her.  She has now been sleeping thru the night for almost 2 years and very rarely cries when she wakes up (unless something is wrong).  

    @scotten 12 hours? You are so lucky! I have an early bird! No matter what time she goes to bed usually 8:30p she is up between 5:30 & 6:30... She doesn't nap much either. 
    FYI - you're not terrible. We used Ferber and I'm not terrible, either. And my daughter sleeps well. Do what's best for your family :)
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  • scottenscotten member
    chelthorn said:
    It honestly depends on the child.  My little girl was in a full size bed at 2 1/2 or a little younger.  She was getting to where she would not sleep in the crib and did not like the toddler bed at all.  I did use the cry it out method (I know I am terrible, but it is all that worked).  It lasted a few days and she slept all night.  We never let her cry more than a few minutes before we would go in and check on her.  She has now been sleeping thru the night for almost 2 years and very rarely cries when she wakes up (unless something is wrong).  

    @scotten 12 hours? You are so lucky! I have an early bird! No matter what time she goes to bed usually 8:30p she is up between 5:30 & 6:30... She doesn't nap much either. 
    @chelthorn I know - I'm very lucky right now! She goes to bed at 8:30 p.m., and wakes up between 7:30-8:30 a.m. Trust me, though. She wasn't always like that! We're struggling on the napping front too, but I'll take what I can get. lol
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  • BPaisleyBPaisley member
    DS1 co-slept with me for the first almost two years. He HATED his crib and basically never slept in it. We transitioned him maybe like a month before DS2 was born to a toddler bed in his own room. He was 23 months or so. It was tough at first and there were some tears but he improved quickly and I was glad we did it. We couldn't put a railing on the style bed we got so he rolled out a few times but it's pretty low to the ground and he got used to it and stopped rolling out.

    I would agree it depends on the child, though, because DS1 was pretty risk averse and a very late walker, so for the longest time he wouldn't even climb out of his bed when he was left alone, he would just sit up and look around and call for us. DS2, on the other hand, walked at 11 months and is a wild maniac and does very well in his crib. We plan to move him to "bunk beds", really a trundle bed, with his older brother when baby #3 is born and he's 25 months, but I'm terrified of the trouble he will cause when he isn't caged in anymore.
    DS1 5-18-2012
    DS2 5-18-2014
    DD1 EDD 6-21-2016

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  • Emztron500Emztron500 member
    I was just coming on this thread to tell you to read No Cry Sleep Solution but I see you're all over it :) I just read it and am in the midst of trying to fix my 19-month-old's terrible sleep habits. It's getting better but we still have some bad nights (like last night...sigh). I realized last night as I was putting her to sleep that she's never spent the night more than an arm's reach away from me. Crazy. Right now I'm planning to keep her in my bed and put new baby in a bassinet next to the bed, and reeeeally hoping that new baby is less intensely high-needs than her and can sleep a little more independently.

    Anyway, I think "normal bed" is a great idea, especially since that's where he's used to sleeping. You could put a mattress on the floor to get rid of the falling danger.
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  • NLewis1NLewis1 member
    Thanks ladies! I'm sure we will wait a few more months before trying the transition, but am
    Thinking I will do a twin with rails. He's a busy sleeper and likes to move around! Which is why I'm so effing tired.... I get kicked and head butted and scratched all night.

    I like the idea of him being used to his new room before baby gets here, and I will keep baby in our room for the first couple months, but would like to avoid the mistake I made with him of co-sleeping and putting baby in its crib Before he/she gets to be too old...
    Mrs. H
    Crohn's Dx: August 2008
    Endometriosis Dx: May 2010
    Married: 05/19/2012
    TTC #1: June 2013
    BFP: December 2013
    DS: Born 08/29/2014
    TTC #2: July 2015

    BFP #2: September 25, 2015

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  • fishwife799fishwife799 member
    CourtJack said:

    Tough call. I think it'll totally depend on your LO's personality. My DD is 27 months and she's still in her crib mostly b/c I'm dreading giving her freedom. I read somewhere that around 2.5 years they develop a better understanding of consequences, and thus transitioning to a bed is easier. So, 21 mos might be a bit early, given that you're struggling with a sleep routine already. I would focus on getting him to sleep more consistently first, then look to a bed? Could you use a bassinet for a few months when this one comes along? Gives your older one more time in the crib?

    Again, you know your LO best. Good luck!

    This^^ I didn't even consider putting DD in a crib and she was 26 months when DS was born. We waited until she was just over 2.5 when we switched her and it worked great for us. Every kid is different and you have to do you. But I would also be more focused on getting a better sleeping routine than what bed to use.


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  • HuskerfanzHuskerfanz member
    I've heard that you shouldn't make big changes 3 months before and after a new baby so if you need the crib, I'd transition in your 2nd trimester.

    We switched DS around 2 years when he climbed out. We kept the routine the exact same and it didn't go too badly.
    DS 9/2/13 was a BFP from an IUI!
    Triplets due 6/29/16 also from an IUI!

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