Switching from crib to toddler bed?

Question

When did you switch your child to a toddler bed. My daughter is only 14 months old and I don't plan on doing it now, but I worry about her trying to climb out and fall to the floor. I dont think she's tried yet, but she does try to climb on other things. The mattress is lowered as far down as it will go. My crib converts to a toddler bed so that's what we'll use when the time comes. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

My daughter is 19 months and while she has told me several time (by her actions of getting upset that she can't get her crib by herself and gets in my bed instead) that she wants a "big girl bed" I will NOT be getting one. A week or so ago I let her sleep with me only to wake to her with a perminate marker! LOL! OH WHAT A MESS!

Anyways, she hasn't tried to get out of her crib, but she HAS put her leg over the top of the bar. I told her to "get out" if she wanted to while I was sitting there so I KNOW if she can do it or not. She won't do it, only puts her leg up there.

I am currently teaching her to climb into the bathtub (same method) and when she DOES climb out of her crib she WILL get a "big girl bed".

Answer 2

My daughter just turned two yesterday and we just switched her from a toddler bed to a twin bed. Although she is in a twin bed we have just the mattress and not the box spring yet so she is still not far from the floor.

I went through a lot with my daughter all the back to when she was nine months old. She climbed out of her crib, jumped out of her crib, got her leg stuck in the bars of the gate, etc. and our mattress was as low as it would go also. I just could not stand it any longer and did not want her to get hurt.

This past Christmas, 2005, she started in a toddler bed. The first night or two was a little rough but after that she enjoyed it. Ever since she has learned when we say night-night that it is time for bed. She goes to get her dolly and give me and my husband a hug and kiss night-night and goes to bed.

We have been very blessed with such good kids. If you have any questions do not be afriad to ask. Be aware though, it does not happen overnight. Good Luck! I hope this helped!

Answer 3

Im sorry but I disagree with them... I have a 19 month old boy and he is not ready for a bed yet, he's still a baby. My 3 1/2 year old didn't switch to a toddler bed until he was 2 years old and I plan on waiting the same amount of time. Unless they are climbing out of the crib and putting themself in danger then there is no reason to put them in a bed.

Don't rush.. they grow up too fast as it is. Enjoy the baby years while they are still here.

Answer 4

Both of my older girls were switched to a toddler bed from a crib at around 18 months. My first learned to climb out around then, we were going to wait until she was two. But it took a couple of months to get her to stay in. And with my second it just seemed like a good idea to promote some independence in her, before the next baby was born. Now she is just barely staying in bed and sleeping through the whole night, 2 months later.

Answer 5

I would say that your little girl is old enough to try out the toddler bed during the day while you're watching her so she can try crawling on it and playing with toys in it. If it's not difficult to do - you could convert it back to the crib at night for her to sleep in. I'm sure that there is something on the market like a rail that you could buy to keep her from rolling out. If you have carpeted floors - that's even better. If not, when you feel she is ready - make sure to put blankets on the floor just in case. When I had my second child - my first was 18 months and I prepared her for the toddler bed for a few months in advance by talking about being a big girl and how she'd sleep in a big girl bed. The thing that worked for me was to ease her into the transition and not just one day - make her sleep in the toddler bed.

Answer 6

My daughter is 18 months and we put her in a toddler bed when she was 17 months... Not by choice but due to the fact her Crib was recalled... Instead of getting her another crib we got her first toddler bed.. We knew she was ready for this transistion because she was trying to climb out of her crib as well as screaming because she was very bored.... She was so bored in her crib to the point where she threw tantrums at nap time because she didnt want to be in there... The first 2 nights she slept on her floor but she now sleeps in the bed... And shes tickled to death that when she wakes up in the middle of the night or in the morning she can play... And she does play for hours in her room quietly... I hope this helps just follow your instincts a mom just naturally knows when it is time for change... Just look for the signs and take them all in... Each baby is unique and yours just may be ready for the toddler bed step...

Answer 7

I think we switched my son at 18-20 months. But, you'll want to switch her once she starts trying to climb out of the crib. We bought my son an Elmo book, "Big Enough For a Bed", to help get him ready.

Answer 8

my boys are 12.5 months apart. and i refused to buy a 2nd crib. So my first son was in a toddler bed at 13 months. He did great. THEN my second, we kept him in a crib until recently... i would have kept him in longer but he fell out a few times....so we switched him at hmmmmm....17months. I dont think there is an ideal time!

Answer 9

My daughter went from a crib to a full size bed when she was almost 3....she never tried to climb out of her crib, but she always climbed in....So when ever shes ready you will know...:)

Answer 10

My sister kept her daughter in her crib until 3 yrs old she took one of the sides off not to long ago.I do it at 21/2 or whenever u feel she is ready.I am sure she will not get out of her crib especially at 14 mths.