When to move toddler out of crib?

Question

My daughter is 18 months now and I am 5 months pregnant. She will be 22 months when the baby is born. Right now she loves her crib and never has tried to crawl out of it. I realize you should move a toddler to a bed a couple months before or after the baby is born. I just don't know which would be better. I don't want to rush her out of the crib but I also don't want it to be harder for her to give up the crib later. I don't want to buy a second crib for just a couple months. I also need to have a planned c-section so lifting her in and out will be hard. I am so torn with what to do. I am looking for people who have had experience or have known someone to go through this. What do you suggest? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Great question.

Congrats on your daughter and on your new pregnancy.

Buying a new bed for her that is brightly-colored, referred to as her "big-girl" bed, etc. will likely make things easier. If she can play on the bed during the day, that might also help.

Having the bed be new and exciting will make it seem like a new toy.

Try not to focus on the new baby subject and the new bed subject at the same time. This may be negative for her or too much new change to handle.

Realize that your daughter will likely go through a recessive stage where she tries to mimic the baby in order to get more attention (she may purposefully have accidents/babytalk, etc.), which is of course going to make everything so much easier. She just really needs to know that this new baby is in no way a threat to her love with you, her development, her relationship with you, or her importance to you.

Spend as much time as you can talking to her about the new baby but also about how she will always be your baby and how she is a new big sister.

Don't worry, she likely isn't old enough to be too concerned about the whole new baby stealing my crib thing.

Asking this question before the fact shows that you really care about what both of your children will be going through.

Answer 2

Don't worry about "schedules"! People are too hung up on them. Our son LOVED his crib...and would stay there (thankfully!) long into the morning on weekends, singing to his "guys" (Sesame St. stuffed figures, etc.). Then suddenly, he just wanted OUT and when they start climbing out, there's no stopping them (humanely anyway, which is the way ALL childrearing should be). So that's how you know they need a bed, even if it's one with side-bars.

Given the C-secion, can't your husband or someone else lift her? If not, then start getting her ready now. Put a regular bed in the same room w/the crib, along with some favorite bed-companion toys. She'll be FAR more curious if you don't push it! You've got the right idea...now just try to be patient. Good luck!

Also, after your baby is born, be prepared for your toddler to start "regressing" (acting like a baby). She may well resent the new baby's presence and even steal its spot in the baby seat or start demanding a bottle! My nephew did this, but it passed, so don't worry.

Answer 3

Either buy a toddler bed or a twin bed with bedrails. put it in the room by the crib (no matter how tight it is.) Nap her on your bed to get her used to it. She may like the freedom. Trust me she'll love the freedom of the bed. When she actually sleeps there remove the crib. Don't draw attention to it at all. Cover it up if you must. The transition is not as hard as you are making it. If she wanders at night due to the freedom of the toddler bed, put a gate at her door. This way she'll be safe. Good luck. And yes, do it soon or she'll resent the new "intruder" in the family.

Answer 4

Well, my first two were 15 months apart, so we had two cribs for a while. I made my oldest a little bed with a headboard designed just for her? She couldn't get rid of that crib quick enough! 2nd birthday gift...

I have twin 3 year olds that went into a bed at 22 months, they did fine, it was very cool to be in a real bed with an animal headboard, oooooooooo! Anyway, you should do it a couple of month before baby, and let her get used to it and you be able to help her get used to it before baby comes. It will be tougher later.

I'd take the crib down and put it away when bed makes it's appearance, and leave it out of sight out of mind until baby needs it. Get new bedding, new bumper, new mobile, it won't look so familiar to her and it won't be an argument.

Answer 5

Put her into a toddler bed when she starts climbing out of the crib. No need to rush it.

No reason this child can't keep her crib even if there is a new baby in the house. If she loves it, she should have it for a while.

Answer 6

Wait a few more months...she's still a baby. A month before the baby is due, get a toddler bed which will still use her mattress. They are low to the ground and come in cute frames. Talk about how much fun it is to sleep in a "big girl" bed. Leave it next to her crib and, during the day, let her lie on it, maybe take a nap. My daughter was so proud to sleep in her new bed.

good luck!

Answer 7

If she is comfortable in her crib and it is not causing termoil with her being in it, except you getting her out since you are pregnant and should not be lifting her like that...then take the front door and lower it to the lowest point, treating it as a toddler bed, then about a month before the baby is born, move her crib or cover it over so it is "out of sight out of mind" and put her in a toddler bed.

That should help her "be a big' girl!

Answer 8

I moved my son out of his crib at about 20 months. (Because he's humongous and was climbing out) The best way to ease the transition is to put the toddler bed in the exact location that the crib was. Have your daughter even face the same way she normally sleeps now. This will help her be surrounded by images she knows already. We had no problems with this at all. My kids are 26 months apart. My son transitioned very well and was very excited about his "big boy bed". Happy pregnancy!!!

Answer 9

My son loved his crib until around 24 months. I say use a bassinette as long as possible, then start talking to your daughter about giving the crib to the baby and getting her a big girl bed! Believe it or not, she'll be able to communicate all of that with you by then!

Answer 10

I'm actually working through this very same thing right now with my daughter, however we have one of those convertible cribs that you can turn into a toddler bed. My best advice would be to start asap just because it will be easier to try to get her into this new routine now than it will be when you're getting her used to having a baby sibling and the night feedings and all that. I'm wishing now that we'd done that with our daugher now that her brother is here!