When do/did you switch from crib to youth bed?

Question

we are at a stage where my little boy hates to go to bed in his crib and I can tell he wants to do big boy things, but is he ready?

Answer 1

Sounds like he's ready. I have twin 3 year olds and put them in a toddler bed little under 2 years old. Their toddler beds have a partial rail on the side, but they still fell out of the bed. The good thing about their beds is they are very close to the floor so they only fell about 8-12 inches. They wouldn't even wake up. I would hear a little noise and go into check on them and they would be in the floor. It took about a month or so for them to quit ending up in the floor. You can make this a great experience. Let him pick out his comforter set.
Good luck!!

Answer 2

Well, if he acts as though he no longer likes his crib, he is probably ready for a youth bed, depending on how old he is. I, personally, moved my oldest daughter into a youth bed when she was 18 months old because her little sister was due in a month, and I didn't want her to associate having to give up her crib with the new baby. She didn't make the adjustment well, though; she'd just get out of bed and follow me into my room, and at eight months pregnant and with a husband who worked night shifts, I didn't always feel like putting her back in her own bed a hundred times a night so she actually ended up in the bed with my husband and myself for five months before she started sleeping in her own bed again. Our youngest daughter is now 16 months old and still seems satisifed with her crib. I will probably wait until she's closer to two years to move her into her youth bed unless she develops a dislike for her crib earlier than that. If your son's room is big enough, I would go ahead and move a youth bed in along with the crib. Just let it sit there for a few days so that he becomes accustomed to seeing it and becomes curious about it. If he asks what it is, tell him it's his new big-boy bed that he can start sleeping in whenever he wants. If he seems to like the idea, then offer him a choice one night as to which bed he would like to sleep in. Go with whichever choice he makes so that he feels in control of the situation. He may want to switch back and forth for awhile, or he may hop into the youth bed and never look back. Either way, as long as you aren't needing the crib for a new arrival, just follow his lead and see how it goes. He may have trouble with falling out of the bed the first few nights (my daughter did), but you can always put a pillow or something down to soften his landing. Youth beds are low enough to the ground that he won't get hurt if he does fall out, and he should adjust to not moving around so much after just a couple of tumbles, at least that's how it was with my daughter.

Answer 3

If your family is ready, go ahead. He will get out quite a bit in the beginning, just because he can. But just place him back in his bed, try not to cuddle him or talk, cause that will give him more reasons to get out of bed.

My little guy was getting out of his crib on his own by 1 1/2 years old. I didnt want him to get hurt, so he was in his own bed fast. I didnt waste the money on a youth bed. I placed a twin sized bed next to a wall and on the other side I put a net bed rail to keep him from rolling out. It worked out good, cause we didnt have to do anymore adjusting to another new bed when he was a little older. You also will Not have to buy new sheets and things. I recommend a good mattress protector. There are great ones out now for all size mattress. They grow up so fast. Mine is 3 years old now and does great without any side rail or anything. Good Luck

Answer 4

My little girl started sleeping in her "big girl bed" when she was about 22 months. She never ever wanted to sleep in a crib, she slept in a bassinet until she was 6 months and then a play pin from there, she refused the crib.

Answer 5

Can you imagine if he wasn't gated into his crib? What kind of bed time do you think you will have if he just has to place his feet on the floor and then he is free?

I say leave him in the crib until he figures out how to get out, or you are trying to give him some freedom when you are potty training him.

There is no rush. He has the rest of his life to be a big boy.

Answer 6

I read that unless your child is trying to climb out of their crib, then keep them in until around 3 of age. My daughter's pediatrician confirmed this. However, if your son is showing signs that he wants a bigger bed, try getting him a toddler bed (if his crib doesn't convert to one). If you want to move right to a twin bed, make sure it's not too high off the ground and buy a guard rail to protect him from falling out at night. Toddlers tend to move around during the night. My pediatrician said she also put blankets on the floor next to her children's bed to help cushion them if they fell out of bed during the night. Also, make sure your house is baby proofed so if your son does get up during the night, he can't get into anything harmful. I don't recommend putting a lock on his door (if he can open doors) because it's too dangerous in case of an emergency. Good luck.

Answer 7

Since he hates getting into a crib at night, he's ready for a youth bed. Invest in a mesh side attachment for it, so he won't fall out of bed. :(

Answer 8

The day my kids turn 2 is the day they get out of the crib and into toddler beds but I guess it depends on your kid. If he sleeps through the night, the room is safe for him to play alone, and knows to call for you when he gets up then I'd say its time to let him have his big boy bed.

Just make absolutely sure he can't get into anything if he decides to play for awhile when he wakes up - I discovered my sons liked to open their dresser drawers and would get the tips of their fingers stuck when they closed the drawers so I put plastic stoppers from keep the drawers from closing all the way. After you set up his new bed let him play in there for awhile and test everything out, that way you know for sure he can't get into anything.

Answer 9

We moved my daughter into her "big girl bed" (toddler bed) when she was one. She is now about to move to a full size on her forth b-day. You'll know when they are ready. Her toddler bed was a daybed which kept her protected on 3 sides and the bed was low enough to the ground that if she fell off she would not get hurt.

Answer 10

If you thinks he can climb over the side, its probably time. He will probably fall out of the toddler bed a few times in the beginning, but it will work once he gets used to the new setting.
There is no set time, it is up to you and the child to decide the right time.