How old should a child be before moving out of their crib into a toddler bed?

Question

I have an 11 month old and a baby due in May and I just want to plan ahead whether I will need to purchase another crib or if my daughter will be out of her crib by the time the baby is 3 months old.

When did you moms move your kids into toddler beds?

Answer 1

I moved my older daughter into a big girl bed (why do a toddler bed? Skip the middleman, I say!) right after she turned two and I plan on doing the same with her little sister.

Answer 2

My first son climbed out of his crib at 17 mos on his own, so we put him in a toddler bed then so he wouldn't hurt himself...and my 1 year old (#2) broke his arm climbing (falling) out of his crib 3 days after his first birthday, so he's in a toddler bed now (we have a crib that converts to a toddler bed). It works out anyway, because #3 is due in Dec, and #2 was moving to a toddler bed by then anyhow.

All I did was put a pressure gate up at the bedroom doorframe, so there couldn't be any night wandering, and make sure the bedroom is safe of choking hazards, etc. It can be a pain in the bum when they're way too young, like the 1 yr old, but I'd rather be annoyed by a bit of wandering than have him get hurt again. He got used to it really quickly.

A year and a half isn't out of the question for a toddler bed if you deal with it appropriately...some kids stay in the crib until they're much older though - but go with what you're most comfortable with, and that will be the best decision, regardless of what anyone else thinks! :)

Answer 3

I moved both of my kids into a toddler bed when they were around 2. But if your child is climbing out of the crib you could move them earlier. I think that by May your oldest would be ready to move. I would move her a couple of months before the baby, and make a big deal about her getting the new bed. You don't want her to feel pushed out of her bed by the baby. I also agree that a toddler bed is unnecessary. They are nice because they are smaller and use the crib mattress. But if you are putting another baby into the crib I would just get a regular bed and put a rail on it so they don't fall out. The only reason we used the toddler bed was because my in-laws owned a furniture store and they gave it to us.

Answer 4

My son is 16 months old and he just started sleeping in a toddler bed. He is extremely tall (35 inches) and was trying to climb out of the crib. We thought about getting a big-boy bed, but because he is so young we knew he would be safer getting in and out alone if he was in a lower/smaller bed. He loves it. Since the first night we put him in it, he has continued to sleep all through the night and doesn't have any trouble in there at all.

We found a great toddler bed for about $150 with a mattress at Ikea. It was a huge relief that he took to this so well because baby number 2 is due in december. Good luck!!

Answer 5

I have twins and they were in the crib as long as possible about 2.5 yrs! However, in your situation (which was mine before the twins) I would start your daughter with naps in a toddler bed or on a twin/full bed if you don't want to buy a second crib mattress, i.e from above, "skipping the middle man" transition. See how she does in her "big girl bed" and maybe do a couple of nights a week in the bed then gradually move her up, there is no huge hurry esp if you are going to wait till the baby is 3 mos old.
Good Luck.

Answer 6

My daughter got put into a toddler bed about 3 months before she turned 2. She started to climb out of her crib, so we did it more for safety reasons. It depends on the child also. Her crib converted to a toddler bed, so it was very convenient for us!

Answer 7

I plan on keeping my little ones in their cribs until they are 2 or 3, just depending on how well they stay in their beds...I have a 11 1/2 months old and a 9 1/2 month old.

Answer 8

My daughter was almost 3 when she moved into her own bed. My son was roughly the same age. I've found that a full-sized bed worked best w/ my kids b/c it took a LONG distance for them to cross in order to fall out of it! Toddler beds are just as fine tho', I just prefer the full-sized beds myself! Good luck! I think that by the time your next one comes along, the 1st baby will be pretty darn close to moving out of the crib. There's nothing wrong w/ training them a little earlier if you want to save yourself from being stuck w/ 2 cribs. Just have him/her sleep in a reg. bed once a week for now and see how he/she handles it. I've never heard of any children developing social problems b/c they moved to a toddler bed! Good luck!

Answer 9

i moved my oldest out of his crib at 1yr. he was climbing out of it. and my youngest was 13months when he went into the toddler bed. You could always set up the toddler bed and have her start sleeping in it now to get her use to it and so she wont think that the baby took her crib. you can also buy side rails that slide under the mattress if you are worried about her rolling out. hope this helped. good luck and an early congrats on the new baby

Answer 10

My son was climbing out of his cot from a VERY early age. We did everything possible to try to keep him in his cot but unfortunately we were concerned he would have a fall in the middle of the night (although he never did, he is a little monkey lol) so we made a big deal out of buying his new “big boy” bed. He came to the shop when we picked it out and he tried them all out by jumping and sleeping on them all of cause lol. We didn’t buy a toddler bed because I didn’t think he would get enough use out of it, so we went for a low to the ground normal single bed and bought a side safety rail. We made a huge deal out of the bed that “he picked out” and he picked out a new buzz lightyear pillow and blanket. Then when we got home he of cause helped daddy put the bed together (he thought this was the best game ever, he built his own bed) He absolutely loved his new bed, we were very lucky. And he enjoyed it more then his cot. He never bothered trying to climb out of it, as it was open so there was no point lol and we all got a lot more sleep :) I think if you make it a really fun experience then it makes the transition easy. Good luck and congratulations on your new baby!! :)

Answer 11

Hello!

I thought toddler beds were fantastic b/c they are made for 18 mos to 5 yrs for people like you or I who have babies and require use of crib for the next child coming!

I moved both my kids out at 18 months and my daughter was 4 when she moved to the twin. My son is now 2.5 and when I see him climbing on his sisters bed, he looks so tiny. The kids liked having their size furniture and there is a reason for having kid friendly furniture, it makes them feel special and there are some wonderful furniture out there to accomodate the toddler bed. My kids loved it, my suggestion is go all out and buy the little nighttable and table and chair to go with it, your child will feel like a big kid being able to get in and out of bed themself. Good luck!