How Old Was Your Child When...

[mjaclyn]

...you had them sleep in a toddler or twin bed? My son is 20 months old and still in his crib, I was just thinking today about when I want to switch him to a toddler bed and I'm not sure. We waited until our first child was 2 1/2 but could have done it sooner. I know most people say you can make the transition when your child is big enough to climb out of the crib, but my DD just turned 4 and only now can climb out of the crib on her own. The reason I was thinking of giving my son his own bed earlier than my daughter, is because he is up at the crack of dawn and if he woke up he could play in his room for awhile before getting antsy and wanting out. We did this with DD as well...left her bedroom door open but put one of those child gates in front of it, so we could see and hear her but she couldn't get out on her own. We also bolted every piece of furniture to the wall and put locks on her closet to minimize any type of hazard. It worked great for her and she still loves her room. I guess I'm just wondering if I could do the same for DS only earlier, because he won't be 2 1/2 until next fall and I need sleep! LOL Anyway, if anyone has any prior experience or advice it be greatly appreciated!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Somewhere around 2. I can't say for sure when.

 

[mjkacmom]

My 3 oldest were almost 4, and went right into twin beds. The twins were 2 1/2, and only because they could climb out easily. I think they sleep better in cribs.

 

[marcyinPA]

My oldest DS was very happy in his crib, but a friend of mine made me feel like I was harming him, so I moved him out of it and into a toddler bed about 3 months after he turned two. He did fine....he was an EASY toddler (and now, he's a difficult teenager! )

My youngest DS learned how to climb out of his crib at a very young age...probably about 18 months old...so we moved him to a toddler bed for his safety. He was into EVERYTHING at that age, so it made me nervous, but it worked out alright. He is now a very easy tween!!

 

[grafxgirl]

The moment they started climbing out of their cribs. Our daughter was 2 and our son was 18 months. Figured it was safer to let them transition into regular beds than continue to climb out and risk one of them getting hurt. We just created a new bedtime routine, and didn't have any trouble with them staying in bed. Now they are 4 and 7, if they get up before us they lay in their rooms and watch TV or play with their toys.

 

[minkydog]

DS24 went into a twin bed the day he climbed out of bed at 17 months. Like you, we child-proofed the room thoroughly so that it was like he had this giant playpen to keep him occupied. DD17 would probably still be in her crib, but we gave her to boot about 4 months after Christian was born. They are 2 years apart. Christian was outgrowing the bassinet and i needed her bed. She loved her bed--her daddy had painted it pink for her and she was loath to give it up. Well, the crib had to "disappear" for about 4 weeks and when it "reappeared", behold! it was a white crib, now called "Christian's bed." She never knew the difference.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

At whatever age, it always seemed to involve a baby gate.

 

[Magpie]

We never bought a crib. My daughter slept with us in our bed until we moved to our new house (she was 11 months old). We put a mattress on the floor of her new bedroom and a baby gate on the door. She slept on the floor until she was about 18 months old, then we bought a twin bed frame for her, and she slept on that.

My son slept with me and his dad until he was about a year old, then he slept in the twin bed with his sister. When they were about 3 and 5, we bought a bunk bed for the two of them.

 

[mrsheppo]

DD started sleeping in a toddler bed when she was 14 months. We had to move her to a twin bed when she was 3 as she outgrew the toddler bed.

 

[design_mom]

Both mine were nearly 4 and went straight to a twin bed. They probably could have climbed out of the crib earlier if they'd wanted to... But they never did. We had very few "getting up" issues. I'm glad they were older when we moved them.

 

[sunnyday123]

Around 2 1/2. Her little head poked around my doorway one morning, with a great big smile. I asked her how she got there, and she said, "I show you!"

Off she ran into her room, climbed into her crib, said "ready, go!" and climbed out. I got her a bed that night. And was awakened every morning by her standing next to my bed, whispering, "mommy...mommy" until I taught her the fine art of staying in your room.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

My oldest was 13 months old...needed that crib for the next one! DS was probably just shy of 2, but to be honest, I've blocked out a lot of those first couple of years, so I can't tell you for sure.

 

[bdcp]

Both boys were about two, with a bed rail. What was so funny, they both wouldn't get out of the bed in the morning when they woke up because they saw the bed rail as a obstacle. Neither were climbers and never attempted getting out of their cribs either. We used a baby gate and bed rail til they were about 2 1/2 and that was it. They were both excellent sleepers from 2 months on. They're 24 and 27 now.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

My DD was just shy of 2 when we put her in a twin bed. Skipped the toddler bed because the lenght is the same as a crib and that was really why she needed moved out of the crib is she was getting so tall it wasn't enough space for her movement. She was probably 3 before she would get up out of the bed on her own without permission. I'm assuming it was the side rails, but she didn't have any problem getting out when she was told she could. Always would just sit in the bed reading books and playing with a little toy or something that was on her night stand.

 

[indimom]

A bed is a bed. Do what works for you. I think they can stay in a crib as long as you like as long as they aren't literally too big to fit or climbing out (or shaking the crib so hard that the bottom falls out ).

Our daughter went to a twin mattress on the floor at about 13 months when she broke her crib by shaking it HARD. (We basically emptied the room and put a baby gate in the doorway.) She did fine.

Our son was around 2. He also was an easy transfer to a big boy bed.

 

[nikkistevej]

Mine started climbing out of the crib by about 14-15 months- so we just got her a twin bed- been sleeping in it ever since. She is 8 now.

 

[leight]

dd#1 was 2 yrs- we transitioned her from her crib to a twin when we moved to our new house-her crib converted to the twin platform bed and we used a side rail for about 2 yrs.

dd#2 was closer to 18months- although she wouldn't climb out of the crib she would fling herself backwards onto the crib mattress during a tantrum-that night we got a toddler bed with a padded headboard and removable side railings for her protection. It used the crib mattress and she's petite so she stayed in that until she was about 4.5. In retrospect, I would have been just as well served putting a good mattress on the floor of her room for the cost of her bed. But we gave it to a neighbor and now her second child is still using it. I think whatever works for you, your child's safety and your piece of mind is best .

 

[simba20]

I had planned, frankly, on moving DD to a twin bed with a rail when I thought the time was right. Plus, I thought a toddler bed was an unnecessary expense. Then, one afternoon last November (just before Thanksgiving), I was browsing in one of my local junk/used furniture/antique shops and saw a fairly new toddler bed frame for $20. The price couldn't be beat, so we bought it.

DD was 28 months at the time. We started her after we returned home after Thanksgiving sleeping in her bed. I was just thinking the other day about how it had been a year. Now she's asking for a "big-girl bed" after she saw some princess sheets at Wal-Mart.

 

[2girlsmom]

In our case with first DD it was that she was climbing out, and she was 15 months old. And baby gates? She climbed those too, so they were worthless. We bolted down furniture, put keyed locks on cabinets, etc cause she would climb up the kitchen counters, fridge, etc. With younger DD, she moved from crib straight to twin bed, was 2 1/2 I think. She never cared about climbing out of anywhere, but we moved and she would be sharing a room with her sister, so they got bunk beds, and she was on the bottom bunk.

 

[Syrreal]

DS was into a toddler bed shortly after he turned 1 because he could not only climb out of his crib, but over two stacked baby gates before we could get out the door at night.