How Old Was Your Child When...

[Tinijocaro]

My thoughts are, do it when it feels right for you. My 4 kids stayed in their cribs until 3-4 years old. They could all climb out, so I kept the rail down. I saw no need to rush them into a bed, they were happy, I was happy. Looking back, it really doesn't matter when you do it. We had no transitioning issues at all. I had a friend who insisted that her kids be moved to a bed on their 1st birthday. Lots of transition issues.

In the end, it really doesn't matter.

...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!

 

[Inigo]

I moved both kids out of the crib and onto a mattress on the floor (with blow-up bolsters--like bed rails--on three sides) when each one was about 9 months old. Both refused to sleep in their cribs any longer, but would crawl up on the mattress and go right to sleep. Since both were walking by then, I put a baby gate across the bedroom door so they couldn't get out to explore.

 

[JessicaR]

My boys were big! They were both out by 2. They were more comfortable in a bed. Sometimes that meant our bed. My nephew is going to be 3 soon and still in his crib and very content. Oh and my second son was climbing out so it was time.

 

[jlima]

DS16 could climb out of his crib 1 month after his 2nd birthday. We learned this one night when he didn't want to go to bed. We put him into the crib and closed the door; then the crying stopped and I though he was asleep, but then there was a PLOP sound and more crying (he could climb over the rail but immediately plopped onto the floor!) We purchased a twin bed the next day.

 

[mtemm]

my eldest was 22 months old, and my twins were 24 months old (so just turned 2). we started with twin mattresses on the floor, then after a month or so added the boxspring, then some time later added the frame. it worked wonderfully! never needed bedrails, never had issues with them falling out of bed. if they rolled off in the beginning, they didn't fall far, but honestly I don't even remember them doing that at all.

 

[mousebymarriage]

DD14 was slightly over 2 1/2 when we switched her to a twin bed because she absolutely loved her crib so we saw no reason to switch her before then.

DS9 was right around his first birthday (actually I think maybe a month or so before). We had to switch him out of the crib because he was able to climb out when he was 7 months old. the child was like a monkey and could climb absolutely everything (my entertainment center was bolted to the wall). We finally took him out of the crib for his own safety because not only could he climb in and out by then but he could do this flip thing out of the crib by jumping up and down on the mattress like a tramopline while holding onto the top of the side rail. When he got enough height he would flip himself right out of the crib while holding onto the bar, it was like a freakin' gymnastics routine. He thought it was funny as heck but it scared the h*ll out of me.

 

[DVC-Don]

Son was about 3, daughter about 2.