OT: Age for bed?

[*KeepMovingForward*]

At what age did your child go from the crib to a bed? Its been a long long while since my kids were young and I just can't remember when we made the switch. I THINK it was around 2, but not sure. I know DS had a hard time with the transition, but DD never had an issue. Now DN is on the brink of 2 and we are thinking of changing him up. We are thinking of a toddler bed or one of those low to the ground theme beds-like the cars or something along that line.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Both of my kids were 21 months when they got out of the crib. DD8 went into a regular twin bed with side rails. DD4 went into a Pooh toddler bed and would use it now if she still fit into it!

 

[Princess Roo]

I have friends that have switched the kids anytime between 1 and 4 years. I really think it depends on the child and the family situation. Most of my friends switched their kids when the kids climbed out, when they needed it for another baby, or just when it seemed "time".

We will switch DS soon at ~27 months. He was excited about sleeping in a real bed at Disney a few weeks ago, so we figure we'll move him soon so that he is all adjusted before the next baby needs the crib. Since he is so excited about it, we're actually using it as part of the "big-boy" celebration we're planning when he's day potty trained (very soon, I think!). We will keep a gate over his (open) door, though, because we can't really toddler-proof the whole upstairs.

 

[Keara'sMom]

We switched dd to a bed when she turned 3. I was prepared to move her sooner if she had started climbing out of her crib, but she never did so we didn't move her 'til 3. Then, she didn't get out of her bed on her own either (we were so lucky!)--she'd call with, "Mommy, I'm awake!" Boy, I'm just realizing that I blinked, and now she's 10!!!

Good luck with DN!

 

[amy1976]

We moved DD at 2 1/2. She is a horrible sleeper and when we switched her to a bed she started sleeping.

 

[macmahony]

My kids all switched between 18 months and the latest was 2, they all went to a toddler bed. They loved it, the first few nights were rough, but we just kept walking them back and they got the idea.
We love the toddler bed, my almost 3 year old still sleeps in hers, and I have no plans to move her anytime soon.

 

[islandmum]

both our ds's were in beds by 2, it worked for them as they were climbing out the cots and getting annoyed.

side rails are off the bed too now and he'll be 3 in a month.

we're also 2 weeks into no nappy at nightime and doing well

 

[gris gris]

Love to see the answers on this thread. DD was 2 when we moved her into a twin bed. DS is 1 right now and I can't wait to move him. We don't have a bedroom for him right now so his crib is in our finished basement at the bottom of the stairs. I can't stand having him on a separate floor and will move him into DD's room as soon as I can put him in a toddler bed. I'll probably do it when he starts trying to get out of the crib. DD told me he can't move into her room until he stops drooling

 

[DisneyDadof3]

Our daughter moved to a bed when she was 18 months and the two boys at 12 months.

 

[gris gris]

Our daughter moved to a bed when she was 18 months and the two boys at 12 months.

How did you do it at 12 months? A toddler bed? I'm really wanting to move DS but not sure if he'll stay in it. Maybe he won't know any better if it has sides.

 

[DisneyDadof3]

How did you do it at 12 months? A toddler bed? I'm really wanting to move DS but not sure if he'll stay in it. Maybe he won't know any better if it has sides.

Both boys started climbing out of the crib and I figured it was safer for them to be in a bed than falling on their head out of the crib. We didn't use the frame - just put the box springs down with the mattress on top - the kids could then walk up to and climb onto the bed ... and if they fell off (which didn't ever seem to happen) they could just climb back in. Also - be sure to child proof the room as they have more access.

 

[Rachie0507]

DD was 2 1/2 yo. DS was 20 months. Their ped suggested moving him early when he was fighting me at bedtime--I thought it was a crazy idea but gave it a shot. His transition was MUCH better than his sister's! I'm now a believer that earlier is better. BTW, both my kids went to toddler beds first because their bedrooms are small.

 

[daisyduck123]

I switched my kids when they were 1yo.

I hated those cribs! Changing those crib sheets was such a pain!

As the previous poster stated..."the earlier the better"!
(We did not have any trouble with the kids needing to "adjust" to the twin beds. I've read stories here on the DIS about kids not liking their new beds, and getting up constantly out of their beds. Mine were so young when they switched, that it didn't even phase them).

 

[mommytomy3]

my first 3 children all moved into a twin bed on their second birthday, but #4, well, he will be 2 in August, and I just cannot see him in a bed.. I think with him I will wait until 3 (or sooner if he tries to climb out the crib.). He just doesnt seem ready for a bed

 

[pooh4evr]

About 18 months both were in beds all the time-- DD#1 daycare moved then to cots at 12 months so we started with naps then and worked our way up.

 

[bnhasak]

Okay, I am the minority here. DD is still in here convertible crib/toddler bed. We converted it to a bed around 3.

DS will be 2 in 2 weeks and he is still happily in a crib.

DD actually doesn't want a big bed. We have to get her one this summer though since she is outgrowing the toddler bed.

 

[cybrkitn]

DS4 (soon to be 5 next wk) was out of his crib at about 2 1/2. We got him a toddler car bed, which he loved. Only problem was finding sheets for it. There are not too many choices out there and you have to buy them in sets. You can't buy just the bottom and top sheet. It has to be that and the spread and pillowcase.

He just moved out of his toddler bed earlier this year after he didn't want it anymore (plus he was starting to outgrow the mattress). He just loves his "new" twin bed. "New" to him. It's just daddy's old Ethan Allen bed from the 70's or 80's and my old (but in excellent shape) mattress and box spring from the early 90's.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[design_mom]

My DS moved at 3 years, 3 months. He never climbed out of the crib, but was getting pretty big for it, so we moved him. I liked moving him at that age because he understood that he was not supposed to get out of bed and wander around. He moved directly to a twin bed (with rails).

My DD is 3 years, 1 month and still in the crib. We will move her sometime soon, but we haven't found a bed we like yet (and there's no rush. We don't need the crib and she hasn't climbed out.) DD will move to a twin bed, too... and has slept on one on occassion at Grandma's house, but is still in the crib for everyday.

I know we are on the older side of moving them, but I figure what's the rush!?

 

[Tikicampers]

DS moved into a toddler bed at 18mo, because he was climbing. He was always falling out of it. He had never really slept in his crib and he didn't sleep in the toddler bed either. If you're wondering, DH and I had a very cramped bed for 2 1/2 years.
When we were moving things around for DD's arrival, we gave him the double bed that was in her room (we added bed rails). He now sleeps in his own double bed. It looks so huge when I lay him in it, but he is a mover and both the crib and toddler bed were just too small for him.

 

[monorailsilver]

My oldest went from the crib to a twin with a side rail when she was 2 yrs 1 month because that is when her bed came in & I was due with baby #2 in 3 months.

My middle child went from the crib to a twin mattress on the floor when he was 2 years, 4 months because I was due in 2 months. His mattress was on the floor because I didn't know if I needed to get bunk beds or one bed since I don't find out the gender of what's growing in me until it comes out.

My youngest is still in her crib. She is 15 months. Although she climbs the furniture she hasn't mastered the crib, yet. She will stay in it for at least another year unless she climbs out.