OT- Age for Big boy bed???

[tsd1202]

Please give me your opinions for the age you move a child from a toddler bed to a Big Bed (like a Queen, don't want to get a twin b/c I want this to last a LONG time). DH doesn't think my DS is ready, I will say his age after I get some opinons. Thanks.

 

[mom2alix]

DD moved out of the toddler bed at 2 1/2, but that was because I needed the crib mattress back in the crib for DS! I think we'll get DS a big boy bed right before he starts Kindergarten. The toddler bed leaves him so much more room to play in his room and it seems like the toys get smaller (and more expensive) as they get older. We're looking for ideas right now as I want some type of captains bed that has storage too.

 

[IlliniMouse]

My son started climbing out of his crib shortly after a year old. Went to a toddler bed, and he hated it! He ended up in our room most nights. So, we bought him a queen size bed (same reason as above....didn't want to have to buy another bed in a few years!) and he was fine in it. Lots of pillows surrounding him in case he got wild sleeping, but he never fell out. He really liked the idea of a big bed. The bad part about getting a queen size is it's really hard to find any kid themed bedding for it. I did manage to find a Bob the Builder comforter that was a full/queen for it though.

 

[SLDL]

My DS had a crib that converted to a toddler bed & we needed the crib for his baby sister when he was almost 3 so we bought him a full size bed. He has been fine with it & it's helpful for nights when we hang out a little longer (i.e. fall asleep until midnight) & each night when we read to him, etc. but I would really think long & hard about getting a twin. I SO wish we had gotten a twin! It would have allowed him so much more space in his room & the bedding is more available in twin than any other size.

I personally slept in a twin size bed through high school & then in college. Didn't have a full until I got married...I think it's just whatever you get used to. Bunk beds are also a nice option that I wish we had considered for DS. Although he may not need all of that now, he may in the future. When my DD outgrows her current toddler bed, I will definitely get a twin!!

 

[KMZOB]

I moved DS to a big bed at 2.5. He had always been extemely unhappy in a crib once he became mobile...having a regular bed has worked wonders.

 

[thepeach80]

My kids never had toddler beds. AJ went to a twin bed at 13 mos.

 

[Tikicampers]

My son started climbing out of his crib shortly after a year old. Went to a toddler bed, and he hated it! He ended up in our room most nights. So, we bought him a queen size bed (same reason as above....didn't want to have to buy another bed in a few years!) and he was fine in it. Lots of pillows surrounding him in case he got wild sleeping, but he never fell out. He really liked the idea of a big bed. The bad part about getting a queen size is it's really hard to find any kid themed bedding for it. I did manage to find a Bob the Builder comforter that was a full/queen for it though.

Same here! DS was still 2 when he moved to the queen, and he loved it. He is a mover in his sleep, and he would fall out of a twin. We do use two bed rails, but he doesn't really need them. I also like the queen, because if he has a nightmare, I can lay down with him and get him calm.

 

[fakereadhed]

I didn't vote because my option wasn't there- when they can climb out of the crib. My oldest was in her crib until she was 4. Seriously, why would anyone want a little person with no sense running loose in the house while they are sleeping?

 

[WildGrits]

I didn't vote because my option wasn't there- when they can climb out of the crib. My oldest was in her crib until she was 4. Seriously, why would anyone want a little person with no sense running loose in the house while they are sleeping?

I sort of agree.

Mine DD wasn't getting out of the crib but jumping so hard that she bent the springs under the mattress. She was one. I put her in a toddler bed and put up a baby gate in her doorway.

Putting them in an adult bed depends on the kid I think. We didn't do adult size beds until they where in school. But that was due to lack of room.

 

[Sarah7401]

My oldest was in her crib until she was 4. Seriously, why would anyone want a little person with no sense running loose in the house while they are sleeping?

These were our thoughts exactly!!! DS was 3.5 when we finally moved him. And the only reason we moved him was because we had gotten into a really bad bedtime routine and I wanted to change it.

I say as long as they still fit in the crib and as long as they aren't trying to climb out and hurt themselves, you are MUCH better off knowing where they are when they wake up than letting them have the freedom to roam.

Besides, setting up for Santa Claus and the Easter bunny are WAAAAAY easier and less stressful when they are still in their cribs.

 

[IlliniMouse]

I didn't vote because my option wasn't there- when they can climb out of the crib. My oldest was in her crib until she was 4. Seriously, why would anyone want a little person with no sense running loose in the house while they are sleeping?

We had a gate in the door to my son's room, but were lucky once he could climb over that he'd come to our room and wake me up! OH wait! The one morning when I woke up, he wasn't in his room. Went downstairs and there he sat in the recliner watching TV. It was on the Weather Channel or something his Dad was watching the night before, and he couldn't figure out how to change the channel. It was pretty funny to see him sitting there intently watching that!

I've heard stories of people waking up and finding things all over the house. One of my sister's friends daughter pulled a bunch of things out of the refrigerator and dumped it all over the kitchen! If I ever woke up to that, I think I'd install a motion detector in their room!!!

 

[ilovejack02]

I didn't vote because my option wasn't there- when they can climb out of the crib. My oldest was in her crib until she was 4. Seriously, why would anyone want a little person with no sense running loose in the house while they are sleeping?

LOL Thank goodness I didnt have that problem. I just used a baby gate and now that he is four I have a sign on his bedroom door that bangs really loud when opened and closed, wakes me the second he opens it. I guess it helps I am right across the hall though.

 

[SLDL]

We had a gate in the door to my son's room, but were lucky once he could climb over that he'd come to our room and wake me up! OH wait! The one morning when I woke up, he wasn't in his room. Went downstairs and there he sat in the recliner watching TV. It was on the Weather Channel or something his Dad was watching the night before, and he couldn't figure out how to change the channel. It was pretty funny to see him sitting there intently watching that!

I've heard stories of people waking up and finding things all over the house. One of my sister's friends daughter pulled a bunch of things out of the refrigerator and dumped it all over the kitchen! If I ever woke up to that, I think I'd install a motion detector in their room!!!

I firmly believe that every night after DH & I go to sleep, the kids get out of their rooms & hide things that they know I will need the next day. Then they hide somewhere & watch me run all over the house looking for those things the next day. That's the only way I can explain why I can't ever find anything!!

 

[pooh4evr]

We did not have toddler beds moved them from crib to twin with bed rails at 12-18 months.

 

[designermv]

My daughter is two, turning three in October. She is still in her crib and I plan to keep her there. She was a crazed, b00baholic she-banshee for the first nine months of her life and I am still recovering. The thought of having her roam the halls like a little night prowler makes me want to rock in a corner.

I think it depends on the child though. For us, the crib works. She doesn't try to get out, and she sleeps soundly all night. I'm afraid if I gave her the freedom that a bed provides, she'd be hosting all-nighters in her room with her dolls. Some kids handle the "no-confines" of a bed better than others.

Good luck!

 

[mericletwins]

I voted for six and up because I think that is what we did. Our twins never showed any inclination to climb out of the crib and our third child didn't either. We had three cribs set up in the same room for years. About a month after the twins turned 4 we converted their cribs to toddler beds because they would be starting school in 2 months and we didn't want to send them off to school still sleeping in a crib. We told the youngest (only a year younger) that he couldn't have his crib converted until he potty trained. About two months later he did and we converted his crib. We knew that we were going to start building a house in the next year so we didn't bother with real beds until we moved. That was a month after the twins turned six and a month before the youngest turned five. If our cribs hadn't converted to toddler beds, we wouldn't have bothered with them. I think that they are a waste of money. You would be better off getting a twin mattress and box spring and putting it on the floor if you were worried about a young one falling out. All three of our kids have twins so they have more room to play and navigate in their rooms. I had a twin all the way through college. I can remember DH coming to stay with me and the two of us sleeping in the twin with no problem. Now the king seems to small sometimes.

 

[Manda]

I voted 3, but my real answer is when they are potty trained and need to be able to get out of bed themselves. I see no point to giving them the option of free roaming. I wouldn't leave a 1 year old in his room alone to play during the day and I certainly wouldn't want him possibly roaming alone for hours at night. Even if you think your child won't get out of bed at night, they might decide to start...

 

[nemonoah]

I voted for 1-2 because thats how old DS was, but the only reason we moved him into a big boy bed so early was because he tosses and turns so much that he would roll out and we would find him sleeping on the floor in the morning! so we went and got him a twin size, and he loves it!

 

[tweedlemom]

My first son transitioned great to a twin mattress (on the floor, no boxspring, with a bedrail) when he was 16 months. His brother was born and needed the crib, and he did just fine. 12 months later, baby was climbing OUT of the crib and older brother was climbing IN to the crib, so we just ditched the crib and put the crib mattress on the floor for the little guy with a bed rail and he did great! Now they are 4 and 5 1/2; they still sleep on their mattresses on the floor (no rails), but we are getting bunkbeds for the "big boys" this weekend!

 

[Creekermom]

WEll... Let me just share my experiences...

When DS who is now 18 was little he went into a queen size bed at age 18 months...
fast forward 14 yrs
DD co-slept until she was 3.5 and then went into her own room and big girl bed.
(He is now 18 and she is now 4.5 yo)

As long as the toddler bed fits and works I say wait... I have 2 kids 14 yrs apart and I can see the difference of what works.. waiting or until they let you know otherwise is best.
So many things in life make our children grow up way too fast. Unless you are needing the mattress... I would wait till at least 3.. it can be a milestone and getting a new bed, and bedding can be fun to upgrade from the baby stuff.
Just my 2cents from a 'seasoned' mom

**REMEMBER THIS: DO WHATEVER IS BEST FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD BEST AND EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY IS DIFFERENT.***

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION
YOU ARE A GREAT MOM NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE!


VALERIE~