Toddler Bed Question

[Minnie824]

I was wondering at what age do kids usually move from a crib to a toddler bed? Also, we now have one DD, but when we have a 2nd child do you think it would be easier on DD to stay in her room and get a toddler bed, or move to another room, and keep the nursery a nursery for a new baby? I'm asking cuz I want to make sure that the room situation is settled before a new baby, so DD gets used to it, and doesn't have everything happening at once. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[JAP]

I have a DD 5 1/2 yrs and a DS 17 mos.

When DD was 2 1/2 we moved her from her crib to a toddler bed. That was a big mistake for us. She would not stay in her bed and we had lots of trouble getting her to sleep at night. She still is a difficult sleeper. I think we should have left her in the crib longer.

When expecting DS we decided that DD would move to the bigger bedroom with a big girl bed and new set. We left the nursery as is.

So far it has worked out great. DD had a lot of input in how her new room would look and it made the transition into a new room much smoother.

As far as the nursery goes, we will be leaving DS in the crib until he is 3 and possibly a little longer.

Good luck and have fun decorating.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

I switched my kids when they began escape attempts from the crib. I figured as soon as they were big/agile enough to possibly make it over the bars, it would be safer to put them in a bed. I want to say that they were each about 2 to 2 1/2.

 

[CamColt]

DS#1 didnt want to sleep in his toddler bed when he got one. He would keep getting out of it. We moved to a new house when he was 2 yrs and 3 months old and we took the crib apart in the move. Before the move we kept telling him how the new house will have a bed for him, and that did work. He finally slept in it.

DS#2, who has been a wonderful sleeper since birth was in the bed a couple months before he turned 2 and he did fine in it. In fact hes sleeping in it as I type this.

If you have the extra room and plan for the kids to have separate rooms as they grow up, I think I would move DD into the new room and keep the nursery as is for the new baby. Thats what we had planned to do but I never got pregnant with DS#2 until we moved into the new house so, it never became an issue.
Good Luck!

 

[bananiem]

We moved dd into a twin bed with a side rail at about 20 months old because we were going to need the crib the next month for her little brother! She had a little trouble falling asleep the first 2 nights or so but we laid in bed with her and she adjusted really quickly. She also kept the same room, we just moved the "nursery" wall hanging and changing table/dresser. We also closed the door so she couldn't see her crib and she sort of forgot about it.
I think when they're younger they forget what the day before was like so they adjust OK. She even handled a new baby really well.
I think I should add that dd LOVES to sleep and always has. Once she's asleep she's OUT so we didn't have problems with her getting out of bed or anything.
Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Ricola]

DS was about 20 months when he switched from the crib. He was climbing out of it at that age, and was very excited to have the "big" bed.

 

[tiggerlover]

We moved DS directly to a twin size bed when he was 2 years and 2 months old. He made the transition smoothly and we never had a problem with him escaping. We pushed the bed up against the wall and on the other side we had a bed rail and we explained to DS that when he is put to bed that is where he was to stay until morning.

 

[piratesmate]

When DS was 15 mos a friend's children showed him how to get out of his crib. He thought it was a game & would climb out as soon as he woke up. Obviously, not safe. We moved him to a "youth bed".

DD made no effort to get out of the crib. We moved her when she was ~ 2 1/2.

Whatever you do, it should probably be well before the baby comes . . . otherwise your daughter may feel that the new baby "took" too many of her things.

Deb