Crib to Bed: She's Big!

When my daughter was 2, we put a twin mattress on the floor in a corner with fun sheets and pillows all around right by her little book case. She LOVES her bed. We lucked out and got a display mattress for really cheap. Now that she's 3, I may raise it up on cinder blocks or something, because it's hard for me to get on and off the floor to read to her! It's way too long for her, but who cares. We just didn't want to buy several beds in several years.

The crib size you have is a toddler bed which is made for up to 6 years old. My son bangs his head because he likes to sleep with his head against something and in the corner. You can change a child into any size bed when you think they will stay in it. If you get a twin or full I suggest you get bedrails for each side or one side and the wall for the other. Do what you would like too. There is not right or wrong answer for your question. It is what is easiest for you, but her bed is not to small. My oldest stayed in the crib until he was 4 and 40 inches. He didn't like change.

).

My son is also two and is exactly that same size- we went to the ped today. He's in a toddler bed, which is just his crib mattress on a toddler frame. He fits in there just fine. As far as I know he's never hit his head or anything. Perhaps your LO is just restless and bangs her head. It's likely she would no matter what size her bed is. If you would feel more comfortable with her in a bed I say go for it! But she's less likely to fall out of a full than a twin.

My daughter is tall, too (was 3 feet tall when turned 2). We did not get her into her big girl bed until she was about 2 3/4 years old but I think we should have done it sooner. She would have been fine with it, we were just waiting befcause we were refinishing my old bed which was a big project. Anyways, what happened was that she was so uncomfortable in her crib because she had to curl up to fit. So she started resisting bedtime a bit and insisted on all of the sudden sleeping in our bed which she had never done before. As soon as we finally got her big girl bed in place she was thrilled and happily went off to bed.

I guess what I am saying is, I think she is old enough and she will be more comfortable if you go ahead and make the switch!

Hi J. - We made the move from crib to bed last weekend for my 2 year old son, birthday Dec. 2006. He was starting to climb out of his bed and it seemed like the time was now... The first night he was a little nervous, but our older son slept with him to make him more comfortable. The next night and during all of his naps he is just fine. I think it is funny how he waits in his bed for us to come into his room when he wakes up, rather than getting out of bed on his own.

We got him a twin size bed, because his is the smallest bedroom in our house. It is also a loft style, though not very high, giving him some play space underneath. I would never have purchased the loft style for my older son who is very clutzy. But, this son is very coordinated and like a cat, always lands on his feet - or well padded diapered bottom, LOL!

My older son, with the bigger room got a beautiful full sized antique four poster bed. I added the side rails to keep him from falling out. He usually sleeps on one side of the bed next to the rails. Also, he didn't move into the bigger bed from his crib until he was closer to 3.

All kids are different, what works for one, won't necessarily work for another.

I am sure that your daughter will be fine in the full size bed.

Good luck with your move when it happens!

W.

J.,
I would say go for the full size bed. Your two-year old is almost the height and size of my 5-year old. My son's crib converted to a full-size bed, but I bought the toddler bed when he was around 2 or 2 1/2. I think it was a waste of money, because he only slept in it for about a year and a half before complaining that he needed a bigger bed.

We have a small house and my son's full size bed was always in his room even when he was still in the crib. One night when he was around 18 months old he wanted to sleep in the bed so we let him. He loved it, we had a railing on the one side of it and it's against a wall on the other side. He's been sleeping in it since 18 months and he is now 3 years old. So if you think she'll like it then go ahead and do it.

I say go for it! My daughter, who also is very large for her age, had to move to her toddler bed BY 18 months b/c her little brother was coming and we weren't going to buy another crib! So she moved to a new room and a new bed at 15 months and never looked back! She loved it, and like you, she always asked permission to get out - count your blessings!! I even say skip the toddler bed and go straight to the twin! :)

As some other ladies have said, she may bang against the side of any bed, no matter the size. My son always gets himself close to the top and side of his twin bed, which is why he still has a bedrail on it (other side to wall). He's almost 7. He also did very well with his crib even after converting it into a toddler bed by removing one of the sides. I would say that if she does well in it and it works for you right now, keep it that way for a while and start saving up the money for a twin (if you're money's tight now like most of us). My son loved his crib/toddler bed. He didn't want to give it up. It took a year or so of talking about it to get him comfortable with the idea. Maybe just start talking to her about one day getting a big girl bed, so she's ready for the transition when it is time. My son's never been tiny either, but we managed to keep the toddler bed in use until he was over 4 years old. I was concerned that he was getting too big for it, but I'm glad we held out a little longer than I wanted to because someone actually gave us a free twin bed frame with drawers underneath and my mom gave us his new mattress as a gift. What a blessing!

I can't say whether your daughter is "too big" for her crib, but I can say that we moved our daughter to a full-sized bed (not twin) at the age of 22 months, with NO PROBLEM! We had a 2nd child due, and didn't want to buy another crib. So anyway, I think your daughter is plenty old enough for a "big girl bed" of your choosing. Of course, we put bed rails up for safety. My daughter loved the full sized bed. I put a few butterfly throw pillows and all her stuffed animals on it, to make it feel more snuggly!
Best wishes!

After reading another response, I wanted to point out that we took the bed frame down and put the mattress & box spring right on the floor to make it lower and easier for our daughter to get in & out of. We never had an issue of her getting in & out of bed at night. When we put the frame back up (at age 3), we put a step-stool at the foot of her bed for her to get in and out. She did fall out of bed one time, at the foot where the bed rails don't protect, but it only happened once and it was mory scary than hurtful.

Hi J.,

They have toddler beds that you may want to look at. If you want to get her in a twin size bed, that is okay too.

She will learn to keep from falling out of the bed if you get her into a twin size bed.

Good luck on your journey in life. Of course, practice on your little girl. She will love it.

D.

i recently bought my 3 year old daughter a twin size bed, not a toddler bed. plenty big for her. instead of putting it on the frame i just put the mattress on the floor, so it is lower to the floor and she can get in and out on her own. also i put a gate in the doorway of room in case she would get up in the middle of the night and felt the need to wonder. her bedroom is upstairs and i also worried she would be groggy and fall down the stairs.