Moving from Crib to Toddler Bed?

Updated on April 09, 2008
T.T. asks from Keller, TX
6 answers

Okay...my daughter is trying to climb out of the crib so it seems that she is ready to move to a toddler bed.

I am not ready by any means to move her but I have no choice...i have a horrible fear that she is going to fall and break her neck! She rolls all around her bed so I am scared of her falling out of the bed. Also she has no debth perception and walks off of things and i am worried she will walk of her bed and hurt herself.

I like the Dora Explora bed that is on the floor and has a barrier all around the bed.

But her room is in the Disny Princess Theme and my husband wants me to get the bed that matches her room. Which is very cute but is like the typical toddler bed with one side open and raised off the ground.

I have one of two options her get the tent for over the crib or move her to the toddler bed.

QUESTION: Has anyone used the tent that goes over the crib and if so how did it work out for you?

If moving to a toddler bed how did you handle the first night?

My husband works nights so it will be just me on my own doing this. My husband told me that I might need to sleep in their with her for a while until she learns to sleep in her own bed. This is not something I want her to get in a habit off.

I plan on purshasing a tall gate for the door and anchoring her dresser to the wall. Putting a lot of toys in her room to play with and from there I am lost.

How do I go throgh this process???

Please help a very lost first time mommy!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.H.

answers from Dallas on

I saw a post on here one day that a lady suggested those noodles that the kiddos swim with putting it under one side of the mattress so it elevates it... That sounds like a super smart Idea to me and will keep the little one safe. I defiantly would skip the toddler bed Because then you have to transition again in a couple of months.
We had one of those tents to keep the cats out of my sons bed. They worked well but I was always scared to close it when he was in the bed if I had to get him out super fast I felt like it would take me twice as long to fumble with the zipper...( I think I thought to much about it).
Make it a big deal for her. Let her help with the whole process the new sheets,blankets. Maybe even take her to Build a bear and let her have a new bed buddy that will be with her at night. Then do everything like normal your night time routine. I agree about not getting in the habit of you staying in the room with her till she sleeps.
Good luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.A.

answers from Tyler on

We recently moved my son to a toddler bed. I know how you feel, it is a scary step!!! Here's what we did: I bought a swimming pool noodle, and slid it between the mattress and the fitted sheet. I read someone else say they put it under the mattress, but that seems uncomfortable to me to have the whole mattress at an angle. It will be a couple inches high, so when she rolls around in the bed like my son did, it will stop them from rolling out. It worked great for us. I only had to use it about a month. As far as the furniture goes, I was so worried he would get out of bed and pull his changing table or something over on him. He has never even tried. When he gets up in the morning he comes to our room (i gate the hallway so the only room he can get to is ours or the bathroom).

I know it is scary, I am a first time mommy too. The first couple of months he didn't sleep quite as well. I have read other people say this too, and I guess its just the change. But after a couple months he is now sleeping as well as he did in the crib.

Good luck, and keep us updated. Please feel free to email me if you need to. Oh, and my husband works nights too, so I know how you feel there!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.O.

answers from Dallas on

I used toddler beds because of space... two toddler beds take up the same space as two cribs. I have two children who are 14 mos apart and another set of two who are 11 mos apart. Toddler beds are cute and tiny, but I would only buy one if there were other children to pass it to, because the time in it is short. I used the same two toddler beds for both sets of kids. I recommend a twin bed on the floor... to use a rail, you need the box spring and mattress on the floor and place the rail between the mattress and box springs.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.J.

answers from Dallas on

Well, I would love to know the same thing. I broke down and sold my son's crib this past weekend because I knew if I still had it I would end up giving in and letting him sleep in it. Well, I did the next worst thing...broke out the handy ole Pack-N-Play. He absolutely REFUSES to stay in that toddler bed, and I have this fear of him waking up in the middle of the night without me hearing and doing something in the house that would hurt him. So, if I were you and you don't think you're ready, I'd wait. I mean, there only babies once and this one is my 4th so I should have took my own advice. Believe me, I would go back if I could. Well, Good luck and sorry I wasn't much help!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Little Rock on

I have heard that the crib tents are great. If I had known that prior to moving my little girl to the toddler bed, I would have tried that first. 22months might make it a little more difficult. My daughter was 25 months when we moved and her and she really shocked me. We got her bed ready that day and made it up, then we talked about it all day and got her excited. We left her crib up her in room so there wasn't too much change at once, but that night we put her down and she just went to sleep! It was very strange to leave her in that big bed. We hit trouble when we started traveling for the holidays, so I suggest doing it when you know you will be at home for a few months so she can get used to it. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.K.

answers from Dallas on

Here is my two cents on thsi topic - Toddler beds are a HUGE waste of money. There are so tiny that literally they outgrow them in a year, if that. Go to whatever big girl bed you want and buy the One Step Ahead extra long bed rails (they are the longest available on the market and very easy to assemble/disassemble) and start her in that bed. We bought a sleigh bed for my son so the head board and foot board were never an issue. We shut his door at night and he to this day (at age 4) does not get out of bed until we come and get him. Do NOT sleep in her bed with her. My son was out of his crib at 20 months (he kept climbing out) and I made the HORRIBLE mistake of sleeping with him and it took me almost a year to break him of that! Start a good bed time routine and leave it at that. Make sure that you make a big deal out of how awesome it is too be a big girl in a big girl bed! Definitely anchor any dressers, etc. to the wall. I would limit the temptation to play with toys by putting the out of reach/out of sight. My son has a train table in his room and again he has NEVER once gotten out of bed to play with it. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches