My first daughter was in a toddler bed by 9 months because she could get in and out; no sense in keeping her in the crib if she can get out. My second daughter was in a toddler bed by 10 months, because her big sister would get in and 'help' (meaning, push) her out. So now that my son's 18 months... how long is too long to keep a child in a crib? He's never tried to get out, I don't think the thought has crossed his mind (which is surprising, because he climbs everything else!)... I kind of don't want to take him out of the crib if there's no reason not to, but because I have such an abnormal history with making the switch, when did YOUR child go to a toddler bed? Can you keep a child in a crib too long? How long is too long?
my boys were 3+ (like 3 and 4 months), and my daugher is 2 1/2 and still in. If they are not crawling out - I leave them in! It contains them for quiet time, nap time, and early morning wakings :)
J.
I say that you keep him in as long as he isn't trying to get out! :) I think my son was in until about 2.5, and if I could have kept him in longer (he got out himself the little stinker!), I would have. If he isn't out on his own by 3, I would think that would be an ideal time to switch over, but my guess is, he will do it on his own WAY before then!
.
Like many other posters said, keep him in as long as possible!
However, like you, I was worried. It seemed all of our friends had transitioned their children much earlier, so I asked our pediatrician at our 3 year well-child check. He said as long as our son wasn't climbing out, keep him in as long as possible. It is much safer...and the cribs can hold over 100 pounds, so it's not like he will physically outgrow it.
Our son is now 3 years 5 months, and he's started climbing out. We're going to move to a twin bed with a guard rai (No need for the expense of a toddler bed.)
My little one is over 2 and has never even attempted to climb out. I'd asked a question like this a while back. Why make a change when you don't need to? Just think if you switch now you'll have to fight keeping him in a bed plus the change itself. Totally wait till it's an issue, our daughter loves her crib.
We switched my daughter at 3y. She wasn't in a hurry and neither were we. Her crib converts to a toddler bed using the same mattress so it wasn't a big change for her.
M.
The only reason why I switched out crib to a toddler bed was because I thought it might help ease some fears for my separation anxiety then 18 month old.
Keep him in there till it's either dangerous for him, grow to big, or you decided it's time.
Why fix what's not broken?
I kept my first one in until his baby sister was too big/too old for the bassinet so he was about 2 years 3 months.
I kept her in until she started climbing out which was not until after she turned 3. She was a wanderer too, so I'm glad she was willing to stay in. Otherwise she'd have been up and about instead of sleeping/napping.
My two youngest are now 2 years 1 month old and are still in their crib (together). It's a big crib and the side doesn't drop down, but the mattress is on the lowest setting so, so far they can't get out. I'll keep them in until they start to climb out or until they turn 3, whichever comes first. :)
****ETA*** I don't know if there is a too long when kids are small. I recall sleeping a crib (comfortably) up until I was 5 years old. I was able to get in and out and apparently I was rather fond of it so my mom allowed it. (I don't think they converted to bigger beds back then.) I wouldn't have a kid all scrunched up in a crib, but if there's no safety issue I don't think it's a problem even after 3. :)
My first was 2 months shy of turning 3 before we took him out of the crib. He went to a twin bed because he was getting too big for the crib and toddler beds are the same exact size. We also needed the crib for his brother that was due any day now at that point. He never wanted to climb out of the crib so we left him there because he slept fine in there. We also delayed in part because we had to wait for construction to finish in what was to become his room and we didn't want to waste our time switching any time before that so when the construction ended we just set up the twin bed in the new room and went from there.
My second was about 3 1/2 when we switched him to a toddler bed. He still fit well in that size but he was a climber so we had to move him. We wanted him lower to the ground then the twin would put him. He was in the toddler bed for nearly 2 years.
My third just turned 2 and is still in her crib and we don't plan to move her until she starts climbing or doesn't fit anymore. We can't move her into a twin until we have a house with more rooms though as there is nowhere to fit it.
There is no reason to move a child just because of age. If they aren't climbers, sleep well and fit I say leave them be.
My daught was out of the crib by 20 months because she was climbing out. My son will be 2 next month and he's such a great sleeper in there and has never tried to climb out. I'm keeping him in there until he crawls out or starts night time potty training - which will be awhile since he's just starting to show interest in daytime potty training.
Keep him in there as long as he's not trying to get out. He'll only want to get up and walk around if you put him in a toddler bed. At 18 months - he can still do a year in there and more.
Elementary school = too long.
We kept our son (our oldest) in his crib until he was three. He was really active and we didn't trust him roaming his room, not to mention, he just slept great in his crib.
Our daughter, on the other hand, was trying to climb out of the crib at a year and a half, so we switched her then.
I wouldn't make the switch until it's absolutely necessary.
My daughter was about 2.5. The crib was on the lowest setting and she was launching herself out and could get in/out at will. It was safer to convert the crib than continue to allow her to do that.
Sometimes kids like the security of the bars. It actually took DD a while to realize it was OK and the bed was not broken.
18 months for my sons.
Daycare kids transition to a sleeping bag pallet btwn 18-20 months, depending on the maturity & listening skills of the child.
I noticed on SkinnyScoop that the majority of women stated that they made the transition to a toddler bed at ages 3 and younger (http://www.skinnyscoop.com/question/q/969?utm_campaign=th...)
Here is a helpful guide for transitioning a toddler out of the crib: http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/eden/tips-for-transitioni...
Keep your child in as long as you can. The only thing I would think of that might be too long is when you start potty training. He will need easier access. We had to take my twins out at 20 months. Not fun at all. I really wish we could've kept them in longer.
my twins were still in their cribs at age 3 - I think they liked that it was their own personal space that they didn't have to share with their sibling. Since they were content and still fit, we were in no hurry to move them out. They moved straight to twin beds with bed rails when one of DH's cousins needed a crib for their baby.
my daughter is 28 months old turned 2 in march and she is still in her crib she has tried to climb out when she is overly tired and does not want to go to sleep but has never climbed out i say as long as he is content keep him in the crib there is no reason to distrub him from his sleeping space unless he is getting too tall for it
You can leave your son in his crib as long as he is safe (not trying to climb out) or isn't too big and feeling cramped. The age really varies, some are ready before a year and others not until they're 3.
Its not the age that determines when to move them. You can do it anytime but it will depend on how well he/she can be trusted to stay there when you want them to. So, If he will stay in the bed even tho he has the ability to get out, and you can trust him to not get up and get into things in the night,, Its fine to move them. (o:
There is no set rule, just do what feels right
It really surprises me that so many people keep their children in cribs for so long. I think it is a convienence for the parents not the children. I have a degree in child development and have worked with children for over 20 years. I have seen parents keep their children in cribs up to 4 1/2 years old. Parents to, insist on keeping their children in cribs and potty training at the same time. Potty training should start by 2 1/2 years old and if your child is in a crib, you are giving your child mixed signals about independence. " I don't want you to pee in a diaper anymore but I want you to stay in the crib so you can't get out and use the bathroom." I've also seen many children who have been in the crib into the 3's and 4's and they act like "babies" for a very long time and at 5 and 6 years old wearing pull ups to bed because they never had the night time training. Parents don't realize that one small action like keeping their child in a crib until they are 3 or older, will and does have an emotional/ social down fall affecting their child's maturity and independence.
I didn't read the other responses, but definitely keep him in as long as possible. We didn't move our oldest to a toddler bed till he was 3yrs old, and he only used that for like 6 or 9mo because we needed the mattress for the crib for our baby. He never tried to climb out. It wasn't until his 3rd birthday we asked him if he wanted to stay in the crib or get a "big boy bed". He opted for the bed. We did have to put up a baby gate at his room because he would get up several times before going to sleep, but the gate did the trick.
