Switching from a Crib to a Big Girl Bed

I switched some of my daughters to a toddler bed before 2. I was afraid they would fall out of the crib. We would put a baby gate at the door and each time we heard footsteps we would tell them to get back in bed. It took a week or so...but they eventually stay in bed. I did not realize that people waited untill 3. My kids were exceptional climbers i guess :-)

K.,
I got my son a toddler bed at 2, and it was a mistake! Is your daughter climbing out of her crib? If not, I would urge you to leave her in the crib longer. Right after I got rid of my son's crib, I read advice to leave them in the crib til 3 as long as they are not climbing out. Too late for me! Mine wasn't climbing and I should have left him alone. Trust me on this--it is a whole new ball game when they can just get up out of bed and wander around. The older they are when you get rid of the crib, the better they will understand sleeping/bedtime/etc.
Also, I found a toddler bed to be a waste of time, money and effort. My son hated it and he slept on the floor for months! He's always been a really good sleeper too and we still had issues. Be advised that you can't use rails with a toddler bed and then--what's the point?! When she's ready, buy a big bed and use the rails. Good luck :)

If she's getting out of bed, buy a crib tent - they are a God send! $70.00 at Babies R Us.
Take care :]

We moved my son to a bed when he was three. He wasn't a climber and we liked the fact that we had a safe place to contain him when necessary. He also took medication for a health issue that made his muscles weak and were afraid of him rolling out of a bed or being temped to get out of a bed and falling. From the time we made the switch he has been very good about staying in bed at night, not as good during naptime, however. Our daughter is almost three. We plan to move her to a bed at her birthday. We have used a tent on her crib for the last 1 1/2. She is a climber. For many reasons we haven't ready to move her to a bed and we felt this was a safe alternative. We haven't had any problems with it. It was a little pricey (about $80 at Babies R Us) but we felt it was well worth her safety and our peace of mind.

Hi K.. My oldest made the switch two months before turning 3- a little longer than most, but I have to say, she never had any trouble at all. By that age she was very aware of the "stay in your bed" rules, and has been so very good at following our bedtime guidelines that we've never had trouble with that area of behavior. (we have our other challenges ;) We've been lucky I think, but also waiting was so very good for her. She also kept up with napping- which I think has been great for her and for me too- even still naps at almost 5. So I'd say to you- wait. Even if she's climbing out- wait- and set the "stay in your bed" rules now. She'll really climb out of a big girl bed.

I have a 14 month old second child and Im planning the same strategy. good luck.

ts.

my oldest was a little over two when we switched her. We didnt want to but she was trying to climb out of the crib and she kept getting stuck and it was scary. We switched her and it was soooo hard! We had to take most of her toys out of her room and shut her door or else she would cry at it and wake up my newborn....not fun! I kept going back in her room and told her that if she played with her toys at bedtime then I would take them out of her room and she couldnt have them at all. I had to sit in there with her for a little while and keep her calm. I would also play music for her and read her stories until she fell asleap. After a few days of this crazy she stopped and we have never had a problem since. She is now in a really big girl bed and my newborn is in a toddler bed. She was easy to transition. We never had a problem, she got right into bed I told her she couldnt get out and play and she never has. Each child is different and you will know how to take care of her. Good luck!

Hi K.,

Just wanted to reiterate what a couple other women already said. My son was near 3 when we switched him. He loved his crib - NEVER climbed out once! I was ready to be up all night when we switched him (just because it was new), but he went to sleep right away like it was no big deal! So definitely wait until she either climbs out or is physically too big for the crib.

M.

It is hard to say when is the right time to change from crib to regular bed. When you do switch her, there will be times that she will get out of bed. When this happens, just put her back in bed. You may have to do this many times before she stays in bed.

I have three kids. The oldest is now 8 years old and she showed interest in sleeping in a bed when she was about 20 months old. My son, who is now 3, didn't really show interest. But, due to needing his crib for the new baby, I moved him to a bed when he was 20 months old without him showing interest in it. My youngest is 16 months old and she is still in her crib. Since I do not plan on having any more children, I will probably wait until she shows interest.

I always kept a twin size bed in their rooms from the time they were born. I never used a changing table for changing their diapers or getting them dressed. I just did it all on the twin bed. I thought it was safer. Anyway, when I did switch the two older ones to the bed, I placed a bed rail on the bed to prevent them from falling out of bed. My 3 year old is still using the bed rail and it will stay there until I am certain that he will not fall out of bed. I also placed a small step stool next to the bed to assist them in getting in and out of bed if they needed to.

Hi K.,
I put the toddler bed in my daughter's room after she turned 2, then waited for her to show an interest in it. She decided she wanted to sleep there after about 4 months. She never went back to the crib.