Anyone Ever Switch to Toddler Bed at Real Young Age? Help!

Montessori starts babies on mattresses on the floor (no cribs). My friend did this with both of hers. No problems, as long as you adequately childproof the sleeping room.

My concern would only be safety. Meaning if she was to wake up and get out bed in the middle of the night, will she be able to get into things that would harm her without you waking up and realizing it? If she was in a room that was completely child proofed, can't get out of her room due to a gate or something and you had a monitor then it should be fine I would think. Good luck.

My boys both switched at 15 months, and it was fine, but you do not need a toddler bed, they are a waste of money. just get a twin mattress and put it on the floor.

I moved my girls to toddler beds at 19 months and they did awesome. you can totally move your daughter now. But... If only the crib frame broke, how about just have her sleep on the crib mattress on the floor? Tons of families do this. You'll be able to keep your camera, won't worry she's going to fall out of bed, and she'll probably love it.

Id do what Everly suggested and just put her crib mattress on the floor for now. Dont spend money you dont have for a bed frame. Just be aware that at this young of an age, she may wander in the night so make sure to plan for this and keep her safe. She will be fine for now until you can afford to buy whatever you want later.

Before you trade your camera check your local freecycle groups on yahoo.

Both of my sons switched at age one. They were good sleepers and didn't leave their room after they went to bed.

My son was using a twin bed by this point. Just get one of those side railes that smoosh under the mattress to give a bit more of a ledge for him.

Good luck

Be prepared. It's a WHOLE new ballgame with the toddler bed. If she's not climbing out--a crib is good until she's 3 so you might look for another crib cheap or free.

If you DO get the toddler bed...make sure her furniture is attached to the walls and all outlets are covered, etc. You might also now need a gate for stairs, doorways, etc.

did it with all my kids, the first three were born within 4 years and I refused to buy a second crib, so we just changed to a bigger bed every time. My oldest was in a twin bed by the time he was 3 years old, having been in a toddler bed before he was 16 months old. Just make sure to baby proof and get a gate so they can't go wondering if they get up at night.

She should be fine in a toddler bed. She will only be a few inches off the ground. If you feel more comfortable, put the mattress directly on the ground. GL

M

I put my children in a toddler bed very soon after they would try to climb out of the crib, so they were young like your son. I put a bedrail on the side of the toddlerbed and a baby gate at the door (afater they were asleep). With money tight, I doubt you can go out and buy a bed rail. You could just fold a quilt or two and place them on the floor beside the bed. That way if he rolls out of bed he will have a soft landing and may not even wake up. You do need to be sure his room is babyproofed- no cords dangling down (curtains), outlet covers, nothing on low shelves.

For what it's worth all three of mine went from crib to a twin size mattress on the floor between 12 and 15 months.
Of course safety can be an issue (and I know nothing about your daughter's sleeping space) but it worked really well for us!

My daughter was a 1 1/2 when we switched. She just would not sleep in her crib and her pedi told us that it was time to put her in a big girl bed. She was so excited about it. We got her favorite character sheets and she was ready to go. If you are worried about her falling out, you can get bed rails at walmart fairly cheap. My daughter only fell out once and that was when she was older. She is 3 1/2 now and loves her bed. She has a twin bed, we never used a toddler bed. Good Luck!

My daughter was in a toddler bed at 17 months. She had a simplicity drop side crib. When those were recalled I took it back and bought a toddler bed because really, what's the point of buying another crib when she'd be out of it in a few months anyways. She did fine. What kind of a toddler bed is it? What kind of camera is it? Sounds like they are ripping you off depending on the answers to those 2 questions. Usually cameras are more than a toddler bed. You could put the mattress on the floor if your comfortable with it. Get a little $12 canopy and make it cutesy.

That is a great solution, and she should be fine in the bed. I am glad you found someone to work with you.

On another note, I personally think toddler beds are a waste. They are only good for 2-3 years and then done. I put my boys in a twin bed with a bed rail and it worked out just fine. JMHO :)

You could also just put her crib mattress on the floor. Nothing says she needs an actual bed bed.

Good Luck to you and I pray your husband finds work soon!

17 months old is not too young. When our 3rd child was born we lived in a 2 bedroom house. Our first daughter moved to a twin at 16 months and her sister joined her when she was 14 months old. We had 3 children in less than 3 years so this was our solution. They did just fine. they are now 28, 29, and 31. Our son has one child who is13 months and a new one due in November. They plan on doing what we did and moving their daughter to a bed 2 months before the new baby arrives so she will not feel like the new baby is taking her bed away. Go for it.

We switched my daughter at 14 months because she was showing signs of trying to escape and I was willing to chance her falling out of her crib onto her head. The first week was hell because she had this new found freedom to be able to get out of her bed whenever she wanted but she quickly caught on that this is her bed now and she is to stay put and sleep in it when she is put to bed or down for naps
Good Luck

None of my three children every slept in a crib. They started on a mattress on the floor and moved up to a bed when they were ready. I got two toddler beds when the 2 younger ones where 11 months and 23 months. They loved their little beds. Now everyone sleeps in a regular bed and they are 3, 4, and 8.

My daughter moved to toddler bed when she was about 14-15 months old because she climbed out of her crib in the middle of the night with the mattress at the losest option it could be on. This was done with no problem but she could have been hurt so we bought a guard rail and converted the crib to the toddler bed conversion.

do what you think is best for your child. My son started sleeping in a bed at 14 months old. We came home from vacation traveling to Colorado in a motorhome and he did not want in the crib when we got home. He did just fine. maybe put it up against one wall for now until she is adjusted.

I had not choice but to buy a toddler bed early. My son was climbing out of his crib. So, going to one early is ok.

Both of our boys were in a bed by 17 months. We just put a twin size mattress on the floor. We also put a baby gate up in the hallway so that the only place they could go outside of their room would be ours. We didn't have any trouble hearing them in the middle of the night (one of us always does), so we really weren't worried about their safety. Also putting their mattress on the floor meant a very short fall, if any.

I think Everley's right. Until you're financially ready to buy a twin size mattress, just put the crib mattress on the floor. She'll do great!

Your daughter will be fine.

~My oldest son was in a toddler bed at 10 months...b/c that is when he learned how to climb out of his crib...it took some doing but eventually he learned to stay in his 'big boy bed' and to stop coming out every 5 seconds :)

All of my grandkids were in toddler beds by the time they were 15-18 months old. I had no issues with wandering. I used a baby gate in the door and their rooms were baby proof. They could get up and play or move and not be in any danger. They didn't really do any of those things. I think it was because they were young and didn't really realize they could get up and do a lot. They just went to bed, slept, got up in the morning....

Toddler beds are for toddlers too. That is 12 months to 2 years of age. Once they get too long, or uncomfortable, for the mattress they should go to a twin or larger.

both my kids were in twin beds by the time they were 14 months old (with a safety rail). I didn't want to spend the money on a toddler bed for a couple years and we had twins available to us already. We didn't have a problem making the switch.

We switched to early and it was awful. Our nights consisted of going back and forth putting our son back in bed. He would not stay in bed. I would not get toddler bed yet.

My first daughter was in a toddler bed at 9 months. My second daughter was in one at 10 months... your baby girl will be FINE ;)

Since our crib switched to a toddler bed we used that with my son @ this age then after 6 months or so he went into a twin sized bed,my 2nd went from crib to twin size bed with rails,now my 3rd is in the toddler bed.

My son was 18 months when he started sleeping in the bottom bunk of bunkbeds. He did fine. He's never hurt himself and let's face it they do not stay in the crib once they figure out how to scale the walls anyway. Use a baby gate for the doorway if you are afraid of them wandering around when they are supposed to be asleep. I say go for it.

I switched my son at 16 months. No problems there. Do it for her safety.

We switched our youngest to a toddler bed at 11 months, because she could climb out of the crib and I was afraid she would fall and break her neck. She sleeps in it just fine, and when she wakes up, she fusses and we go get her. She's fallen out a few times (it's a little wooden sleigh bed with half rails) and didn't even wake up, because we surround it with pillows at night. My oldest never even slept in a crib, but on a crib mattress (which is what you use in a toddler bed) on the floor with pillows to each side.

She's not too young. It's not making her grow up too fast...it's a bed. :) Also, having them sleep in a bed is a popular montessori technique from a very early age (I'm not into it, or anything, it's just some research I happened to come across one day.)

Good luck! I love the toddler bed. My daughters still only 15 months...we've been using it for 4 months with no problem. She's still very much a baby, and she LOVES her little bed.

I didn't read the other responses yet.

I moved my daughter at about 20 months. I don't see anything wrong with it. Also, moved my son at about the same age. I found putting one of the long pool noodles helped keep him from falling out. I would just make sure you put a baby gate up in the doorway so that she's not wandering the house unsupervised if she wakes at night. My daughter's room is on the second floor so I didn't want her getting up at night and walking downstairs in the dark!

Good luck!

put her in the toddler bed, she will be fine!!! my son went to the toddler bed at around 17 months because i was expecting twins and i didnt want to wait to changes his bed in case he got jealous of babies being in "his" bed...he took to it from day 1 and we have had no problesm!!! you are not making her grow up to fast, it's just a sleeping arangement! I can't believe one person said they should be in a crib until age 3, crazy

My son moved to a bed at 20 months because he kept climbing out of the crib. She will be ok.

My son was in a bed at 12 months :) Has has done GREAT!

I really don't understand why people decide someone's "too young" to sleep. It's weird to me. My eldest started sleeping in his car bed (toddler size) at 18 months old. My youngest (19 months old) is now sleeping in that same car bed at night, though he sleeps in a playpen for his daytime nap so that he'll sleep and not just get out and play. They are less likely to get up in the dark, lol. You're not gonna make her "grow up too fast" by moving her to a bed that's low to the ground and just her size.
What I suggest is this: first, make sure the room is child safe (strings from the blinds put up high, outlets covered, etc) and then have a solid bedtime routine. We play a little, then move to a quieter activity, then bath time (not a long one), then play soothing music while putting on the new diaper, some lavender baby lotion, her pjs, and talk softer from that time on. Read her a story, say a prayer, give a kiss, lay her in the bed, tell her you love her and nite nite, then close the door. She may cry or whatever but just leave it at that. My youngest started out the first few nights jumping out of bed and laying by the door. I'd wait until he was quiet, sneak in, and he was either asleep or half asleep on the floor by the door, and then I'd just pick him up and put him in bed, kiss him, and close the door again. When he wakes up I point at his car bed and say "Did you sleep in your big boy bed? You are such a big boy! High five!" and brag on him for that. He loves that bed. He has his lovey and favorite blanky in bed with him, and a couple larger stuffed animals sleep on the floor on the side of the bed so he can see them, and so if he DID fall (the car beds have no toddler rail) he has them to cushion him. But he's so tiny in that bed right now, he's got a long way to go to the edge of the bed. Good luck to ya. Do what you need to do.

Dont't waste your trade on a toddler bed unless you just don't have room for a regular size bed. See if you can trade for a twin mattress or find one new at Sam's or WalMart. Either put the mattresss directly on the floor or get a bed rail. Seventeen months is not way too young. It is actually a pretty normal age to do that transition.
If you are really tight for money just put her crib mattress on the floor. See if you can find a bed rail for one side, slide it up next to the wall for the other. Yes,it will take a bit for her to get accustomed to the freedom of not not being contained- but that is true no matter what the age!
Good luck.

I agree that you can just put the crib mattress on the floor and keep your camera! Childproof her room completely and put a gate outside of her door so she can't wander in the night. Maybe in a few months you can get the toddler bed which uses your crib mattress. You might be able to find a used toddler bed at a consignment store. Best of luck!