Changing from Crib to Toddler Bed

My son is 2 1/2 years old and still in his crib. He loves it and doesn't try to climb out. I plan to keep him there until he starts climbing out or when we have another baby, whichever comes first. Most of my friends with kids the same age have already moved their kids to a toddler or twin bed, but they are dealing with their kids getting out of bed at night or at naptime. I like knowing that my son is secure in his bed until I come get him up.

My son will be 2yrs old by the end of this month. His crib is those 3 in 1. About 2 months ago I changed his crib to toddler bed, the first week I he would get off in the middle of the night to turn on his tv to watch cartoons, after that I guess hi figured out there was no point because he would fall asleep all over again. The only thing that I have to doo instead of laying him down and him falling asleep on his own I have to sit down with him on my lap and put him to sleep but as soon as I lay him down in his bed he wont wake up untill next morning.

I did the same thing for my first boy, and I had to do the same process, he is now 4 and falls asleep on his own in his own bed. I dont think that it makes them grow faster its just easyer for them to get used to new things, just like taking the bottle away after 1 year.

Good luck

I just wanted to say I agree with Connie's answer I saw in the responses. My son is only 6 years old but I was so excited about each new milestone I made a few mistakes I wish I hadn't done. He loved his crib, slept great and never escaped, yet I pushed for the "big boy bed" and now have an almost nightly bed pal along with my husband. The rushing on my end totally upset our balance at night and we're still trying to right it. He just wasn't ready and now his room isn't a haven anymore.

C.,
If she loves her bed, let her stay. My older daughter, who is 4, was ready to move into a big girl bed at 2. However, my younger daughter, who just turned 2, loves her crib. She doesn't attempt to climb out - and as long as she doesn't, she will stay. I have many friends who kept their kids in cribs until they were 3 or so because their child loved the crib and never attempted to climb out. I say leave her in. Plus, once they are in a toddler bed and can get out, you could get a few nights of crappy sleep, since they will want to get in and out of bed a few times at night.
One thing you could do is go ahead and buy the toddler bed and put it in her room with the crib. Explain to her that is her big girl bed, and when she wants, then she can try it out. That way she makes the decision, not you. Hope this helps!

Most of the ladies at various groups I've attended seem to say keep them in the crib until it's no longer safe to do so - that is, Baby is trying to get out and may get hurt.

With #1 we did a family bed until 8mos and then side-carred a toddler bed with a bed rail on the outside.
With #2 we still primarily have him in the bed with us as a result of how much he still night nurses. He does nap in the toddler bed though...

IMO, keep your dd in the crib until she's trying to get out or until she makes any motions as though she's attempting to climb out.

Also, there's nothing that says you can't keep your child safe AND want to hold on too. Wanting to hold on/prolong and actually doing it are different. Enjoy these days with your babies, you don't get them twice!

HTH
K. H, mama to
Catherine, 4yrs
Samuel, 1yr

I would keep her in her crib until she is ready to go to a toddler bed. Usually between 3 - 4 years old. My first daughter was forced out of her crib as her little sister came when she just turned 2. She hated this and therefore my husband had to sleep with her in a twin bed for almost 1 year. Babies really do grow up so fast, so I would not rush them on anything unless it was not safe for them. My now oldest 4 years old now sleeps by herself with no problems and her 2 year old little sister just loves her crib, so I am just going to leave things as they are for right now.
Good Luck!
V. mom of 4 and 2 year old girls

I had the same question for my pediatrician, she told me to keep my son in the crib until he figured out how to get out. He will be three in July and never figured out how to get out, which was pretty funny because he was always trying to climb in it. We were ready (for various reasons) to move to the toddler bed. When we were ready we made a big deal about how he was now a big boy and was going to get to sleep in a big boy bed and the transition went great!

Good Luck!

C.,
Go ahead and go for the toddler bed and stop trying to hang on cause your baby is getting older faster than you think.I understand what you are saying cause my baby is going to be six on March 11,and she really grew up very fast and I still can't believe it right now today you know.She got big so fast and I to had a toddler bed but I got my bed when she was smaller though.I got the bed when I think she was only between 6 & 8 months old.
Good luck on what you decide

C., I know it must be confusing, you have such a variety of answers, and they are about equal half keep crib, half get toddler bed. Most of the mothers who have responded have young children. Take if from a mother who has older children, (my youngest is a jr. in high school), don't rush yourself or your baby. It will be over fast enough, if the little one isn't trying to climb out and is intent, let her be, and you enjoy this time. As long as she is safe and happy, why would you want to rush her? You are not being a "bad" mom if you don't get her in her big girl bed, because others are telling you it is time. From a mom who has throughly enjoyed every minuite of my boys, and still sometimes miss them being small, Enjoy every second at the stage it is at. Good luck C., trust your instincts, you'll be o.k.
C. D.

Hi C. I remember when I had my last son he is 6 now, but I never wanted him to grow up. I wanted him to stay a baby forever. Keeping them in the crib at two years of age could cause him to hurt himself. If he is anything like all three of my boys they were crawling out of their beds by then so I had to get them a toddler bed. I was scared they were going to crawl out of the bed and hurt themselves. I would start trying the toddler bed with him.