Secure Sleeping for 2 Yr. Old

Hi M.,

We switched from crib to toddler bed 2 weeks ago and it's been great (he'll be 2 in July). He woke up from a nap on Saturday afternoon, we put his bed rail up (also a convertible crib) and that was that. We didn't do any "preparation", we just did it. It's been great. Also, before you spend money on a gate, you should see if he just stays in his bed/room. We used a monitor to hear if he was moving around or actually staying in bed and to our surprise he never even got out of bed. He just goes to sleep like usual.

Good luck!
T.

I say try the toddler bed. We switched to a toddler bed at 18 months and to a twin just before her 2nd birthday. at 18 months, she was able to put her leg over the side of the crib and it became a choice of her getting hurt trying to climb out or teaching her that bedtime means staying in her bed. we chose the 2nd. We did put a gate at her door (she never closes her bedroom door, even today at age 6! after about 6 months, she learned how to climb over the gate! We just always returned her to bed. it took a few weeks, but she got it.

Try it out and see how it goes! Especially if you don't have to buy a second piece of furniture.
We moved our son into a toddler bed after he tore the zipper away from the fabric of the tent trying to open it! What we did was have him "help" with breaking down his crib and building the toddler bed. We talked about it for a few days beforehand including what the consequences of coming out of his room would be. Maybe you could tell him the consequence will be going back to the crib.
Instead of gating his room we gated off the hallway and locked the other doors he still has access to. He does not object to the gate being there and we can still close his door this way. There are a few not too stimulating toys and books in his room that mostly keep him busy enough to not think up escape strategies. Good Luck!

I have to agree with your hubby. If you think it will be easier to keep him in a toddler bed than in his crib with the tent, think again. Most children at this age don't fully understand the imaginary boundaries of a regular bed. If you are up to a consistent return to bed, go for it.
Sincerely,
L.

We switched our daughter from a crib to a twin bed with a rail at 22 months and it has been wonderful. She loves her new bed (and big girl room) and we have only had 1-2 nights in the last 8 months where she got out of her bed or room. If she refuses to stay in her bed for nap or bed she knows she will get in trouble, so it is not an issue. If she is sick or scared then we can lay down with her if needed in certain circumstances. She sleeps with her door closed and she comes out of her room in the morning and runs straight into our room. We thought about putting up a gate so she can't roam the house, but we never needed to.