crib to toddler bed?

Hi everyone!
been quite awhile since I have been on here, alot of new people here now! wow!
just wondering when a good time to change from a crib to a toddler bed. dd is 16 1/2 mos. she cant climb out yet, but i am just wondering.......
shari

[Haney]

I switched my daughter from her crib to the toddler bed at two years old. She wasn't trying to climb out either but I knew that if she wanted to, she couls so I thought it was time.
I would put a baby gate up in her door way at night so that if she woke up before I did, she wouldn't be running around the house without my knowing it. I got her used to coming in my room and waking me up and then I stopped putting up the baby gate at night.
Hope this helps!!!

[Morgan277]

I know some will think im nuts but my daughter just turned 3 and is still in a crib.  she only tried to get out once and learned her lesson as she hurt herself.  i am not prego so i dont need the crib anytime soon.  she absolutely loves her cribby.  we have no sleep issues so i dont want to rock the boat.  i think we will get her out this summer.  like many things i think each kid is an individual and it depends on the situation.  as long as its still within normal limits like of course my kid will not be a kindergartener in a crib.

[cutiemama]

I'm totally with morgan in that I would like to keep DD (2 1/2) in her crib as long as possible. I posted the same question a few weeks ago because I'm being pressured by friends and family to make the transition but I really don't want to deal with her getting out of bed in the middle of the night. Personally, if your child isn't climbing out, I think he/she is much safer in the confines of a crib than in a bed. Just my 2 cent. I've heard of people making the switch anywhere from 18 month to 3 years.

[pearl451]

My daughter is 21/2. We moved her into a toddler bed in July only B/C we moved into a new house & thought it would be a good way to make the transition. I would not rock the boat. As long as she is happy & sleeping well, keep her where she is. My daughter never tried to climb out , we told her she could get a bad boo boo so she never tried. Just remember you are her mother & you know what is best!!!

[daddiesgirlforever]

I switched my son at 1 year, only because he was a monkey and climbing out, I didnt want him to get hurt. As soon as that bed was out, boy he thought was the best..he's been walking since he was 10 months and he hasnt stopped, monkey see monkey do, he has to be just like his big brother..sure he got out a few times, but you just gotta put em right back into bed, so they get the idea. Good Luck

[Haney]

My husband and I made it a really fun transition for my daughter. She was very excited about being a 'Big Girl' who got to sleep in her big girl bed.
I repect the choice of all the other mothers in here but for me, I did not want to risk my daughter finally getting curious enough and climbing out of her crib and getting hurt but I also had tile floors so risking my daughter falling that far onto hard tile was not a risk I was willing to take so.
Good luck and have fun with it. Let your daughter help pick out her new bed clothes and all that fun stuff!!!

[shari13]

Thank you all for your comments! It really helps to hear from you. It always seems like I am "late" in doing things according to family, it drives me crazy!
I did go ahead and convert it this morning to see how she would react, and she just wanted to play in it. I changed it back after I read your comments and I have to agree. Maybe when she is 2ish, I will try again.
Thank you again!
shari

[workingmom4]

hey, it sucks when people pressure you to raise your kids a certain way and on a certain timeline. she is your daughter.  you do what YOU feel is right in your heart.  people presure me to get rid of the bottle.  my daughter (will be 2 in april) loves it.  she was 17 weeks premature and is not supposed to be 2 until late summer.  we are pushing her on walking and talking more, and the bottle is not a battle i choose to fight right now.  (i get heat for it though.)  she still sleeps in a pack n play thing in our room.  im scared to put her in her own room even...i take flack for that too...well, i just didn't want you to feel like you had to do stuff cause people were telling you too...you sound like a good and level headed mom, and you will do what is best for dd!  good job.

[MandaJo111]

I stopped the bottle with my son at 1 year old.  The transition was no problem at all.  Once I found a sippy cup he liked, it was easy.

On his second birthday, we got him a spongebob toddler bed and a spongebob big wheel.  He loved them both (he is a huge spongebob fan).  We just told him that he is getting to be a big boy and it was time to move on.  I have had no problems with the transition.  He still would rather sleep in bed with us, and sometimes we let him.  And this week he started the whole scared of the dark/monsters in the closet thing.  I am still trying to figure out how to overcome that one.  He has a soft glow lamp in his room, so he can see a little more that with a small nightlight.  I guess it is just another stage I must pass through.  

Good luck to you.

Amanda

[workingmom4]

they asked me how i got my older son to quit with the bottle, i said he was mature enough for me to tell him that "they were broken and mommy didn't have anymore."  my dd would not understand what i was talking about!  my dd thinks the sippy cup is somethin to splash on her head and all over the kitchen.  she also likes to dump her plate on her head.  its funny, messy but funny.  its not like i'll let her go to preschool with a bottle or anything, but she has some evaluators that are like, get rid of the bottle after a year.  OOPS.  hehehehe.
glad to hear im not alone in the "mom's sometimes know best" boat!

[Morgan277]

I have a friend who just introduced the bed and is now getting up at 5-6am b/c he is able to get out easily.  with the crib he was sleeping until 7-8.  im sure he will get used to it but im not ready for 5am mornings.  bottom line you have to pick and choose your battles- so if you are working on taking the bottle away, dont do the bed yet.  one at a time or you run risk of tantrums, etc.  also YOU are the mommy.  the one who knows your child best.  dont let anyone tell you anything else.  just nod your head and walk away.  :)

[BlueBirdSchless]

I switched my girl at 20mo because she would lay in her crib silently for two or three hours after her naps. Which put her about two hours before bed time. I wanted her to get up on her own but she still needed my encouragement to get out of bed, even in the morning! But now she is up and active with her sister right when she wakes up.
She fell out a few times, but it's not that far.

Update: I havn't been here in a while, just wanted to let everyone know that I'm 12 weeks pg and out of the danger zone! I am so confident that this pregnancy will be good, now I am just enjoying myself and hoping I don't get preaclamsia later. I had it with second and I DO NOT want to do that again!!!

[baby4Staci]

I was SOOO just thinking about you!!!

I am so glad you are doing well!!

:-)

<<very strange>>

[Razorbackgal]

I moved my youngest to the toddler bed at around 3yrs because the little acrobat was climbing onto the rail and jumping off onto either the mattress or the floor. My oldest daughter moved into her own bed at nearly 4 yrs.  We had the family bed with her, but our youngest did not like sleeping near anyone, she wanted her own space.  Mother's know when it's time and more importantly your kid knows when its time.  We are going to switch both of them in  few weeks to twin size beds because they are outgrowing their toddler beds.  You will all know when its time to make the switch.

[cutiemama]

Thanks for the reassurance. I also went through the same thing with the bottle. DD's pediatrician kept urging me to give it up at a year and I just felt it wasn't right. We weaned her from it at about 27/28 months. As mommies, I think our instincts our better than the best pediatricians in the world. As long as we are well-intentioned and well-educated, then we should feel confident in the decisions we make for our kids. Thanks again.

[dylansmommy]

hi i have a son who is turning 2 in a few weeks . he was sleeping good in his crib but climbing in and out ( tring too) , so i put him into the toddler bed and how hes up mostly all nights . what should i do ? should i put him back into the crib .  amanda