OT when to switch to a toddler bed?

[Linzola1]

I woke up this morning to find Julian knocking on his bedroom door!( Thank goodness my DH closed it last night which we normally dont do! Our bedrooms are on the second story and he probably would have fallen doen the stairs..)
I thought maybe this was a fluke and he just figured it out this one time!! OH BOY was I wrong! I put him down for his afternoon nap and he protested it and began climbing in front of me... The bed is as low as I believe it goes and he uses all of his upper body strength to pull up!!!

What do you think? Should I switch him to a toddler bed now (at 15 months) or do you have other suggestions??

[Limonada]

Age doesn't have anything to do with when to switch to a toddler bed, in my humble opinion - if they're climbing and there's a safety issue, then it's better to have them in a bed.  I also think you need a gate for the top of your stairs.

DS was 2 when we moved him - he was starting to jump and climb in his crib - and it freaked me out.  It took a couple of months for him to adjust to his new sleeping arrangements (we not only changed his bed but moved him into our spare room as well), but it was well worth it for the peace of mind!

[pinkbelle]

we moved aubree at just 12 months old... she was climbing out of her crib at around 10 1/2 months.. she loves her bed.. we put a wooden gate at the top of the stairs and leave her door open so that if she needs something she can just come over to mommy and daddys room

[dnikki0928]

We converted DS's bed at about 16-17 months. He had gotten his leg up to his thigh stuck in the wooden crib rails!!!!! We actually just went ahead and bought a bunk bed that way we had another bed for our next baby when the time came. He didn't have a hard time adjusting at all! It was nice :-) Nap times were a little difficult for about 2 days. He also went through a phase about 6months later where he would get out of bed at night and go sleep on his floor with all his animals lol - good thing we check on him before we go to bed lol! It was cute though. But anyways, I think it's safe as long as everything is kid proofed!!! Good Luck!!!

[JoyRenee]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! I see! Well when we started with Elaina (my oldest) we really talked about it a lot before actually doing it. I'd ask her, "Do you want a big girl bed?" She got a new comforter/sheet set and a pillow. We started off with the mattress on the floor since we didn't have toddler rails for the bed.

And she took to it like a fish to water. Didn't really have problems except that she'd wake up before us and trash her bedroom. So we left plenty of soft toys and board books in reach. Her door was kept shut and the gate on the stairs locked. She eventually learned to get out and come into our room. Most mornings she'd climb into bed with us and fall back asleep.

It might take time or he may really enjoy it. I know that they do get up more and may come knock/cry at the door. You just have to keep reassuring him and put him back to bed.

[rebekah385]

all three of my kid's switched t a toddler bed between 12 and 15 months, The first few days i laided them in their beds and sat next to it to let them know I was there. with my oldest he did well if he knew i was in the hall and went to sleep although it did take a few weeks for him to fully adjust, my daughter was second and she took a lot of redirecting to get back in bed, but did just fine. My youngest we got in a routine I come in and sing him a song, kiss him and put up the baby gate in the doorway (I leave the door open, so I can her him and he likes it better) he knows when the baby gate goes up it's time for bed and just goea and lays down. I think the real key to getting them to stay in bed is consistancy if you let them up one night they will continue to try, if you want  to let them stay up one don't put them to bed and let them up, just let them stay up in the first place. sorry i know I sound like i'm telling you what to do i'm not i'm just saying what worked for me. hope this helps

[Victoria01]

My son was 2 when we moved him to the toddler bed. The first two nights were rough, he cried and cried, but after than he has been perfect. I waited until he started climbing out to switch him over. We didn't have a convertible crib so I took him to the store with me and let him help pick out his 'big boy' bed.

[LauraB78]

It will be an adjustment but if Julian can crawl out of his crib, it's time for a big boy bed. It is unsafe to keep him in the crib, he could fall and get seriously injured in one of his "escape" attempts... Good luck, most Mommies I know had pretty good luck with the big boy bed. Just talk it up and make it exciting! Let us know what you decide and how it goes!

[Linzola1]

We have a plastic gate at the top of the stairs thats made for it but never found the need to actually pull it across until now!!!! I have a crib that converts so thats not a big deal either!!! Im just scared its gonna be a pain to get him to sleep!

[JoyRenee]

PS I think you can get the exact same gate at Target, too.

[JoyRenee]

First, you need a gate for your stairs. I have a wooden gate specifically made for stairs and I LOVE it. Usually MH lets us post product information for babies and children here so let me know if this does end up being taken down:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2909941

Second, Walmart makes an excellent and inexpensive wooden toddler bed that fits crib mattresses.

My firstborn went to a big bed (twin) at 18 months old and did perfect. It is definitely much safer than your child falling between the crib and wall and suffocating. Or falling and getting an injury to the head.