When did your child move to a toddler bed?

Question

I am trying to figure this out. Once I have this baby in October (Lord-willing) I guess we need to think about a bed for Jeremiah. He will be 18 or 19 months by then but most likely can still use the crib until we decide to move this baby into it. (which may not be until s/he is 2-3 months.) So Jeremiah will be just about 2 when we need to get him a bed. We'd probably like to start looking before we have the baby so we are prepared early. What kind of toddler bed do you recommend? What would be the best option for a smooth transition and something that will be safe for him? Is getting him used to it earlier better or should we wait until he is closer to 2? When is the best time? Thanks!!!

chantal21 · Answer

aww! yea you should try to get some rest! Hopefully you will be able to sleep in tomorrow! That would be so nice. =) A little early, but Happy Birthday!! =) I will check out pregnancyweekly...never heard of it, but I have nothing else to do! =)

Tabby...I just noticed I always say Tabby...but you sign your name Tabitha...Do you prefer Tabitha over Tabby? I don't want to call you something you don't like!! =) Just let me know! hehe.

LOL....I don't want to know how you get pregnant right after you just had a baby either! 
 I couldn't even think about having sex after I gave birth until 5-6 weeks later. But it still didn't feel normal until 8-10 weeks. AHHHH! (The things to look forward to again! lol)
I am also so tired but Jeremiah keeps me going! He is a busy body and only naps for 1 1/2 - 2 hours in the afternoon! Sometimes I nap with him and feel soooo much better. Thankfully he does go to bed by 7, no later than 7:30. But he just woke up 30 min. ago...I think he had gas. So I cuddled with him and put him back to bed and now he is snoozing! =)  Aww...now you want chips and don't have any?? I'm sooo sorry! I will try to watch what I say...hehe. 
Night!!! Have fun watching power rangers! =)

blueeyedtabbycat · Answer

I feel ok except for being soooooooo tired all the time:( It doesnt help that Dalton is waking up every hour on the hour all night long. He fusses untill I give him his nuk and turn on his little music and lights thingy, and then goes back to sleep but between getting up to pee and him waking up I dont think I can remember sleeping for more than a few hours str8t:(  I must be nutz to be having another so close!! How do woman have babies that are nine months apart when pregnancy acually last 40 weeks which is 10 months?? I got preggo when Dalton was 2 months and they will be almost 12 months apart!! How can you get pregnant right after having a baby?? I dont think I want to know, lol:) 
Anyways Joy is right, no one is one, well except you and me, hehe. Im going to cuddle with Hunter and watch power rangers:) And hope baby goes to sleep soon.
Im sorry your feeling so crappy, hopefully that will end soon. Just another perk of pregnancy, lol!!
BTW- I now have a craving for chips!! Thank you very much. Too bad my kids are so young, I would send one of them to the store!! Too bad hubby is working or he would be going for me, lol:) 
Night:)
*Tabitha*

JoyRenee · Answer

Hubby decided he'd rather play his XBOX right now. I'm probably going to go read in bed. I'm tired but not tired enough to sleep just yet! But I should try. I've been hanging out on pregnancyweekly.com (great website! Let me know if you come on over because we'd be in the same Birth Club).

Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm HOPING I get to sleep in! That's probably why I'm not sleeping.

chantal21 · Answer

Joy, yea maybe getting at least a twin size mattress would be the wise thing to do in the long run. I could always get a bed later or bunk beds if I have another boy! Yea noone is really on tonight....go enjoy a movie with your hubby!! =) My hubby is working nights...I am so bored and lonely!! I'm just watching the Discovery channel. They are showing how they make certain foods and other things. Pretty interesting! I would watch a movie, but hubby never set up the dvd player since we moved. I should go to bed, but I'm not tired! lol

Tabby...yea I guess you would need to get another crib since they will be so close in age! If we have another boy, I'm thinking bunk beds would be a great idea! It will last for a long time. =)  How are you feeling? I feel so sick right now...trying to eat some chips so I don't feel so yucky.

blueeyedtabbycat · Answer

Both my older boys were in toddler bed by 18-24 months. When my oldest was 5 and my 2nd son was 2 we got them a really nice bunk beds(twin size) It will grow with them for a long time to come. 
I am kinda stuck with a new baby coming so soon too!! Only I really dont have a choice but to buy another crib:(  All 3 of my boys have used the same crib being so far apart in age but with the new one , Dalton will only be 12 months by the time the new baby moves into the crib:( So I guess we are going to buy one that converts for Dalton and put the new baby in his crib:) Its going to be kinda scary having 2 cribs at the same time, lol.

JoyRenee · Answer

Chantal- that's what we did with out oldest. We just bought her a twin mattress (at Sam's Club it was less than $100 and VERY nice). But with Abby I got a toddler bed. I suppose I should've just gotten her a twin mattress, too, in the off-chance we'd need bunkbeds sometime soon. But oh well, I got her a toddler bed. 

I'm like bored out of my mind. I've been on here browsing baby stuff and making a list of things I might want. No one is on the forums!!! I'm going to get off and watch a movie with hubby.

And no, I still cannot even believe I'm pregnant. It hasn't hit me yet!!! Sometimes I forget or I think, "Maybe there was a mistake!" But of course I am- I just wish I could see Jelly Bean already!

chantal21 · Answer

That's a great idea about the mattress...one side plush and one side for potty training. Never thought of that. Thanks!

Sasha80 · Answer

We transitioned our dtr last month (25 months).  No concerns about the transition what so ever but am glad we waited.  We bought a twin bed and added a half railing to it.  Felt in the long run, we would save money as the twin bed would be used for several years to come...not just a couple of years.  We bought a convertible mattress (one side is nice and plush and the other side is crib mattress material for potty training purposes) My dtr is just potty training but needs to wear a diaper at night so we will keep the mattress on the pillow top side until it's time to remove the diaper.  We bought the mattress at Sears.

chantal21 · Answer

I understand about wanting new stuff! Jeremiah's swing, bassinet (which is purple and white! too girly), and walker are hand me downs from my aunt. Now my aunt is a clean freak, so nothing was dirty or really destroyed, but just dated. The bassinet is actually nice and in the best condition. But the swing...I don't think it's safe anymore..so I may have to get a new one for this baby.  My parents have a double stroller from my brother and sister (pretty sure it's still in good condition) so that will save a ton of money and help out a lot! =) You can only use hand-me-downs but for so long! =) 

Thanks for those links! The toddler bed is really cute! I am starting to think I may go with the toddler bed, but I keep changing my mind..lol. And that crib...I LOVE the color! Very nice and a great price. I think our biggest expense for Jeremiah was the changing table ($170) and crib ($240 I think). But let me tell you, it is so sturdy and won't go anywhere! I'm sure it will last for years and years to come. Can you believe we are going to be mom's again??! I still can't! =)

JoyRenee · Answer

I hit the button before finishing. I have a few big items to get (crib and infant seat, swing, bouncer, etc.) because I got rid of everything. Everything I had before were hand-me-downs and they were ready to move on. I'm ready for newer stuff. The last crib we had I bought at a yard sale and I just gave it away because it was falling apart and they wanted to fix it up. So I definitely am already saving and getting on the ball with this kind of stuff!

JoyRenee · Answer

www. toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012702&fromRegistryNumber=65016373&product_skn=127135

chantal21 · Answer

Yea Joy...send me the link!! It doesn't hurt to look. Maybe I could convince hubby to get another crib! lol. Yea...we'll see!  The only thing I really need for this baby is a glider...we were suppose to get one when I had Jeremiah, but never did for some reason. I figure since this is our second, we don't need a whole lot this time around! =)

JoyRenee · Answer

I found a crib I LOVE at Babies R Us for only $130. It's a Jenny Lind style crib! Let me know if you want the link to that. Otherwise you can just search for it at Babies R Us website.

chantal21 · Answer

Thanks for all the info!! The crib I have does convert into a day bed or toddler bed (not sure what you call it) but the front comes off and you can put side rails up and the middle stays open so he could get in and out. It eventually turns into a full size bed. I would love to continue to use, but it just wouldn't be practical right now to go and get a new crib for this baby. I will look at all my options and see what would be best for Jeremiah. I have pretty much a whole year to figure this out. But wow, there are a lot of decisions for something that seems so small and easy! lol. Joy, I will check those out!! Thanks! =)

JoyRenee · Answer

Oh and if you want the link to the one I have it's right here and it's really really nice! It is difficult to put together. You'll need 2-3 adults to help keep the slats in place as someone else screws the screws in but it's worth it. It's very sturdy. My SIL ended up getting the same one but in a cherry finish. There are some spaces:

www. walmart.com /catalog/product.do?product_id=5811290

Also, Walmart has a really nice crib mattress (if you need a second one for the crib) for less than $40.

www. walmart.com /catalog/product.do?product_id=9864293

JoyRenee · Answer

Elaina moved to a twin size bed (mattress on the floor at first, so she'd get used to not having railings) when she was around 16-17 months old.

Abigail moved to a toddler bed (got it at Walmart for less than $60 and uses crib mattress) a couple months ago, so about 21 months old.

I always read that your child should be 3 when they move into a big bed and I think that is ridiculous. I cannot imagine having my oldest daughter in a crib still whatsoever.

If Jeremiah seems ready, go for it! You can always try it out. Get him excited. Talk about it for a couple of weeks, show him pictures of big beds online, etc. Then have him go with you to pick one out and maybe pick out new sheets or a pillow.

GRose · Answer

I always wanted to get one of those co-sleepers, I think I might for this baby! I think it would be wise of you to wait until he is 2, you can figure out other sleeping arrangements for a year or so. I too have wondered about a bunk bed since Noah and Evan will be sharing a room but I worry that by the time Evan is old enough for the bottom bunk Noah might not be big enough for the top bunk. I wonder what the age recommendation for a kid is to go sleep in the top bunk, is 4 too young?...... There really are so many decisions for something as simple as sleeping.

Grandmatobe · Answer

I switched my girls to a regular bed when they figured out how to climb out of the crib. I think that happened around age 2 or maybe a little sooner. It was scary to know that could get over the side railing and possibly fall. Even now, my granddaughter likes to hang on to the side of the crib and she is only 9 months old. Since she started standing and walking along furniture, she uses those legs to hike herself up onto things. Fortunately, her crib turns into a toddler bed, so no additional expense when she is ready to transition.

chantal21 · Answer

Thanks ladies!

GRose...I actually used a co-sleeper until Jeremiah was about 3 1/2 months and I plan on using it again. It's the kind that is flush up against the bed and then turns into a play-pen. Best thing I ever bought and very practical. =) I definitely think Jeremiah is too young right now...he's not even walking yet and doesn't know how to turn around to get down off of our bed or the couch and thinks he can go head first!! lol. He's still learning! Maybe I will wait until he is just about 2 to make the switch completely but now I need to shop around to find the best kind of bed. Maybe it's better to just get a twin bed? or a bunk bed? Hmmmmm decisions!!! 

Thanks for all the input! I will mention this to Hubby and see what he says!

GRose · Answer

I have been dealing with having Noah make the switch since Evan will be here in July. We are using a basic white toddler bed that was given to me for now but we will be buying him a nice twin sized bed in a couple weeks. I never would have bought a toddler bed since I have been told by pretty much every parent that they are a waste of money and plus, you will have to get a new crib mattress for it. I have been switching the crib mattress in and out of the bed and crib everyday and it is really annoying (Noah doesn't nap in the toddler bed). 
I worry that your little guy may be a little too young for the switch. Have you thought about using a bassinet for the first couple months (up to 15 pounds) and then after that having the new baby sleep in a play pen for a while? I know they aren't as comfy or convenient but I worry that with switching Jeremiah so soon it may mess up his sleeping. All in all do what you feel is best, you are the mommy after all :)
One thing to consider is that he is going to be able to get out of bed whenever he wants.

dnikki0928 · Answer

I moved DS into a big boy bed when he was 17-18 months. He got his leg - half way up his thigh stuck in his crib. DH was a work and I couldn't get him out my myself. I ended up calling the neighbor so he could bend the crib rails without breaking them and I could manuever DS's leg out. It was scary!!!
Anyways, we just bought a twin size bunk bed. That way he won't outgrow it for a LONG time lol! He loves it! We put up one of those mesh rails and then on either end there is a pillow so he won't fall out. He's only fallen out once, but he had a soft landing. I think them falling out happens to every kid! I felt horrible, but he didn't get hurt and he didn't even wake up (it was at night).

Good Luck!!

motherofan18month · Answer

my son liked Lightning McQueen and i saw a toddler bed at walmart that was red with Lightning McQueen/mater on it. i came home and looked at it on line and i found the whole set that came together! (the bed, table with 2 chairs, and toy organizer) for $100 bucks) so i went ahead and bought it! it arrived shortly after he turned 19 months and he absolutely loved it! unfortunately after a year (he is now 32 months) he doesn't sleep in his room anymore because he is scared of something....he will drag his mattress into our room and sleep at the foot of our bed!!! anytime is okay to try but just try letting him take his naps in the new bed until he feels safe and then try it overnight once! ( that's how we done it)