18 months--too young for toddler bed?

I hope this doesn't sound like a ridiculous (or selfish) question...but we have DC#2 on the way...DD will be 18 months when he/she is born.

Quite honestly, I am trying to get out of buying another crib I'm being unrealistic, right?

OR, how about this...we may opt to use the bassinet in our room again, for about 3 months. DD would then be 21 months...any better?

Or do I just need to suck it up and deal with buying a 2nd crib?

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

My girls are 19 months apart and I bought a second crib. I knew that my DD was not ready for a toddler bed at that point, so it was easier for us to buy a new crib than to mess with something that was working (she slept like a dream in her crib). She didn't go into a toddler bed until she was over 2.5 years old because she simply wasn't ready.

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

Some have done it, especially with another baby. I think the 21 months is much better, but every kid is different.

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

I believe my DD was in her toddler bed even before 18 months. Worked out just fine!

(Now she's 2 1/2 and in a day bed.)

Message edited 1/3/2010 2:18:44 AM.

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

Every kid is different. My DS was climbing out of his crib before 18 months old so we had no choice but to get him a toddler bed pretty early. The problem then was getting him to stay in his bed - he kept getting up and leaving his room!

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

My DS was in a toddler bed at 15 months after climbing out of his crib. I left the crib in there for a few weeks as he got used to the bed and that seemed to help him transition to it better. I used a gate at his door and that helped him stay in room during naps, but honestly that was the end of nap time unless he fell asleep in the car.

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

we contemplated it for ds, luckily someone lent us their crib to use... i am afraid that otherwise i will have two children up at every feeding and atleast the crib will keep one contained

that being said, ds has been trying to climb out so if that is the case he will be in a bed.. which i am hoping to make it till 20 months

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

I think it def. depends on the child. My son at 2.5 is so not ready for the freedom of a toddler bed and I would prob. never sleep again. But, there have been plenty of people who have put their children in earlier.

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

Genevieve was in her toddler bed at 14 months. I think it depends on the kid, but I also think if you give yourself enough time, you can get any kid adjusted to it at an early age.

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

DS was in his toddler bed at 20 months, when we first introduced it. He went in right away and loved it-so who knows if I could have done it sooner and he would have been fine!

Another option if you don't want to buy a crib- would she sleep in a Pack N Play? DS had to do this because of his crib recall and it worked out fine. You can also maybe buy some extra time by putting the new baby in a bassinet for a few months?

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

Thanks everybody

I'm not sure how it'll work out for DD--she's the type that's always reluctant to go to sleep, even when she's very tired. I can almost see her getting out of bed every two seconds...

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

My girls are 14 months apart. I refused to buy andother crib. I switched my oldest to a twin bed at 17 months old and she did great. My youngest switched to a twin bed at 15 months old for different reasons and she also did fantastic with it. So no, not too early!

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

We are having the same debate over here Beth. We actually went and looked at beds yesterday to get an idea of what we might get when the time comes. I'm nervous about it and have no idea how to tell if DS will be "ready" but unless I'm sure he's not we're going to try to move him. We don't want to buy a crib either. We also will be moving his room so I want it to be a whole new experience for him so he doesn't feel the new baby is taking over "his" old room. Fingers crossed!

Re: 18 months--too young for toddler bed?

My DD was 18 months when DS was born. I bought another crib. She just went into her toddler bed at 3. She loved her crib and never tried to climb out so I figured she had enough change coming with a new sibling and let her keep her crib.