How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

DS is 20 months and I know he is nowhere near ready.

He is all over the place when he sleeps going from one end of the crib to the other and facing every direction possible.

Even when he sleeps in bed between us he ends up in the weirdest spots.

I'm due with DC#2 in August and I just can't imagine that DS will be ready to transition by then (he will be 2yrs and 4 mos) but I really, really don't want to spend the money on another crib . . .

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

I had no choice. I found DD standing on the edge of her crib in the middle of the night and that forced us into converting it into a daybed for her. She loved the freedom and getting out of bed for awhile, but I have to say - I am very happy she was adjusted to it before Julianne was born. I think it would have driven me nuts to chase her and bring her back into bed while dealing with the baby would have been nuts. There were nights I had to feed Julianne and bottle sitting next to Victoria's bed stroking her head to help her fall asleep and that was hard enough!


eta: Victoria was also a restless sleeper and still can be at times. But she's never fallen out

Message edited 1/8/2010 10:20:39 AM.

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

We are in the same boat as you, DD is 21 months, #2 due in March. She moves around alot when she sleeps.

From people I have talked to about it, they say they "just learn". So we are going to move her in February and just see how it goes. We will move her to a twin, b/c that is what we have and get railings.

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

Jared fell out of his crib at 22 months. That night he went into a bed.

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

DS was constantly climbing out of his crib so at 22 months we converted it to a bed. He fell out a few times because he is a restless sleeper but now he has the hang of it!

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

see, that's the thing. DS loves his crib, has never tried to climb out or anything like that.

if I try to get him to nap in bed with me, he hates it and has the worse sleep ever.

I guess I still have time to see how it goes before making a decision.

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

She was climbing out of the crib.

Then we went on vacation for 3 weeks and she slept in a regular bed.

So when we got home - toddler bed. That was in October.

She still gets up 5-10 times every night after we put her to bed so I would say hold out as long as you can!!

ETA- Ale was 2 yrs 4 months at the time we switched. And we put a bed rail on her toddler bed - it's still there.

Message edited 1/8/2010 10:51:37 AM.

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

I needed the crib

It actually worked out timing wise - he was flipping himself out of the crib. Yes, that's right. FLIPPING. It was time. He was young though - 16 mos when he started the gymnastics. I didn't move him until we moved at 18 months.

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

DS is almost 3 and loves his crib

i also have my 9 month old in a separate crib in the same room....so i am not taking him out any time soon

Re: How did you know when your toddler was ready to transition to a toddler bed?

I am in no rush to convert DD's crib.

She jumped out of her crib on Thanksgiving but hasn't done it since, so I just don't feel the need. I know she'll be up 1000 times a night once she's in a bed and I'd really rather not deal.

I don't know if she'll still be in her crib when DC#2 comes in July, but either way I'm going to have to buy something (another bed or a crib) so I don't feel there's any pressing need to make a change right now.