Question for parents, about beds/toddler beds

Brain of J.Lo

LOL, sorry, wrong forum...OBVIOUSLY.

Unless you guys want to debate this. Feel free.

My daughter destroyed her crib today...lol. She basically took the side off, in a way that should not have even been possible for a 2 year old to do...much less a 2 year old that was inside the actual bed at the time.

So....here's my dilemma:

I didn't really want to take her out of the crib yet. She turned 2 in June. I was hoping we could hold off until she was around 3. So, I'm torn. Should we buy a new crib, knowing that we'll use it again within the next two years (god willing I am able to get knocked up on schedule, lol), and try to keep her in it as long as possible?

Or, should I just suck it up and buy her a big girl bed now? I know we're nearing the end of her time in a crib, anyway, and that a lot of kids her age are already in beds. I just have this picture in my head of her at 2 a.m., sitting at her little table and having a tea party with Hello Kitty.

catefrances

i moved ALL my children to beds once they turned 2. if youre concerned that shell seem lost in a big bed, you can get beds you can adjust the size on. you can use your cot mattress now and in a year or two replace it with a full length mattress. i wouldnt waste buying a new cot(even though you say youre gonna use it with other babies) that she could very well get attached to. my youngest daughter was the only one who actually had a cot sized bed though(the others were in fullsized beds). now she sleeps with me a lot... but thats another story. your daughter will be fine. and theres nothing wrong with 2am tea parties with hello kitty.

NMyTree

My boys were out of the crib by two years old.

You can just put the twin Mattress on top of the twin box spring, no frame, slide the one side of the bed against the wall and place some nice thick, long pillows on the floor right next to the bed. That way, if the kid falls out of bed during the night, he/she lands on soft comfy pillows. That's what I did with my boys. No problems.


Or get a twin mattress and frame, with those side railings that you can snap into place when they are in the bed; and it slides down when they are out of it. I've seen some of them where the railings are removable when the kid gets mature enough to go without the rails.

kcherub

Can I be the board expert and just agree with everyone else?

I think she is ready to be out of a crib. I tell my customers that toddler beds are a complete waste of money, even though we have them in our catalog! I would go ahead and determine what kind of bed she will be sleeping in for the long run (twin or double). If you aren't sure of the actual bed, just determine the size and do the mattress/box spring on the floor example. It is best to keep mattresses/beds away from walls. If you want some good brands, PM me. I can probably find you a reputable dealer in your area.

Make a big deal out of it, because even if they are climbing out (or demolishing it, as is your case), they still need some comfort in a new sleeping environment.

I would also suggest for the next baby that you look at the convertible cribs. The prices on them are pretty decent these days, and you won't have this issue come up again when you are ready to transition him/her out of the crib.

Fighting Hellfish

we put jack into a bed at about 20 months. He hated the crib. he would cry in his sleep while being carried up the stairs in his sleep because he knew he was going to the crib. the second he woke up, he started crying. We didn't even get him a toddle bed. We put him right in a regular twin size bed. Got it pretty cheap at Costco. The big thing is having a bedguard that goes between the box spring and the mattress, to keep them from falling out of bed.

writersu

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

LOL, sorry, wrong forum...OBVIOUSLY.

Unless you guys want to debate this. Feel free.

My daughter destroyed her crib today...lol. She basically took the side off, in a way that should not have even been possible for a 2 year old to do...much less a 2 year old that was inside the actual bed at the time.

So....here's my dilemma:

I didn't really want to take her out of the crib yet. She turned 2 in June. I was hoping we could hold off until she was around 3. So, I'm torn. Should we buy a new crib, knowing that we'll use it again within the next two years (god willing I am able to get knocked up on schedule, lol), and try to keep her in it as long as possible?



hey there. here is what worked for me. I had my first little one and got pregnant when he was just under a year. So he was about 20 months old and right before the birth of my second son, we got him a little toddler bed and he just climbed on it. He liked his "big boy bed" and because it was sma
Or, should I just suck it up and buy her a big girl bed now? I know we're nearing the end of her time in a crib, anyway, and that a lot of kids her age are already in beds. I just have this picture in my head of her at 2 a.m., sitting at her little table and having a tea party with Hello Kitty.

hey there. here is what worked for me. I had my first little one and got pregnant when he was just under a year. So he was about 20 months old and right before the birth of my second son, we got him a little toddler bed and he just climbed on it. He liked his "big boy bed" and because it was small and low to the ground with the safety rail still, I felt ok about it.
She will probably like the bed and feel grown up. And even if she tries to have an all nighter with Hello Kitty, I am sure you will discuss with her why she should not do that in the middle of the night. Maybe even tell her she will need a crib again if she can't be trusted in a big girl bed. sounds manipulative I know, but if it works, who cares? right?

flywallyfly

We moved our daughter into a big bed at 22 months and she has had no problems at all. When she wakes up she plays for a half hour or so before she decides to let us know she is up (even though we know this from the monitor) so i would recommend "proofing" the room again before you make the change. We used the crib mattress on the side of the bed (1/2 out, 1/2 under the bed) incase she fell out and we used what I think was called a "bucky board" instead of a big box springs so that the height was much lower. Good luck.

Brain of J.Lo

I know, in my head, that it's time to move her...lol.

But I'm having a hard time with it. It freaks me out. She easily adapts to changes; I'm always the one to hold back.

I think I'm gonna take the plunge and put her in a bed. I think I'll let her pick out the bedding, and make that a big deal and then maybe she'll be excited about it.

I was actually talking about it with her earlier, and while she is very smart, it was clear that she had no clue what I was talking about. I said "we'll get you some new bedding, and some sheets..." She interrupted and said "some sheeps? like some lambies? for my bed?" lol It was cute.

Thanks for all of your input. I really appreciate it.

JaneNY

If she took her crib apart, put her in a big girl bed. She is telling you that's what she's ready for.

Having kids, you must accept change, and accept your kids' constant tugging to increase chain length.

Just wait till they ask to take your car so they can stay out till 2am. (last night for me)

NMyTree

There were two things I was afraid of with my boys moving out of the crib and into a regular bed.

1) Falling out of the bed during their sleep and sustaining injury.

2) The possibility of them waking up really early and messing around the house unsupervised.


Placing the bed on just the box spring reduced the height of any possible fall and the large, thick and long pillows provided a nice comfy cushion for when they did fall out; as well as reducing the height some more.

Both my boys have fallen out of the bed during the night, several times. They always land on the comfy pillows and either just keep sleeping or climb back into the bed.


As for my #2 fear. When they wake up unusually early they always come to my room and crawl into bed with me:) They never go wandering or messing around the house. So I guess despite being awakend several times, at such an unusually early hour and having two little one's crawling all over my bed (and me) giggling and poking me in the nose at 5:30 AM; I'm glad they come to my room

So as they say......It's all good. Although I am a bit sleepy:D

writersu

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

I know, in my head, that it's time to move her...lol.

But I'm having a hard time with it. It freaks me out. She easily adapts to changes; I'm always the one to hold back.

I think I'm gonna take the plunge and put her in a bed. I think I'll let her pick out the bedding, and make that a big deal and then maybe she'll be excited about it.

I was actually talking about it with her earlier, and while she is very smart, it was clear that she had no clue what I was talking about. I said "we'll get you some new bedding, and some sheets..." She interrupted and said "some sheeps? like some lambies? for my bed?" lol It was cute.

Thanks for all of your input. I really appreciate it.

wow, what I wouldn't give for those days back....with my babies and a young family. hug her tightly, enjoy her fully. bless you..............

frank coztansa

Put her in a cage until she realizes that she is to stay in bed thru the entire nite unless she is at death's door.