Moving to two beds... when's best?

[Linguaphile]

Our girls are 1 year old this week (how time flies!!) and I've recently been wondering when to convert their cotbeds to toddler beds. Someone told me that early is quite good as they are sort-of less aware that they can get up and move around, though other people have said to leave them in as long as possible until they start climbing out... confusing.

When's ideal to make the switch? Is there such a thing as too early of a transition?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! The time to move them is when they're not sleeping as well as they were. If they sleep well and fine, then leave them, as you'd only be setting yourself up for a whole load of pain at this age.

Agree with pp. Mine are two this month and still in cots and shall remain there as long as possible.

Mine were 2.5! I left it as long as possible and they had no problems at all. I would leave it for a long time yet.

just moved mine, who also share with older DS, into beds at 2.4yrs. They were so excited by new beds they didn't want to get out! leave it as late as possible!

We had to switch to cot beds at 2.2 when DD started climbing out. Otherwise I'd have left them as long as possible. They stopped napping in the afternoon immediately as it was too interesting being able to get at each other - napped for much longer at nursery though. That alone would put me off.

I tried for a bit with naps but after they'd emptied the entire contents of their room, including mattresses, over the stair gate on the door (very quietly I might add) I gave up.

Don't do it! I've had 4 DCs and dd4 is still in the cot at 2.7. I've let one if mine out earlier and she would get out of the bed in the middle of the night. If they are still in their cot, they don't realise they can get up!

More importantly, at only 12 months, a toddler bed can be dangerous. Two of mine struggled with the transition and fell out of bed every night! Now at 7 and 6 they are perfect in big girl beds, but it was a slow transition.