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Parenting

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Original poster

When did you move your toddler into a bed

28 replies

Emmaaa1990 · 13/12/2021 10:33

Hi all

Just wanting some advice/experience with moving toddlers into a bed from a crib.

I am not in any way thinking of doing this yet but just wanted some advice on how you went about it and how old your toddlers were?

My little girl is 19 months now sleeps really well in a sleeping bag in her crib - doesn't try to get out or anything so no problem there! My partner is like she's getting to big to put her in and out which she is heavy but I think she's no where near ready for it and wouldn't understand she needs to stay there :/

Any advice/experience welcome would be interested to know your stories! Thanks :)

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Eileen101 · 13/12/2021 10:37

Just under 2 for eldest DC. He was sleeping through the night, not getting out of bed once in it and as it was already set up in the spare room, he was really excited by it. We had planned to make it an "event" for his second birthday as we'd done his new room up, but he moved in at Christmas instead because he loved the bed.

DC 2 is approaching the same age and is not ready. She still wakes at night definitely wouldn't stay put with no sides on

RedwineforSantaplease · 13/12/2021 11:12

2.5yo when she could climb out.

If she's happy in there I'd just leave it that way. Tell your partner to lift some weights or something.

Original poster

Emmaaa1990 · 13/12/2021 11:28

@Eileen101 aww that's lovely and good he settled so well!

It's funny how they are all so different!

@RedwineforSantaplease hahaha I will! Yeah I think she's far too young yet and I'm like If it's not broke don't fix it!

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DuneFan · 13/12/2021 11:33

About 20 months when I did my back in and couldn't lift dc. It made no difference to the sleeping- although I did stop using a sleeping bag. Sack races are for sports days not for 6am toddler starts!

Miriam101 · 13/12/2021 12:40

Just over 3. She was super happy in it for ages and showed no sign of trying to climb out. It was great and we had none of the “not staying in bed” shenanigans that a lot of people seem to have when they do the transition at a younger age.

Classicblunder · 13/12/2021 12:42

I don't understand why anyone would do it earlier than they have to. DS1 was well over 3, had never climbed out and made an easy transition. DS2 climbed out when he was just over 2 and it took months to transition him into a cot.

SW1amp · 13/12/2021 12:45

At about 2.5 when we were potty training

DS took to potty training really well to the extent he really hated going in a nappy so would wake up during naps and at night wanting to use the potty

Because he was stuck in a cot, he would take his nappy off and then pee or crap on the floor

It was easier to put him in a bed and leave a potty in his room, and deal with him getting out of bed, than to constantly be cleaning up dirty protests

Lsquiggles · 13/12/2021 12:46

If she's happy in her cot then I personally wouldn't move her into a bed yet. We moved our daughter into a bed just after she turned 2 but only because she was trying to climb out, had she not tried to be an escape artist I think we would've waited til she was 3. It completely depends on your DD as every child will be different

NavigatingAdolescence · 13/12/2021 12:46

DD was 17 months. She kept pinging herself out of her (vintage, not height-adjustable) cot despite a sleeping bag.

ReeseWitherfork · 13/12/2021 12:47

About 19 months here because he could climb out. Took about three days for him to learn he needed to stay in his bed, and that was just at bedtime, no issues overnight. Quite liked him just walking to us in the morning, he'd climb in for cuddles and I could wake up slower.

FTEngineerM · 13/12/2021 12:47

I don't understand why anyone would do it earlier than they have to

I don’t think they do, do they?

Ours was… 12 months old, hasn’t ever slept in a cot and absolutely detests any form of confinement even now.

He started sleeping 12 hours solid when in a single bed in his own room.

LaTomatina · 13/12/2021 12:47

Between 18 months and 2nd birthday, but mine were all climbers so it became a safety issue.

Pashazade · 13/12/2021 12:52

16 months as he started to escape the cot even whilst wearing a sleeping bag, we put one of those mesh sides on his bed to minimise possible rolling issues, but it felt much safer. However the only reason he was moved was safety I'd have happily left him in the cot otherwise!

APurpleSquirrel · 13/12/2021 13:01

DS (3.5) has just figured out how to climb out of his cot, so we put his toddler bed up at the weekend. Fell out first night, so now has a bed guard but seems ok.
Wait till you have to is my advice.

meow1989 · 13/12/2021 13:02

Literally the night of his second birthday as he nearly climbed out of his cot. Took the bars off, popped a stairgate on his door (at the time his room was a floor up from us) did a.few days sitting outside and leading him back to bed and never looked back.

Obviously stop using the sleepy bags when they go into a bed due to the trip hazard. Ds has moved on to a "big boy bed" now and hasn't had any issues.

Tatum1234 · 13/12/2021 13:06

Dc1 was 23m as he climbed out of his cot. Dc2 was 2y11m, dc3&4 were 3y9m. Don’t move her unless you really have to! If she sleeps well there’s no need to change things.

Original poster

Emmaaa1990 · 13/12/2021 13:09

Oh wow Thankyou for all your replies that's so helpful! And so interesting to see the varying ages!

She's not bothered about climbing yet just stands up in there but she does sleep all night. I will be showing your messages to my partner so he stops moaning about his back haha!

Thank you 😊

OP posts:

Classicblunder · 13/12/2021 13:29

@FTEngineerM

I don't understand why anyone would do it earlier than they have to

I don’t think they do, do they?

Ours was… 12 months old, hasn’t ever slept in a cot and absolutely detests any form of confinement even now.

He started sleeping 12 hours solid when in a single bed in his own room.

Loads of people seen do it even when their toddler is perfectly happy in a cot from some sense that "you should" or that it makes their child more mature or something

RandomMess · 13/12/2021 13:32

Mine were really old like 3+ I just took one side off the cot and had the base on the lowest setting. Kept it nice and familiar.

They got beds when they were school age.

I also has several sharing a room so space was a premium.

hoomama · 13/12/2021 13:34

My eldest was about 3. She was quite happy in the cot & never tried to get out.

My youngest is 21 months and she slept horrifically in the cot. She started asking to go in the double bed next to her cot every single night so we gave up and tried her in the bed with the safety side things and she had slept like a dream ever since!!

EnidFrighten · 13/12/2021 13:36

There's no benefit to doing it earlier than you need to. You will get to experience the joy of a door opening and little feet scampering to your room at 4 in the morning eventually!

If it's hard to lift her out, teach her to get up and stand by the side so it's less distance for you.

HardbackWriter · 13/12/2021 13:36

About 2 and 3 months, because I was pregnant and couldn't lift him in and out of the cot any more. It took him about 6 months to realise he could get out of it when he wanted...

mafted · 13/12/2021 13:36

I have four and the age they went to a bed varies between 14 months and almost three.
Two asked to sleep in a bed and the other two were moved for convenience/safety. None of them had any problems with the transition.

EnidFrighten · 13/12/2021 13:37

If you have the choice, I'd get her used to a duvet in her cot before taking the side off as it's less likely to fall off in the night, and transition to a bed in warm weather for the same reason.

GoodnightGrandma · 13/12/2021 13:39

Before they were two, and they went into a single bed.

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