When to transition to a big bed

[valerie mom of 4]

DS is 2 1/2 and still sleeps in his crib. He doesn't try to climb out at all. When did you move your LO's to a big bed?

[nerdymom]

Well, this may not help but we moved DS into a big bed when he got his own room at 9 months. Before then he had been sleeping with us in our bed (a mattress on the floor) so he knew how to crawl out without hurting himself. We put the mattress in corner with a snug tuck pillow on the other side, leaving only the bottom open. He's done really well in it. He stays in it for naps and when he initially goes to sleep at night.

You may also want to check out the night time parenting forum if you haven't already.

[AmyKT]

We just this month moved our 26 month old DD to a big bed-- actually a full mattress on the floor. She was perfectly happy in her crib until one fine day when she up and decided it was a torture chamber. She was happy sleeping on an old futon with one of us in our spare room or in our bed, so we decided to go this route. We still have to join her some nights, buts it's a much more comfortable situation.

If your DS is still happy in his crib, I'd leave him there. I was prepared to keep DD in hers until she was 16 if she'd wanted to

[LindsC]

We moved DS to a big boy bed when he was 13 months old because he was climbing out of his crib. We have had very few problems with him getting out of bed during the night.

[Ruthie's momma]

Originally Posted by valerie mom of 4

DS is 2 1/2 and still sleeps in his crib. He doesn't try to climb out at all. When did you move your LO's to a big bed?

If your LO isn't trying to climb out, what is the reason for wanting to transition him out? Other than the safety issue (of climbing in and out), there is no need to worry about it yet.

We converted DD's crib to a toddler bed around Thanksgiving (she is now just over 2.5 yo). The only reason we made the transition was because we watched her trying to climb into the crib during the day. Otherwise, we would have left her bed as a crib.

[olien]

Tonight I moved DS 17.5mo to a twin size mattress on the floor. He was using a crib sized mattress on the floor, but almost every night he was sleeping half off of it. So, we'll see how it goes with more room for him.

Also, he spends the end of the night in bed with us. We want it to end since #2 will be here soon. I was having a hard time fitting on the little mattress with him to comfort him. Hopefully the twin will be better for this too.

[valerie mom of 4]

Originally Posted by Ruthie's momma

If your LO isn't trying to climb out, what is the reason for wanting to transition him out? Other than the safety issue (of climbing in and out), there is no need to worry about it yet.

I don't have a problem with him sleeping in a crib, it's mainly everybody else telling me that he should be in a big bed by now, that I'm "holding him back" by keeping him in a crib

[tankgirl73]

Well, we didn't use a crib but here's our experience.

DD slept in bed with us 100% until about 14mo, when she moved to a kid's bed (and Ikea Kritter bed, much bigger than a 'toddler' bed but smaller than a twin-size) which was sidecarred to our bed, and she'd join us during the night when she needed to.

Around age 2, we moved her bed across the room. She'd climb out on her own and come join us during the night when she needed to.

Around age 2 1/2 or 2 3/4, we started putting her to sleep in her room where there was a futon mattress on the floor. After doing that for a few weeks, and being certain that she was comfortable with sleeping on her own like that and even enjoying it, we put her 'real' bed into her bedroom. She still climbs out of bed and comes join us during the night when she needs to -- we put a gate up at night, at the end of the hall, so she doesn't wander through the house.

Personally, I think the ability to get out of bed on their own is very important at this age. I'm very Montessori that way. Just like they should be able to access their own clothes and toys and activities and stuff. I'm not keen on the idea of keeping them in a crib just because they're not complaining about it just because it makes things more convenient for us... opinions will obviously differ on that, but I would encourage you to do some reading on the idea to come to your own decisions about that.

In the Montessori philosophy, they actually recommend that babies, even young infants, sleep in a floor bed (mattress on the floor) rather than in a crib. With this in mind, and my own experiences as an example, just realize that there's no such thing as "too young" to transition to a big bed. There may be such a thing as "too old" to stay in a crib, perhaps that's what you're asking about more? Anyway, that's my thoughts on the matter.

EDIT: your new post came up while I was typing mine. So, obviously, I fall into the camp that thinks that there is a possibility of "holding him back" by keeping him in a crib. The decision is yours, ultimately, but as I said, I would recommend you read about the issue, look for Montessori sites and blogs and "floor bed" stuff. It's not so much about the 'skill' of sleeping in a particular kind of bed, but more about freedom, exploration, independence, self-reliance, etc etc. Here's one to get you started: http://modernmontessoriaesthetic.blo...floor-bed.html Once you've got some information on that side of the issue, then you can come to an informed decision, weighing both sides, about what's best for your family.