crib to toddler bed

[newmum35]

This is probably a dumb question but for those of you who have cribs who covert into toddler beds, did you use them?

and if so, what is to prevent the child from falling out onto the floor?

I believe you just remove the railing, thus leaving the entire side open.

Are there better options, do they sell safer beds they can't fall from?

[kimmypoo]

We haven't made it to the toddler bed stage yet, but there are side rails you can buy that attach to the bed so they don't fall out but there is a space so that the child can climb in and out on their own.

[newtomotherhood]

We got a convertible crib for DD and have yet to use it as a toddler bed but ours has 8-10 inches that flips down at the top to gain access to the crib instead of the sliding side and that 8-10 inch section attaches on the bottom like a bed rail when you change it to a toddler bed and then it can also be removed to turn into a day bed and eventually turned into a head and foot board for a double bed later on! The only down side is that once it is changed from a crib it isn't supposed to be changed back into a crib again as per manufactures instructions!
Kind of sucky cause it was expensive! although I am still not sure if I want to have anymore kids! Time will tell!

[organicpapayamama]

I have one but have yet to convert it. When it does convert though the mattress is lower to the ground and a smaller railing is put at the head of the bed. Only the foot of the bed has no railing and that is where they child is supposed to get into bed from.

[pranava]

I had a mini-crib that DS grew too long for at 12 months. I converted it to a twin size bed minus the boxsprings so it would be lower to the ground. I was afraid to use the traditioal rails because I didn't want DS thinking he could stand up using the rail and then flip head first over the rail. I found these bed bug bumpers instead. We have been using them for a little over a month now and he has never fallen out of bed. He is not a calm sleeper either. He flips and rolls all over the bed.

http://www.gobedbug.com/
http://www.gobedbug.com/

[LindsC]

We converted DS's crib into a toddler bed around the time he turned a year old since he was climbing out of his crib. We put up a bedrail at first, but found that he didn't really need it since he always slept curled up in one of the corners. I think he fell out less than a handful of times between when he was in the toddler bed and the twin bed he is in now.

[newmum35]

Ok so I think I understand I am supposed to get a "bed rail" and use it with the toddler bed on one end, is that what most people do then with these convertible cribs? We got ours on craiglist and I thought it came with everything but lately I began to wonder about it. So the bed rail is something you have to get separate later on if you want right?

The bed bug bumpers is a neat alternative too of course!

[kimmypoo]

Ours didn't come with a bed rail either. We're going to get one like this. http://www.amazon.com/KidCo-BR100-Ki...2786276&sr=1-4

[keyley1090]

Most toddler beds will come with a bed rail on both sides that go maybe 1/3 length down the bed. That way, the child can just scoot up a bit to swing their feet over and get out of bed.

I know you don't want your child to fall, but if your toddler bed does not have railings and you can't buy them, if they do fall, it is not that far of a fall. You could surround the bed with pillows and soft things just in case.

[MommaCrystal]

We skipped the toddler bed. Mine don't use the crib much as they sleep mostly with us for the first couple of years or so. But when they are done with it for good we take it down and go straight to a twin. They'll need a twin eventually anyway right?