When should a child switch to a bed?

[ewoods]

I'm sure this has been covered many times here in the past, but I thought I'd ask the question again.

My son is two and a half and is still in his crib. He's never shown any interest in trying to get out, although I believe he could if he wanted to.

It seems that opinions in this area vary so widely that I'm not sure what to believe. Some people say that you should leave them in their crib as long as possible before switching them to a bed. Other people say that you should move them to a bed as soon as they're ready so that you can teach them good sleeping habits. What are your thoughts on the subject? How old was your child when you decided to move him or her to a bed, and how did you make that decision?

[Newmom!]

I have recently heard that you should do it before they start climbing out of the crib. That if they still understand the confines of the crib they will be more likely to stay in the bed. Don't know, just heard :-) Also, if you child attends child care most likely he already is on a mat. A bed wouldn't be too much of a leap. Good luck

[ewoods]

I have recently heard that you should do it before they start climbing out of the crib.

This is precisely why I asked the question. Until recently I had only heard that a child should stay in his or her crib until they start trying to get out. But now I'm hearing that it's best to move them to a bed as soon as you think that they'll stay there. I'm glad I'm not the only one hearing this!

My son does sleep on a little cot at daycare, and has done so for over a year. So maybe it would be good to start transitioning him now, especially since we're just getting into the throes of potty training.

[freckles]

I think your best judgment is the right answer. 2 1/2 yrs old is a great age to transition them into the big bed. My little one is 2 1/2 and he is jumping around a little too much for my liking and I plan to do it soon.

[charliesmommy]

We moved Charlie to his crib at 18 months. That didn't work out too well. He was totally stressed and HATED his big boy bed. Everyone kept telling me to lock him in his room or threaten to spank him or let him CIO. I felt that he was just too stressed out. So, I called my doctor and the nurse told me to put the front of his bed back up, put him back in his crib and try again at 2 and a half. We did and he went right back to his amazing sleep schedule.

When he was 2 and a half we asked him for a week or so if he wanted the front of his bed off and he said yes from the start. I read him an Elmo moves to his big boy bed book the two nights before we converted his crib. We also let him help us convert his crib. He hasn't skipped a beat when it comes to sleeping because it was his choice.

My bottom line advice, don't let your kid get stressed over moving to a big bed if you don't have to. Put him/her back in the crib until they are ready (unless you need the crib of course). It's not worth it and in the end, if it's their choice, they will love their new bed even more.

[NaomiK]

I say why not switch him over? It surely isnt too early, so why wait until its "too late" and he is crawling out of the crib? I bet he would love it!

You can have him go with you and pick it out. Maybe get him a new stuffed animal or blanket.

I would set the bed up in his room and see how he likes it. Make a big deal about it being his big boy bed. Just see how he does and like Charliesmommy said, if he isnt ready, just put the crib back up and save the toddler bed for later. No need to drive either of you crazy

[monkeylamb]

We just did this with 22 month old DD this weekend. She finally climbed out of her crib, and we spent the weekend do an emergency toddler room remodel. It was very stressful! I recommend doing it before your child actually climbs out of the crib so that you are not under so much pressure to complete the room. I've decided that we would have been scared to death of the idea no matter when it happened. She actually did great though. She goes to bed so much better in her toddler bed. If I'd known that would happen I would have done it months ago.

[charliesmommy]

Two and a half is the best age IMO. We tried at 18 months because that's when he started climbing out. He hated it and was perfectly fine once we put the front of his crib back on. When he was two and a half we asked him for a few weeks if he wanted to sleep in his big boy bed. He said yes from the start.

I think the biggest thing for Charlie was that we let him help us convert his bed and I let him pick out his sheets. It was all his doing as far as he was concerned.

[ewoods]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'd love to switch him to a bed at this point, but his mother disagrees. We try our best to make decisions together, even though we live in different houses, so for now he's stuck with the crib...

[charliesmommy]

Have her call his ped. That's who told me two and a half.