toddler bed?

[victoria_milan]

Ok, well I have a 15 month old daughter and I'm debating on whether right now is the right time to change her to a toddler bed. I am pregnant and due in january, and by then my daughter will be 20 months old and I have decided by then I do want to have her in a toddler bed, because right now she can climb up and down off the couches and my bed with no problems, so I'm wondering if now is the right time to do it?

[charger8609@yahoo.com]

I'm a firm believer that while the idea of a toddler in a toddler bed is great, its better in the long run to leave them in a crib as long as possible. I plan on waiting until my daughter is old enough to understand to stay in her bed all night (except to go potty). I have friends who moved their 18 month old to a toddler bed, and for the life of them couldn't understand why she wouldn't stay in bed at night and kept climbing in with them. They went back to getting no sleep - and it is already going to be hard for you having a toddler and a newborn. I have other friends who have 3 year old just transitioning to toddler beds, and they are doing much better - they stay in bed except for the bathroom, and the parents get their sleep. My advice is to make things a little easier on yourself and wait until she is older. It is not going to hurt her developmentally or emotionally if she stays in the crib for a while longer. Picture this: move her into the toddler bed, new baby comes home (so two big things happening very close together), she is going to be jealous and clingy because suddenly she has to share mommy. Add a newborn, screaming with gas in the middle of the night. You just get back to sleep, only to be woken up by your older daughter, wanting to crawl into bed with you and be held. Yes, she is big enough to get in and out of the bed by herself - but will she understand that she needs to stay in it? That is something that only you can really answer, but it comes down to this: waiting will not hurt her. It will probably end up helping you get some much needed sleep when the new baby comes, which will improve your mood during the day when she is awake and really wanting your attention. Good luck and safe delivery!

[janran]

i have a 16 month old daughter - i tried when she was 14 months old to an actual "toddler" bed with the frame and side ect... horrible idea- it was small and way to compact compared to her spacious crib that she could roll around in, plus the toddler bed does have an opening she fell out of twice in same night- we then decided BAD idea. A little over a month later my mother told me how she transitioned all 4 of us kids into toddler beds and had amazing success everytime- she placed a twin sized mattress directely on the floor- my LO has plenty of room to move during sleep and if she does fall off the mattress she is still asleep because its not even a fall - the first night she fell sleep instantly- even better than her crib and we havent had a single problem since - when we do naps and bedtime we shut off the light and turn on her fan a and say "night night: and she crawls into the bed herself- its amazing- it gives her a sense of independence and it truely shows!!! --- we plan on putting the bed on frame in about a year with the safty sides-

[Zack_Jenn]

If you want to be able to use her crib for the new baby I would make the transition as soon as possible! It will give her time to get used to her new bed and she won't be mad at the baby for taking over her bed. I would highly recommend going straight to a twin sized mattress directly on the floor. She won't have as far to fall, she will have more space, it will be a bed she can sleep in for many more years, if she is having a rough night/is sick you can lay down next to her in her bed and the bedding is much cheaper and much cuter.

Make it exciting for her to get a new bed, let her go shopping for the mattress with you, and let her pick the bedding (make sure you get a waterproof mattress pad for when you do start potty training). Don't mention she has to make the switch because of the new baby, make it all about her and she will love it!

Most crib recommendations for switching to toddler/twin bed is 34 inches in height or they can climb out on their own (this would include if they are so close to doing it on their own they could get hurt by falling out). I switched my first 2 to toddler beds just after they turned a year old and they both actually slept better in the bed than the crib. It will all depend on your child, but switching her could save you money in the long run.

[maryjamison]

I know that this has been an old thread, but I must say that having this kind of a toddler bed would definitely compensate a lot of things in the future. I can really say that this was an interesting read. I just hope that many people would really appreciate all of these things in the long run.
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kids bed

[MadisonDavey]

Make the transition as soon as possible. That way your toddler will be used to their own bed by the time the baby arrives. She won't feel like her crib has been stolen!