Toddler beds...

[munchie]

What age did you get one? My DD is 2 in three months and shes still in her cot. Other kids I know her age are already in their toddler beds. I don't know how because my dd would probably refuse to stay in bed and just jump straight back out!

[Me]

Dd1 moved into a toddler bed at 12 months, and out of it just before 3. She's a petite girl yet still found a toddler bed too small by 3. Unless you've already got a toddler bed, at your dd's age I'd be more inclined to move her straight to a single bed when she's ready to move as you'll get more longevity out of it:)

[jlea]

We put DS into a toddler bed at 18 months, however our bed still has two high ends and we purchased a safety bed rail that kind of still makes it like a cot. As he grows we can gradually lower the two ends and it eventually turns into a full size single bed.

We bought it from Ikea and I think it was the best thing we've purchased from there yet! :thumbsup:

[mim1]

We didn't move my ds out of his cot til about 2 years 5 months. Actually he moved himself. He was never a climber, but one day he climbed out of his cot twice and so, it was bye-bye cot. But our cot just transferred into a toddler bed so it wasn't a big deal.

I don't think there's a huge rush to move into a bed if the child isn't climbing out of the cot. Why bother I say? It meant a lot of work getting his room safe for night time antics.

In reality I thought he'd get out a lot, but apart from quite a few incidents in the afternoon when he's played up instead of sleeping (but still that's maybe once a week, no more) he's pretty much stayed in his bed when it's sleep time (even if he doesn't sleep).

[alphafemale2901]

my dd would probably refuse to stay in bed and just jump straight back out!

She may jump straight out but that is a common part of the process for getting them used to being in a bed.

My DS will be 2 at the end of December and he's been in a toddler bed for just over a month now. We did this because he was starting to get his leg over the side of the cot. We fully expected him to get out of bed a run amok in his room and then find him asleep on the floor somewhere when we'd go to check on him. He does get out of his bed and depending on how tired he is, will play for a while and when he's had enough he climbs back into bed and goes to sleep. He has the door closed so he can't come and visit us. I think leaving the door open would have made it much harder.

The funny thing is its like he thinks in his mind 'Heeheehee - they don't realise what mischeif I'm getting up to'.

I think if you go into this 'project' assuming that it will take a bit of work and persistence you can't go wrong. She WILL get used to it and like a PP said it will probably make the transition into a proper single bed easier. There may be some tears and frustration, but it is also likely that your DD will be amused by the novelty of being able to get out of bed where she hasn't been able to previously.

Just expect it to be challenging and perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised.

On the flip-side, just because other people you know are putting their kids into toddler beds or other beds doesn't mean you have to. Just do what you're comfortable with and try not to feel pressured.

I put DD into a double bed at 13 months and most people I knew said I was nuts and that she would fall out. Well I didn't listen to other's criticisms and she never fell out.

Good luck with it. I'm sure you will have tremendous sucess whatever you do. :yes:

[NonnyMouse]

I always think of toddler beds as a bit of a fad, designed to get $$$ from parents, rather than because of any need by kids to have a different bed between being in the cot and going into a single.

Generally the age to leave the cot is more of a developmental thing, rather than by years and months. If they start to climb out of it, it's time to move out before they do themselves an injury. If you're worried about them falling out of a regular bed, set a mattress on he floor next to it for a soft landing until they fgure out not to roll too far in the night. And most kids I know have at least a short while of enjoying the novelty of being able to escape their room after moving into a bed, but that's going to happen no matter what age you move them.

[TripleTime]

Unless your cot turns into a toddler bed, i wouldnt be buying one.

Most kids will see being in a bed as an opportunity to escape.

[meggs]

My DD is almost 19mths and still in her cot, lots of other kids her age are in beds but DD has never attempted to climb out (it is the only thing she hasnt climbed!!) so im in no hurry..her cot does go into a toddler bed but Im inclined to put her straight into a single bed with a rail when the time comes...
Im not in a hurry to move her til I have to I dont care what other people do every child is different...

[lizzymcfizzy]

hi. I put off converting our cot into a toddler bed fearing night time silliness and antics, falling out of bed and all that....

she is now 2years 5 months and we went on holiday to a caravan park and stayed in a cabin. the 2nd room had these big single bed mattress things attached to the wall if you know what i mean. So instead of the clunky portacot she slept in that.

All night. NO fuss. NO falling out..... and walked straight into our room at 6am into our bed :) here I was panicking about the cabin not being childsafe and all this but was sure I would hear her if she decided to get up to mischief.

So when we got home we converted her cot to the toddler bed. She still went to bed as per normal. day time naps she sometimes plays up but I don't think that would be any different if she were in a cot.

the only time she fell out was about a week after she had been in the bed. that night she came straight into us then again 3 times within the hour at 3am but I just kept returning her to her bed.
that was the only incident we have had :)

she still comes into our bed at 6am when she wakes up and 'snoozes' with us till 7. well we keep telling her to stay still and sleep while we snooze lol.

she gets a real kick out of being able to "get out myself" and that its a big girls bed. especially since we are now toilet training... more 'big girl' stuff.

I agree with others, there is no rush to put them in a bed if a cot is working but I wanted to give you my experience as you sound just like I did :)


oh and if your cot doesn't convert to a toddler bed, id just be buying a normal single bed and if you wanted to one of those safety rail things. we will have to buy a single bed before our next is born as we will need the cot again. chewed rails and all.

[Teegzie]

We've just moved DD into a bed at 17 months. She was climbing out of her cot, so for safety reasons we figured it was time for the cot to go. Our cot does convert into a toddler bed, but we went for a toddler/single bed from Ikea instead. It is a bit lower so is easier for DD to climb in and out of on her own (she loves the independence) and has raised sides near the head and foot of the bed to prevent her from rolling out of bed.
The main reason we went for the convertable bed was because it takes up a lot less room in her bedroom. It is as wide as a single bed, but can be set to 3 different lengths and the mattress comes in 3 parts, so you just fit a new piece in when you enxtend the bed. We have it at the shortest setting while DD gets used to sleeping in a "big" bed.

She does climb out of bed, but only ever during her day naps (quite often I'll find her asleep in a pile of bedding on the floor! :p) and sleeps perfectly well in it at night.
But that said every kid is ready at a different time and you shouldn't feel any rush to move your daughter into a big bed, or toddler bed, if you are both happy with the current situation. Be led by her and make the change when she seems ready! :)

[katie8]

hi!! i know exactly where you are coming from my son is 21 months and i was nervous he would roll over and hurt himself,climb out,or something bad would happpen!!! i put him in his toddler bed one week ago and i have had no problems..i thought for his daynap because its light that he would see his toys and jump out and play but no...he's been great i havnt had a problem..alot of mums i know do it at around 21 months..they are old enough to kind of know..where as if you leave it till they are older they misbehave more..good luck im sure you'l be fine!!!
kate

[codswallop]

we moved DD in to a bed when she started to climb out over her cot

[munchie]

Thankyou so much for all the replies ladies!

I think I am going to keep her in her cot as she hasn't tried to climb out just yet. I have a spare single bed so I think she will just go straight into that but with the railings attached.

I dont really want to fork out for a bed that will only be used for X amount of time either.

[RmumR]

My DD turned 2 in july and she is still in her cot, she has never tried to climb out (probably cause she sleeps in a sleeping bag) and she sleeps very well so i haven't seen any reason to move her yet.
We are buying her a bed for xmas and will look at moving her into it sometime in the new year but i'm in no rush at the moment.

[Seacretsquirrel]

I agree with everyone else do it when you are ready.
With DD we didn't bother with a toddler bed (I agree that it is a bit of a $$$ grab - unless you are having a few kids to get use out of it) She went straight into a single at 13 months (yes she looked tiny in it) but she didn't even realise she could get out for at least 6 months after going into it and even when she was climbing into it by herself she would often wait till I came and got her before getting out - it is only recently (she is nearly 3) that she started geting in and out and playing but it is mainly during her day sleep which she is fighting.
We just bought her a new bed yesterday so that DS can go into hers soon (we were going to get him one but we found a lovey one in Freedom for $99 and as hers is plain white we figured it is much of a muchness getting her a new one as aposed to him:yelclap:)

I think DS will be in it soonish though as he is a bit of a climber and is already standing in his cot and rattling the bars and I am a bit nervous of him falling out onto the tiles - I'd rather he fell 30 odd cms out of a bed than nearly a metre over the cot rail.
We used the bed rail too and as a transition to no rail at about 20 months I popped a rolled up towel under the fitted sheet to give a bit of a barrier and a reminder that the edge was there but I only did it for a week or so and she has been fine (I think she has fallen out less than a half dozen times in nearly 2 years -touch wood)

[Kayteigh]

I moved Vanessa into a toddler bed when she was 2 cause she just climbed out of the cot and it was a nightmare trying to keep her in it. I had been keeping a eye on the toddler beds at Target and got her Toddler bed from the christmas sales for $79, but spent a fortune getting her linen that wasnt so babyish. We had no problems with her staying in the bed either

[Herchy]

DS went straight into a single bed at around 20-21 months.
We needed the cot for his sister, and he wanted to go in his big bed... he kept climbing in.
He's been fantastic from day one.

[RoseKathleen]

We didn't bother with the toddler bed either, straight to the "big bed" on DS's 2nd birthday. We needed the cot for the next baby, so we did up his new room and bought him quilt sets and sheets and stuff as his birthday presents. I thought he would be up out of bed all the time as well, but he only got out of bed twice in the first week, and hasn't done it again.

He does however get up early in the morning now!

You can buy a mesh side rail (around $50) to stop them rolling out of bed. I guess it is a bit like the cot and so it just reminds them to stay put.

[HollyHotLips]

DD went into a toddler bed around 18 months, I borrowed one from a friend as TBH couldnt justify the expense! She then went into a big bed after a few weeks (we were lucky, my parents bought her it for her 1st bday) with a guard rail, she has fallen out once but for some reason she'd decided to sleep down the end where the rail doesnt reach!! lol

Next time round the bubs will probably go straight into a big bed, unless I can borrow the toddler one again.