crib to bed

when should i get my 19month old daughter to sleep in a bed. she climbed out of her crib (with both sides up) while reaching up to me when she was crying. i havent seen her try to climb out on other occasions. i'm worried though that she might see something from her crib and climb out. so should i change her crib to a bed? but i expect that she'll just keep getting out of her bed and coming to my bed!

Our #1 was already in a bed at 17 months. Sounds like it's about time for yours considering her behavior.


You are right to be concerned about her climbing out of her crib. She could hurt herself given the fall height involved.


Make sure the bed has rails. These don't need to be high or go all the way along the sides. They just need to keep her from rolling out in her sleep. You can also put a mattress on the floor next to the bed, just in case.


We bought a cute little stepladder at Indigo so our daughter can easily get in and out herself.



"but i expect that she'll just keep getting out of her bed and coming to my bed!"


That's a bit of a different problem. ;) You can't really stop it now anyway. It's a behavior issue and "imprisoning her" in the crib doesn't solve it.

Every parent has a different take.


Our 2 year, 4 month old still sleeps in his cot/bed with all the bars up. He loves his bed.

We are pretty sure he can climb out, but he chooses not to.


He once climbed out of a portacrib (Graco Pack-n-Play), when he was about 20 months old... so we put a matress on the floor, and had the pack n play set up... and I sat with him and asked him where he wanted to sleep... and after sitting on the matress for a few minutes, he said 'go to bed' and pointed to the pack n play! He hasn't climbed out of his bed or travel bed since.


His sister is 1 year, 2 months old, and sleeps in a cot/bed next to him.


We are hoping they will stay in the cot/bed as long as possible.


There are quit a few threads on this - a lot of parents feel that you should wait until they climb out a couple of times, and then move them to either a mattress on the floor, or the lowest setting on the cot/bed without the bars, and one of those things that helps to prevent them from rolling out (ikea has them).


So in short, I personally, would try to keep her in the bed as long as you can, as long as she is happy and likes it - easier for you, and better sleep for everyone.


But every baby, every parent and every family is different!

I think it's time for toddler bed, and the bed rails on both sides. I moved our daughter when she's 18months. A friend's son jumped out of his crib (really high ) onto the floor one time, luckily there is carpet... he cried, but not seriously hurt. Then she placed twin bed mattresses on the floor for him to jump off....so one wonders, why NOT change to a bed where the child can climb out by herself/himself? I place a baby gate at the door, when my kids get up, sometimes they stay in their bed to call me, or they climb off their toddler bed, and calls me at the gate.


I feel MUCH safer than having to race to the crib each time I hear her crying because she will climb out.

Agreed with crj that it depends on the parents and kids. But I must still side with Katetam and say that I feel better if they can't fall out of a tall crib.


BTW since moving to her bed, our #1 has never fallen out. She has occasionally climbed out and come to us when she couldn't fall asleep but I don't have a problem with that. I guess all kids are different.




"We are hoping they will stay in the cot/bed as long as possible."


Any particular reason?

It's not about 'sides' ... It's totally personal... but these are my reasons...


I love that my kids love their beds.

I love that when they are sick, they say 'go to bed' because they know it is a safe place that makes them feel better. (they actually try to climb IN!)

I love knowing, that they are safe, happy and comfortable at night (and during naps).

I love that they feel secure and have a special place that is their own.

I love that they can roll around like crazy and not fall out.


I also love, that when we travel, and they are in the travel cots (which vary depending upon where we are), they are able to still have this sense of security, safety and happiness associated with their beds, albeit temporary beds.


I also love that I know from 7pm to 7am, the house is mine, my bed is mine and my kids are safe, secure and happy sleeping in their beds.


The older they are, when the bars come off, the more they will understand about bed safety and house safety - and are less likely to get hurt in the middle of the night on an 'explore'.


But, it's personal, some people get all of the above love and satisfaction from a family bed... I get mine through this way...


Dont get me wrong - we aren't keeping them their against their wills - they genuinely LOVE their beds... At the rate we are going, they will just ask one day for the bars to come down, or will eventually grow out of the bed - until then, no reason to change.


Also, I know that when one is out of the cot bed, the other one will want out - so the longer they both stay in, it is a double benefit. And I think once they go out, we will find them sleeping together in the same bed in the morning, or having switched beds, or something of the sort - haha!


The disadvantage, is that they are not good at sleeping on the floor or outside their beds... I have a friend whose child has never slept in a cot, only a matress on the floor since birth - and when they travel, their toddler can sleep anywhere without a problem at all - that is something we don't have. So whatever each parent chooses is their own choice, as long as it works for the child, the parents and the family as a whole.


But, at the end of the day, it isn't up to me - it is up to them... and they show no signs of changing for now, but I am sure they will one day, and that will be fine too!


You asked :P

thanks all for your comments. i will take them all board.


crj - you are quite lucky to have kids who love their beds and they must have a nice sleep during the night. my daughter i'm afraid doesnt like being in her bed unless of course she is asleep! i still hold her to sleep but i'm trying to put her in her cot just before she falls asleep....

F-D - you are doing the right things, keep trying to put her in bed while she is awake.

It also can help to have a 'transitional object' ie, a cuddle toy that is only allowed in the bed. We have also done things like have the kids in bed, and we sing or read to them, but not every day. You can try this too, so she learns that it is okay to be in bed, while you are right outside the bed, holding her hand perhaps and reading or singing to her. But if she really doesn't like it, then try involving her in the change - have the mattress on the floor, and ask where she prefers to sleep, etc... you'll be surprised at how much she understands.

good luck! every kid winds up in a bed eventually, it just varies slightly as to when :)

crj. I understand those sentiments exactly. But we have the exact situation with a normal bed. ;) Just because our #1 can climb out doesn't mean she does. And we do have the house "to ourselves" all night.



"i still hold her to sleep but i'm trying to put her in her cot just before she falls asleep...."


Agreed with crj that you are doing the right thing. Kids have to learn to fall asleep in their crib or bed, not just be put there when they have already fallen asleep.

I personally will try to keep mine two in their cots as long as i can - they are nearly 2 now - so will see if I can go till they are 3. I do like that fact that they cant get out! However, if they, like flowers' baby figure out how to climb out of it - that would be it - I would have to move them, before they fall out and hurt themselves. So i guess the best solution at this point - either buy a low bed or put matress next to the crib - in case she falls out?

"So i guess the best solution at this point - either buy a low bed or put matress next to the crib - in case she falls out?"


Low bed. You'd have to have a pretty thick mattress to save baby's head if falling over crib sides. Besides he/she can either jump from the short sides or bounce away from the mattress.


It is widely recommended that you change from the crib when kids are ABLE, not willing, to climb out.



"I do like that fact that they cant get out! "


Sure. But it's good for 2 year olds to explore. Gates give them a bigger area to roam around in. It's hassle, yes, but that's just part of being a parent. ;)

My eldest first climbed out of her crib at 13 months, so at 16 months we moved her onto a mattress on the floor, then gradually made it higher as she got older, i.e. with the bottom part of the divan, then the legs. We tried a toddler bed with our son, but that didn't work as we liked to lie next to him to read bed time stories and there wasn't room for an adult, so with the others they went straight into a big bed, so we could all snuggle up together for stories.

IMHO toddler beds are a waste of money. From the crib, the little ones can go directly to a "normal" bed. Just take off the rails after a few years. That bed will last them until they move out of the house.