How do you know when to transfer a toddler from a crib to a bed?
I have a 20 mo. old who sleeps perfectly fine in his crib, isn't trying to climb out and seems perfectly happy sleeping in his crib. I read that the longer a child sleeps in their crib the harder it is to transfer them to a bed. Any truth to it? Is it worth trying or will it just disrupt his pattern? How do I know when he's ready? Any signs besides climbing out? Any negatives to keeping him there? What about if we try to potty train? Then we need him in a bed? How soon?
The idea of potty training and moving to a bed seems pretty dramatic to do both at the same time. Which is better to do first?
2 Answers
-
My untutored thought - it doesn't matter :) We moved our son into a toddler bed at 18 months or so, in anticipation of his sister's birth at 20 months. It was fine. Our daughter, however, is in her crib still at 2.5 years. She can climb in and out, does so safely and infrequently. I know many choose to get rid of the crib when the child can / is about to be able to climb out. I don't expect many difficulties with moving my daughter to a "big kid" bed, but we don't have one to spare! I keep thinking we might just put her crib mattress on the floor, but she seems to be having fun climbing and it keeps the kids a bit more separate in the morning, so why bother?
As for potty training, our experience was that - unless you wait until your child just completely potty trains themself, or try for a "dramatic" 3-day potty training extravaganza - it takes a long time, like months and months, of gradual transitions to more underwear and less diapers, and longer still even to potty train for nighttime. Whereas the bed transition was quick and done. Our daughter is mostly wearing underwear during the day now, except when she's tired, or we're distracted. But we're not attempting underwear and potty-ing at night for awhile yet. So there's a good chance bed transition and potty training will occur simultaneously for her, but I don't expect it to be "dramatic" if they do.
-
I agree with Andrea. Bed transition is quick and potty training takes a long time. Anyway, once you do night time training you absolutely cannot have them in a crib. My son sprints to the bathroom when he has to go in the middle of the night or the morning.
I guess you can also consider other factors like your child's temperament. Is he likely to get out and try to play instead of go to sleep? Is he likely to get out and come to you in the middle of the night? Would that be OK with you? If he gets out and walks in the middle of the night, is it safe in your house?
With our son, it was never a problem. For the first 6 months, he would stay in his bed and not get out without calling for us. With my 20-month-old, I am worried that she will do all the things I asked about. I am also worried she might try to climb over the gate at the top of the stairs. So she's still in her crib. :)
(FWIW, I have not heard that the longer you wait the harder it is. For our son, we got the same bed his cousin had so he was thrilled.)
