When did your toddlers go to the "big bed"? Did you put them there because you wanted to or because they were climbing out of their crib?We put Katie in a bed because we wanted to she never even attempted to climb out of her crib.I will keep the boys in their cribs as long as I can but what age do they try to climb out?TIA

By Trina~moderator on Friday, March 9, 2007 - 11:40 am:

We transitioned both our kids from the crib to a regular bed at about 2 yrs., give or take a few months. Neither ever climbed out, but we felt it was time. We super childproofed their bedrooms, put a gate on the doorway and started with a mattress on the floor. Later we put the mattress up on a bed frame and used a bed rail.

As far as climbing out, all kids are different. Some never do while others attempt it shortly after they learn to walk. Follow your instincts and make the transition when you think it's time. With triplets, I think I'd want to keep them in their cribs for as long as possible. LOL!

By Melanie on Friday, March 9, 2007 - 11:59 am:

Oldest ds went to a big bed at 19 months. I was due with baby #2 and wanted to transition him before the baby came.
Ds #2 transitioned at 14 months. Ds #1 was climbing in and out of the crib to be with his brother and knew it was just a matter of time before the little one tried to follow.
Dd went into a big bed at 21 months. We had both the crib and bed set up in her room and I was ready to get the crib out so we could use that space for other things.
None of ours ever attempted to climb out of the crib.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 9, 2007 - 02:25 pm:

Sarah 21 months. Emily 20 months. Emily had put her foot on the bar of her crib, like she was going to climb out. I took the crib down that night. By around 20 months, I was tired of changing the crib sheets and skinning my knuckles so down it went. I never transitioned anyone. It was black and white.

By Breann on Friday, March 9, 2007 - 05:34 pm:

14 months for my oldest. She was more than ready, at this point. We just went straight to a regular twin bed. It was black and white for us too.

My youngest was closer to 2 when he went into a twin bed.

We never had a problem with anyone falling out.

By Reds9298 on Friday, March 9, 2007 - 06:12 pm:

We put Natalie in the big girl bed just because we wanted to. She never tried to climb out. It was around her 2nd birthday.

By Tripletmom on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 08:25 am:

I'm getting anxiety just thinking of the 3 of them having free range in their bedroom lol.I will keep them in their cribs as long as possible.So far,none of them are trying to get out.The gate for the bedroom door will go up this week-end and the rest of the bedroom is child proof.I never put a mattress on the floor with Katie,she went right into a bed(toddler bed)The boys cribs convert into a day bed,so I just have to take off the one side and add a guard rail.I'm so lucky to have all 3 contained and sleeping 12-13 hours right now.The girls at work were asking me when will the boys go in a bed and them I read Heidi's post about sleeping away from home and I thought OMG I'm sooooo not ready for this new stage.lol.Wish me luck and hopefully they will just like their cribs and will not want out until I can't lift them out anymore.lol

By Jjb on Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 08:35 pm:

I kept mine in the crib as long as I could. Our oldest ds went into a big boy bed at 27 months- we borrowed a crib for a few months so the baby and our older son both had cribs. Our older son loved being in a crib and was very nervous in the big boy bed- hence the borrowing of a crib. Our second DS went into a big boy bed at the same age. I waited because "I" wasn't ready for the big boy bed. I probably would have kept him in the crib longer but we had another baby on the way. Our youngest isn't 2 yet and again I'm so not ready for him to be in a bed anytime soon. As long as they're not trying to get out of their cribs I'd keep them in there as long as possible.

By Tonya on Monday, March 12, 2007 - 09:16 am:

Timmy went into a twin bed at 18 months because he was climbing out and coming to visit me in my room.

Jade did not get put into a twin bed until she was 34 months just before she turned 3. She finally realize she could clib out then.

I would never take them out until they show they can get out on their own. The crib is an awesome leagal cage for babies!!

By Mrsheidi on Monday, March 12, 2007 - 07:32 pm:

Connor is still in his crib (he's 2.5) and only climbed out once. I would not attempt a big boy bed with triplets unless they're climbing out. If it's not bothering them, or you, why change?
When Scott gets back and when we move, we'll change his bed to a single bed. Until then, he just calls me from his room.

By Reds9298 on Monday, March 12, 2007 - 08:28 pm:

Natalie still loved her crib when we moved her. We did it mostly for space in the bedroom and it just didn't seem she had much room to move around anymore.