https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:31:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2536520 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 22:48:39 +0000 QBbride 2536520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A second crib. The answer is always a second crib. </p> <p>My kids are two years apart and I didn't buy a second crib right away because I didn't know whether my oldest would still be in his. Welllll he's almost three and LOVES his crib! He's a great sleeper, why would I mess with that?! I know he'll be a nightmare when he's in a big boy bed. Do not poke the bear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2536277 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 16:59:03 +0000 Mrs. Deer 2536277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our girls were 22 months apart. I'm pretty frugal and couldn't stand to purchase another crib. She transitioned to a twin bed with a toddler railing right before her 2nd birthday. She went bed shopping with us and loved it. :) we kept her in her sleep sack and just had a fitted sheet on the bed. She'd already been sleeping with a small toddler pillow in her crib and was pretty good about staying on it. She also loved her crib aquarium and would use it to look at books so we actually mounted it to the wall right next to her. :) after a few months we put the sheets and blankets on, just needed to re-tuck her in sometimes. All in all it went much smoother than my anxious-self predicted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2536211 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:49:45 +0000 runnerd 2536211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: back with my latest update :) I'm really happy we decided to go for it!! Our not-that-great-of-a-sleeper toddler has impressed us so much with how well he is doing with the transition!</p> <p>6 nights in a row tucked into his toddler bed. 3 of 6 he STTN, and cheerfully read books sitting on his bed waiting for us to come get him; the other 3 nights he slept until around 1am, and didn't want to lay back down in the bed so ended up with us, then back in crib to finish the night. Still - I have been amazed that every single night he goes to sleep without a fuss, and the nights he sleeps through, he treats his bed pretty respectfully and mostly lays there until we go get him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2529845 Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:47:39 +0000 mfa_lady 2529845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: Oooh, good luck! Hope this weekend is a huge success!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2529716 Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:59:59 +0000 runnerd 2529716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: he has taken naps in the toddler bed on the weekends with lots of success, but the one night I tried he ended up in bed with me after about 4 hours :/</p> <p>We're planning to do all naps and nighttime sleep in toddler bed this weekend - FX and wish me luck!! He just transitioned to all naps at daycare on a mat, so hoping that will help since he is doing well there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2529647 Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:22:34 +0000 mfa_lady 2529647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: Hey! Any update? How'd the transition go? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2521584 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 14:32:10 +0000 mfa_lady 2521584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: See, this is how DD is--she moves around the bed SO much and sleeps in a ball. I can't keep a blanket on her no matter how hard I try. </p> <p>@runnerd: Ahh! How's it going now? Good progress?</p> <p>@delight: @PinkElephant: @maddyz: I'm leaning in the second crib direction, too. We'll see! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2520702 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:45:28 +0000 maddyz 2520702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine will be 19 months apart. Knowing lo1 there is no way he will stay in a toddler bed. He slept on a floor bed until about 9 months when he started happily roaming the house in the middle of the night getting into stuff. He's staying behind bars until climbing out becomes a problem... That might be a lot sooner then I want. The kid is not intimated by walls and climbs everything... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2520471 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 13:14:21 +0000 PinkElephant 2520471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first two are 22 months apart and we bought a second crib. DD1 still sleeps in her crib at nearly 4 (we took one side off around the time she turned three, so it looks like a crib-sized day bed). DD2's crib is still set up like a crib at almost 2 years old, and I'll be leaning towards converting her bed to a daybed like DD1's and buying baby #3 yet another crib. I have a toddler bed from friends on hand if we opt to give it to DD2 instead of her current crib.</p> <p>Both cribs are actually UK "cots" rather than "cot beds", which makes them a bit smaller than most US cribs that convert to beds, and they're plenty big enough. I like the versatility of a small crib/bed because it allows me to play with room set up and leaves more space for other furniture and toys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2520461 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 12:46:20 +0000 delight 2520461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age I would have kept my DD in her crib. She's 32 months and has always been a great crib sleeper. We are planning on transitioning this summer when she turns 3 so the new baby can have her crib. But if she had been under two I would have invested in a new crib or borrowed from a friend! You could still have months and months and months of great crib sleep!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2520452 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 12:30:47 +0000 runnerd 2520452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: had to come find this thread to say I'm sitting here on pins and needles - attempting first nap in toddler bed!!! Eeeek. He's been very resistant to bedtime/naps lately but settles pretty quickly. So I fully expected he would wander his room crying, but he let me read a few books laying in bed then just stared at me as I left the room. 15min in and he hasn't attempted to get up or made a peep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2504343 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:14:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2504343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: My daughter was ready around 20-22 months. She slept way better in our bed than she was sleeping in her crib. So we got her room set up and she started napping in there and then we switched her. </p> <p>Now little man is 19 months and no where near ready for a bed. He still sleeps in a ball on his stomach and wouldn't know what to do with a pillow and sheets. Eventually he will move to the other twin in big sisters room, but for now we will put the baby in our room in a second crib. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2504333 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:09:50 +0000 Happygal 2504333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: it's funny that this is one of the first things I started to think about early on. Probably because sleep is so precious. I'm glad you posted this question--seeing the varied responses makes me realize we should wait until it's closer to that time and we can make our decision based on whether she's ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2504308 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 11:43:33 +0000 mfa_lady 2504308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sharpie: So good to know!</p> <p>@Happygal: This is what I'm afraid of, too. Ha! I mean, we'll have to buy something either way, so it certainly won't kill us to buy a toddler bed and then have to buy a new big-person mattress later down the line. I think I'm being stubborn which is probably REALLY unwise--if the kids sleeps in her crib, let her sleep, right? Waaahhh. So many decisions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2504009 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:34:03 +0000 Happygal 2504009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've wondered about this myself! My babies will be 20 months apart, which means I would ideally make the transition to a big bed at 19 months, if we make that switch. I'm going to wait to see if she seems ready, but imagine I'll be keeping her in her crib. </p> <p>I bought a cheapo IKEA crib, so it's not a big dent in the pocket. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib/page/2#post-2503977 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:18:44 +0000 sharpie 2503977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved our son when he was 18 month old to a full sized mattress on the floor with no problem. It's only been two months but he really likes it and doesn't get out until we come get him, but I'm sure that's a personality thing :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503965 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:06:41 +0000 FaithFertility 2503965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: yeah, but how awesome to have that homemade memory piece :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503964 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:02:55 +0000 mfa_lady 2503964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: Yeah, if ours converted we wouldn't really have an issue! But it's a one big ol' piece of wood that isn't coming apart anytime soon thanks to DH's great construction skills. Haha!</p> <p>@ShootingStar: So good to know. Thanks for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503961 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:01:23 +0000 ShootingStar 2503961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved DS to a toddler bed (well, we converted his crib) at 20 months and we had absolutely no problems. He just stayed in bed like it was a crib. He continued to do that even after we switched to a full size. We baby proofed his room so even if he got out of bed it wouldn't matter, especially since at that age he couldn't work the doorknob. Now at almost 2.5 he started getting out of his room in the morning, which I think DH accidentally taught him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503955 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 07:54:40 +0000 FaithFertility 2503955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD and LO #2 will be 22 months apart too! DD's crib converts into a toddler bed so I plant to keep her in the crib as long as I can and get the same crib/bed setup for LO #2 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503951 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 07:51:57 +0000 mfa_lady 2503951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. Such mixed results! I guess we'll just have to pick one and go with it. Time will tell, I suppose! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503950 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 07:51:38 +0000 mfa_lady 2503950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AggieDaze: @JennyD: @brownepiano: @bushelandapeck: Thanks for sharing, all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503920 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 07:28:23 +0000 bushelandapeck 2503920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours are 26 months apart and we bought a second crib that converts. DS moved into a toddler bed after he was fully potty trained, and when he started asking us for a big boy bed. No regrets because it made it made the transition that much easier when he could tell us he was ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503858 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 05:41:49 +0000 brownepiano 2503858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved DS at 19 months to a floor bed. He was pretty interested in our bed and loves having his own. It hasn't done anything to his sleep. And he had never tried to leave his bed or his room (even though he is perfectly capable of both). </p> <p>I'm still not sure why my kid doesn't leave his bed when he wakes up but I'm actually in the transition early while they will accept change without question camp. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503814 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 22:20:16 +0000 JennyD 2503814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved our LO to a toddler bed at 14 months with amazing success. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503801 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:52:36 +0000 youboots 2503801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: awesome idea!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503776 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:18:37 +0000 AggieDaze 2503776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Second crib all the way. </p> <p>We now own a toddler bed and two cribs for two kids (lo1 is 3 in May and lo2 is 4 months). Both boys still sleep in their cribs. The planned toddler bed transition pre baby failed. At 27 months, Lo1 did not want to be left in his toddler bed at all, repeatedly asked to be back in his crib. He's still sleeping in his crib and I am SOO thankful. I already have to wake 2-4 times a night for the baby; don't need to be dealing with more bedtime problems for the toddler. He will not be moving out of the crib until he asks to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503772 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:17:00 +0000 mfa_lady 2503772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Super helpful to know! Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503763 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:14:26 +0000 Foodnerd81 2503763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: my LO started refusing the crib right when she turned two, so we started letting her sleep in the big bed (we already had a queen bed in her room because it was previously a guest room). Then she started getting out of bed all the time and we ended up switching back to the crib for another 6 months, without too much trouble- until she realized she could climb out. This time around she is way better at staying in. So I don't necessarily think it would be a horrible message to switch back if she just isn't ready or it's not working. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/big-girl-bed-or-second-crib#post-2503752 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:07:53 +0000 mfa_lady 2503752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@whiskers: I bow down to you, my friend. :silly: </p>