https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 04:47:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796412 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 15:00:05 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2796412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: Haha...I couldn't agree with this more! </p> <p>When we switched DS1 to a toddler bed (we took the front of his crib off when he climbed out), it was a nightmare. It started the prolonged bedtimes/naptimes/laying with him until he fell asleep, and he still gets out constantly. And he's 5! </p> <p>DS2 probably could also climb out now (he's 27 months), but we're keeping him in his crib as long as possible. If I thought DS1 was bad, DS2 is going to be far worse. He is my rule breaker...so he'll get up and out of his bed just because he knows we want him to stay in his bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796379 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:58:09 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2796379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@elljay: I just (very, very reluctantly) switched my son from a crib to a toddler bed (crib conversion on one side) right after he turned 3. I am *SO* glad we waited. For one thing, we got an "okay to wake" clock about 6 months before the switch and he was used to the routine with that (he knew he couldn't "call" for us until the clock turned green), so understands it's the same thing now that he's in a bed. For another, we can very clearly talk about bed rules, and our expectations. It hasn't been a perfect transition-naps are very hit or miss-but it's been about a month since we switched and it went way better than I expected. Everyone on here said "wait to 3" and they were right! All that being said, when baby arrives for us in July, if my son is still sleeping in his converted crib just as well I'm leaving him in there and getting another crib! His bed is meant to "grow with him" (to full size eventually) so the investment in another crib is worth it to me if he's sleeping well. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796373 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:49:25 +0000 MrsADS 2796373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe. Duh. Thanks for posting this. I have been about to buy a 2nd crib (and my older child is 2.5 years, so doubt he'll be in the crib much longer, but I DO NOT want to move him yet), but I can just use my PnP for baby #2 for a while! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796366 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:37:52 +0000 gingerbebe 2796366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd wait until he tries to climb out. We basically made the switch at 28 months because he tried to climb out and DH's sister broke her collarbone as a toddler because of the same issue. It was younger than I wanted, but what can you do when you have a really tall child with long limbs that can climb over the rail??</p> <p>We moved to a completely childproofed room and a floorbed inside a Privacy Pop bed tent. It zips up so it feels enclosed like a crib and it felt less big and open to our kiddo. It took him about 2 days to adjust. We secured his door so he couldn't get out (at the time we lived in a single story house with a door he could open if we forgot to put the pull-chain on the front and I was paranoid he would wander in the streets). He's 40 months now, still sleeps in his tent and stays put. </p> <p>Our younger child is only 20 months apart from DS1, but we just had him sleep in a pack n' play with a Dream on Me playard mattress and sheet until the crib was available. We already owned both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796112 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:50:48 +0000 Alba4 2796112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d keep the babe in the crib for as long as possible. </p> <p>My older son never tried to climb out and therefore stayed in his crib until he was 3 years and 4 months old!! The new baby came when he was a few months shy of 3 and we didn’t want to deal with even more transition. The transition to a bed was so easy and he stayed in so well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796111 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:47:41 +0000 misolee 2796111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we moved, we just started in our DD's room with a bed instead of the crib. We weren't expecting or anything but it helped the transition bc everything was new (new house, new room, new pretty furniture). It was pretty painless. We actually were living at my parents house while we waited for our house to be built, so we didn't even move the crib to our new home until months later. Out of sight, she didn't even ask for it.</p> <p>Normally I would say wait but at 27 months, he could start climbing out tomorrow. With my daughter, she didn't start climbing out until about 28 months. But she literally had no interest and one day I found her walking around bc she climbed out. It was so sudden it took us by surprise and we weren't ready to deal. Luckily, we moved the next month so that helped with transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796066 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 12:39:37 +0000 shabang 2796066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@elljay: Thanks, you too!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796065 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 12:35:33 +0000 Eko 2796065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in a similar situation. We were renovating our house and had to move D'S bedroom before baby's arrival. Also, we were contemplating on when to switch him to a toddler bed.... he also loved his crib. We decided to move him to a toddler bed after we switched his room and before the baby came. We actually had him sleep in his crib in the new room first, so he would be comfortable in the room before changing his bed. </p> <p>My reason is that I didn't want to work on a transition with him while dealing with an infant. I figured he would have to transition out by about the time the baby was 6 months old. My baby is now 1 month and I am very very happy I moved him before she arrived and not have to think about doing it soon. Plus, I didn't want to buy a second crib </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2796050 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 11:31:09 +0000 elljay 2796050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tanjowen: @Mamag511: yes, we can take the side off of our crib to convert it. Glad to hear this worked well as an interim step for you guys!<br /> @gotkimchi: @Mommy Finger: thanks for the input - this is my gut reaction too. Why fix what’s not broken? :happy:<br /> @shabang: good luck with the move and the new baby, hope all goes well!<br /> @SweetiePie: @bees_knees: thanks for sharing your stories - happy to hear it can go smoothly even for a crib-loving kid!<br /> @Foodnerd81: yeah, this is my worry - that something will change right when the baby is born and then I’ll be dealing with newborn sleep plus disrupted toddler sleep. I think maybe we’ll feel it out around the time of the move - if he’s excited about it, maybe the big boy bed can be a new fun thing at that time as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795888 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:39:48 +0000 bees_knees 2795888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in a similar situation—DS was in his crib when we moved shortly after he turned two, and we welcomed his baby brother 2 months after we moved (DS1 was 27 months). </p> <p>We kept him in his crib through the move, and through the new baby. DS2 slept in our room for the first 6ish months anyways, and we didn’t want DS1 thinking the baby was “stealing” his space. I think the consistency really helped DS1 transition with the move and becoming a big brother. </p> <p>We moved him to his “big boy bed” (a twin) a few months (2-3 months?) after DS2 was born and we had absolutely no issues! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795886 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:36:35 +0000 SweetiePie 2795886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wait. Keep the crib as long as possible. My personal experience and anecdotal from friends is that the longer you wait (if not a safety hazard) the easier the transition.<br /> We didn’t move my son till he turned 3. He wasn’t climbing but he definitely could have. He’s tall. I think I even posted here about it. Anyway, he still wasn’t climbing but I physically couldn’t get him in and out of the crib anymore because I was pregnant and he is heavy. So right before he turned 3 we converted to a toddler bed and I’m telling you it’s been PAINLESS. He took like 2 months to even attempt getting out because he was so used to waiting for us in there. And it was the same structure as his crib which I think helped.<br /> Then we switched to a big full sized bed a couple months later because he said he was hitting his head in the small crib/toddler bed. So we just went with it. Again, painless. He gets out on occasion (a couple times a month?) but he just stands by his door. He has never come into our room once he’s in his bed. He’s called for us - but doesn’t come out.<br /> OK to Wake clock also really helps, I think. We made sure we had it at the same time we switched so that he knew not to get out of bed before the light turns green. And he takes it seriously. Again, I think it’s because of maturity (3 is hugely different than 2) and he’s just so used to waiting for us. </p> <p>Anyway, every kid is different. But if yours is happy in the crib and is a good sleeper, my 2 cents is to leave it be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795879 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:28:53 +0000 Mommy Finger 2795879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say keep them in the crib for as long as you can! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795845 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 14:38:41 +0000 Foodnerd81 2795845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do exactly what @shabang: said- switch to a bed when you move and everything is new and play up the big kid room/ bed. Then cross your fingers :silly: </p> <p>I would want him to feel like the move was the reason for the switch, not the baby. </p> <p>I was worried about this but my older one started fighting the crib like crazy around the time I had the new baby anyway. But the baby stayed in our room in a pack and play until we moved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795797 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 12:58:26 +0000 Mamag511 2795797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did the same as @Tanjowen. We just took the front off her crib and then eventually switched to a toddler bed about 2/3 months before baby came. No problems even with her forced eviction :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795790 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 12:52:06 +0000 Tanjowen 2795790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@elljay: Can you take the side of the crib off so it's like a daybed? We did that for a few months and then switched to a real bed and no issues. Our LO was also a happy crib baby and we forced him out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795789 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 12:51:25 +0000 shabang 2795789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could have wrote most of this - 24 month old, new baby in July, planning on moving before(!), so what we're doing is keeping her in the crib until we move. She's fine there, we don't have to worry about setting up another bed which we don't really have room for right now since we'll still keep the crib together for the new baby, and when we move, everything will be brand new anyway. If she doesn't take well to switching to a bed when we move, the crib will be available anyway, and she can transition slowly (we'll use the pack'n'play for the first few months for the newborn anyway). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795786 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 12:47:57 +0000 gotkimchi 2795786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wait </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-switch-to-a-bed-or-ride-it-out#post-2795784 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 12:46:57 +0000 elljay 2795784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS is 27 mos and still happily sleeps in his crib through the night. He hasn't climbed out yet, though he definitely could if he really tried. We're expecting a new baby in July and hoping to move into a new house before then (likely around May/June). </p> <p>I'm assuming that the transition to a bed will be painful, so part of me thinks I should go ahead and do it now so that he's hopefully in a good place by the time we move and baby is here. Another part of me thinks that we should keep some consistency amidst all the change and just leave him in his crib until something forces the issue. </p> <p>What would you do? </p>