How long in the crib? Toddler bed?

[SnuggleBuggles]

Ds2's crib converted to a toddler bed. He turns 5 soon and still comfortably uses the toddler bed.

[cookiemonster80]

Dd1 is almost 3 and still in her crib with the rail up. She can climb out and does when we come and get her ( I actually taught her how while pregnant with dd2 bc I couldn't lift her) but doesn't climb out otherwise- she just hangs out in there and plays with her animals. Not sure when we'll take off the rail to covert it since she's happy now- and we are too! I'm not in a hurry and am SO glad we got another crib for DD2 instead of rushing DD1 out- the first 4 months were hard enough without dealing with a toddlers newfound freedom at night!

[Naranjadia]

My kids will turn 6 in Feb and are just about to bust through the headboard of their toddler bed. Bad mommy. I just can't decide on beds for them.

They were in cribs until about 3.5, when we converted to the toddler beds.

[echoesofspring]

Thanks everyone! And I appreciate the stories of old kids in the toddler bed. I don't really mind buying another crib if we're going to use it for several years as crib then toddler bed.

[karstmama]

ds went to a toddler bed at 5 1/4. he wasn't trying to get out, and wasn't potty trained, so...i let it slide. anyway, then he got a separate toddler bed & has used it almost a year, and went to a twin just this week. he'll be 6 on the first.

[ZeeBaby]

DD1 was 20 mos when we had DD2. We went with two cribs. DD1 was still happy in her crib and she just seemed so small to me for a big girl bed. She is now 4.5 and still in her crib converted to a toddler bed. We are trying to get her to go to a twin but she isn't really interested lol.

[sunshine873]

DD was happily in her crib until a little past her 2nd b-day. She was in the toddler bed (converted crib) until last week when we moved her to a twin sized bed. She is 3.75. She could have been in her toddler bed for longer, but the furniture was mine when I was a kid and we got tired of paying for a storage facility, so we decided to move her into it.

[okinawama]

DS1 was in a crib until he was 2yrs 4months. The only reason we took DS1 out of the crib was because Ds2 wasn't sleeping well in the PNP anymore and I wanted to see if he would sleep better in the crib. DS1 went from a crib into a twin bed, so no advice on the toddler bed.

[JBaxter]

Jack's bed covers to a toddler bed < side comes off> then we could use it to convert to a headboard for a full size bed. Jack was 4 last month and is very happy in his toddler bed.

[roseyloxs]

Both kids were in twin beds by their 2nd birthday. DD moved slightly earlier because we moved before her 2nd birthday and were living in hotels for 2 months. She shared a queen/king with DS during that time.

Once we moved we got bunk beds. We also set up the old crib as a toddler bed in the same room. DD is almost 3.5 now and switches between the toddler bed and bottom bunk as she pleases. Its probably about 60/40 in favor of the toddler bed. Our bunk bed is from Ikea and the lower bunk is the same height as our toddler bed.

I don't know your DS but for my kids the switch to a twin bed was painless. I would probably have the new baby sleep somewhere else for the first 4-6 months. In your bed, in a bassinet, co-sleeper, p&p, etc. Make a big deal about DS turning 2 and getting a BIG bed for his birthday. If he is into it I would get a twin bed and avoid buying a new crib. If he resists the idea then its time for a 2nd crib.