[On transitioning to bed from crib, continued]

That seems a bit young to let them roam alone in the room, UNLESS the room is completely safe, i.e., nothing interesting to get into or climb on. My boys climb EVERYTHING. They climb onto the changing table, they climb onto the hamper and jump off, they climb the bookcase (secured to the wall). So leaving them unattended wasn't a great idea. Plus at 2, they don't really understand right and wrong.

We gave our boys toddler beds at 35 months. Up until then they had cribs with crib tents. That way I decided when I wanted to go in and get them in the morning. Now I have to get in there soon after they wake or they destroy the room. Sometimes they hang on the doorknob cover until it comes off and then escape to the playroom (we live in a house now). Also they have been known to get into the Balmex at naptime and smear it all over themselves.

Also, mine were good night sleepers - about 12 hours - but so-so nappers. When we moved to the burbs, we separated them at nap time. Now that they have beds, naps are really sketchy (they're also older). Needless to say bedtime is MUCH harder at night - although they're generally ok. Having said all this, some people transition at 2 but I say if it ain't broken, don't fix it. We all got more sleep when they had cribs.

I would hold off until at least 2-1/2.

Keep in mind, singletons are nothing like twins. Twins keep each other awake, get into more mischief, and all transitions are generally harder. Also, singletons are sometimes moved to a bed early because mom is expecting baby #2. When I was a baby my mom moved me into a bed at 16 months because she was expecting my brother and didn't want to have two cribs. If there is no pressing need right now, and you like your sleep (and they like theirs), then why rock the boat?

Keep them in the cribs as long as you can. I have 2 year old twins and a 3.5 year old. I just moved my oldest to a toddler bed and am so glad I waited. It keeps them napping longer and keeps the night sleep sound. All my kids are amazing sleepers but when I moved my oldest, she refused to nap anymore and got out of bed constantly at night whereas before she never did. Just know, even though they are great sleepers this could be altered by the bed. Many twin parents put crib tents on cribs to keep their twins in cribs longer. I did this with my oldest and she loved it as did we. She said it was her little "house.

When a 22-month-old climbs out of her crib, is it time for a crib tent, a toddler bed, or what other option(s)?


I would keep them in cribs as long as possible. I used crib tents with my oldest (she's 3.5) and plan to with my twins also (they are almost 2). My oldest viewed it as her "little house" and it was great.

Pile pillows on the floor around the crib.

Our boys turn 2 yrs old this month, and when one climbed out of his crib one night about a month ago, we put a futon next to it to cushion the fall and waited for it to happen again, but so far it hasn't. I think the fall scared him enough that he hasn't tried it again. So who knows what will happen next but for now. we're sticking to the cribs and have a crib tent on deck just in case.

I am a strong advocate for crib tents, basically because I don't see why I should make things harder than they need to be. Just about everyone I know who transitioned to beds says that the kids sleep less, that bedtime is harder, and often the naps went away. Mine are 34 months and would love beds, but until they are potty trained and naps are (completely)a thing of the past, I'm not losing the tents! Our bedtime has become a marathon so I just don't see the point of making it harder for me or them!

Having said that - keep in mind that it's my opinion for whatever it's worth. However, there are a couple of factors to consider.

1) How safe is the room? i.e. is it ok for them to be roaming around in the room at night, in the dark?
2) How hard is it to get them to bed now?
3) How are their naps?

Mine started climbing out around 20-22 months and I felt that was too young to be alone in their rooms in the dark. They already knew how to climb on their dressers so I just didn't think it was safe for them to be able to freely explore. Also, we were moving to the suburbs so I saw no point in buying interim toddler beds when I'd soon have room for twin beds. So we got tents.

I could see that they were trying to climb out and knew it was coming soon. So I bought the tents and I bought a book called "Just Me and My Dad" by Mercer Meyer about camping in a tent with daddy. We talked about the tent. Then when they finally climbed out, we assembled the tents together and I let them play with them before putting them on the cribs. We made a big deal about the idea of camping in a tent. They were totally fine with them from the first day.

And the best thing is that they can't come wake me in the mornings. I set the time I go in to get them.

My daughter was a month shy of 2 years when she chose to do the same. I had my husband with his tool kit that night, took off the bar, lowered the mattress and put a bed rail on (Safety First has a good one). I did it for both (despite that my son may never have thought of jumping out - why leave such a nice place). This created "toddler beds" out of cribs. For their 3rd b-day this year, we moved to big beds. I don't think they would have been ready for before then. On the toddler beds, now they can be free - I highly recommend a gate so they can't get out of their room. I also know many people who use tents until they are 3 - I just couldn't get there and thought my daughter would have gone berserk!

If you have the space, move them to a mattress on the floor. It may take a couple nights to get them to stay on it, but it's better than a broken arm, or worse.
And if they end up sleeping on the floor the first couple of nights, big deal.

Keep in mind that you'll have to check around their room to make sure there is nothing unsafe there.  Remember, now they'll wake up and be able to walk around, they won't be stuck waiting for you to come release them, so they may start wandering before you even know they're awake.

As far as tents, I don't personally like the idea. I think it can only cause anxiety and it's just begging to be gotten around. That's just me. I'm sure they work for lot of people, or they wouldn't make them, but you're just putting off the inevitable.

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