I am thinking ahead again and was wondering when would be a good time to move Katie to a bed? I am hoping to do it by October/November since by then I willl want to move the baby out of the bassinet in our room to the crib and I don't want to buy another crib for the sake of a little while. Katie has never loved her crib, has never slept though the night in it so I am not worried about taking her out of it but am more worried about her rolling out of a bed-she moves around a lot when she sleeps. For those moms who have BTDT do you have any suggestions?

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We started talking to Emma about moving to a big girl bed when she was 18 months old and we actually did the switch when she was 22 months. It went really well and she was really excited. Hoping it goes just as well when we move Julia. We're going to make her switch after Christmas.

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For me, the plan at the moment is to leave Chase in the crib until I feel like I need it for another baby or he stops sleeping in it so well, lol!

His big boy room will be next door to the nursery and it already has furniture in it. A queen bed that we will most likely put rails up on each side until he gets used to staying in it.

Chase loves to snuggle up to the bumpers so I think he will be restless in a wide open bed.

At daycare, they sleep on cots at this age! Shocks me that he will nap that way, but it's never more than 60-90 mins.

I think if I needed to move him, I would start talking about it and showing him the bed. Probably start with naps in that bed, too. Just make sure the room is child proofed and any stairs are secured since she may wander out of her bed!

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Stacey (38)
DH Steve (38)
DS Chase 2-13-07

I don't plan on taking Ella out until she's jumping out but I don't have another baby coming either. It's just way too nice having her in one place so she can't get up and run around instead of sleeping.

If you wanted to hold of just a little you could use a moses basket with the new baby, that could buy you a couple months. I used one with Ella and just loved it and I'm keeping it so she can use it with her dolls. I paid $45 for a new one on Ebay.

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With Riane we moved her crib to the toddler bed when she was 21 months old. She was ready for it. Then after she was 2 she was getting to long for that bed and we moved a twin in wiht her toddler bed still there. So we would start her in her big girl bed a few times she ended back in her other bed. but it did not last long. She wanted her big girl bed all the time.

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I've been thinking about this too, since we have a new baby coming in November, and so far I don't plan on moving Annalee out of the crib until she's 2. Unless she is stating to climb out of! The new baby will be in a bassinet and then in a PNP until we feel Annalee is ready to move up. I'm pretty nervous about the change, it's hard to imagine her in a big girl bed and I don't want to rush it just because we need the crib...The new baby will be about 4 months old when Annalee turns 2 so we think that will be a good time to transition everything...but of course all of that is subject to change...

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Amy

I think Tyler was about 20 months when we moved him to a toddler bed and then when I got pregnant with Ethan, we moved him to a regular twin bed so we could put the convertable crib back together, so he was a little under 3 when we moved him to a big bed. It seemed like a good schedule. Ethan isn't trying to climb out of his crib now, so I'm not worried about it. We'll change the crib to the toddler bed whenever it seems right.

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My oldest was 13 mos. my 2nd was moved on his 1st bday. Caleb is now 16 mos but we juts havent had the funds to get him a new bed. as soon as we get caught up (medical bills stink) we will be getting him a twin bed.

no suggestions, we just set it up and move him. everytime they got out, we just put them back.

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We did the transition at about 25 months. He was ready and it was easy. We bought one of the toddler beds that sits really low to the ground, and then we just put some extra couch cushions next to it after we took his rail down. He only used the rail for a few months. We have 2 cribs...wish we hadn't done that, but anyway...because of that, we won't need to take Jaymin out of his crib until we just want to. IMO, I actually think it's easier to do at an earlier age than to wait too long. Just try not to do it too close to the time that the new baby comes, before or after, cause you don't want the upheaval, so to speak, to be associated with the new brother or sister.

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wanted to add if you do a twin (i think toddler beds are pointless since its a crib matress) you can just put the box spring and matress on the floor, easier for kids to get into and less room to fall. Jordan fell off his bed the first 2 nights. Derek never fell off, he'd get out and go sleep on the hall floor though. now hes 3 and we STILL find him in odd places. I found him in the bathroom on the tile with his pillow and blanket last week. no underware or shorts so i thnk he had to use the bathroom and got tired, LOL.

they also have temporary crib rails that tuck between the 2 matresses. after a few days all kids ive known seem to adjust and no longer fall out.

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Jillian- That's hilarious about finding him on the bathroom floor!!!

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Amy

We'll probably move Kate closer to 3. She LOVES her crib and I am not about to mess with her sleep! 3 of my 4 nephews were in a twin mattress on the floor at 1 year old. I was not about to put Kate into a new bed before Caroline arrived. The last thing I wanted to worry about was a 1 month old climbing out of her bed when I was taking care of a newborn.

If Katie's not too attached to he bed then it may be a good time to move her before the new baby comes.

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--Kristina

I moved the girls both when they started to climb out of the crib. Kimberly was 1 1/2, Hailey was 2.

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I also plan to keep Asher in his crib as long as possible! We bought this breathable mesh thing (I cannot remember the name of it right now) that attaches to the crib rails from top to bottom and side to side all around that is supposed to prevent him from climbing out. The only reason I would move him sooner would be whenever I get pg again and need the crib for the new baby.

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Married over 11 years 2-8-97
Me - Rachel 31
DH 33
ASHER born 2-23-07
Angel Baby lost 4-10-08