What age do toddlers usually start sleeping in a bed rather than a crib?

I'm pregnant and my daughter will be about 20 months when I deliver. I plan on keeping the baby with me for a couple months but I'm trying to figure out if I can use her crib for the baby or if we need to buy another one. I planned on getting her a toddler bed and using the crib for the baby but she is such a restless sleeper...it makes me nervous to think about putting her in a bed. So what is the usual age toddlers start sleeping in beds? Thanks!

When your older child has learned how to confidently and safely lower themselves backwards off of a bed, or couch. Once they can do this, I'd go for the toddler bed, or twin bed. We transitioned our son at 18 months. No problems.

They sell side rails that you can attach to any bed. My son (who is now 4) STILL uses his. The boy is a mover and night, and he would most definetely fall out if we didn't have one of those fold-down mesh rails on his bed.

My advice is to definetely not buy two cribs. That is a huge added expense.

Also, transition your daughter to her new big-girl bed BEFORE the baby comes home. If it all happens at once, she will truly freak out and feel displaced by the new baby. Set up the bed in her room next to her crib. Have her start taking her day-time naps in it. And then transition to sleeping in the bed at night too. After that, remove the crib, and prepare it for the baby.

Good luck and congrats!

Hello, It really depends on the child!

My daughter was in a toddler bed at 13 months, but my son is over 2 years old now & we cannot trust him out of the crib!

So really what I would suggest doing is buying the toddler bed, keeping it in your daughters room & slowly acclimate her to it!

Before you know it, she could be sleeping in it sooner then you think, on the other hand, for safety reasons, just make sure she is ready for it!

Good Luck

both of my daughters were 1 when they moved to big girl beds, we didn;t do toddler beds either, they both moved into regular beds. It all depends on the child.

I was in the same boat as you. I put my daughter in a toddler bed when she was 18 months so she would get used to it in plenty of time before the baby. They are 22 months apart. I just told her she was a big girl now and we were going to use her crib for the baby, because baby's need to be in cribs and big girls sleep in beds. She seemed pleased with that, and the adjustment wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

our babies started out in beds - ours. when our second born came along, we actually stuck a twin on the floor next to our king.

they're 9 and 13 now and everyone's been in their own room and bed for a long time. but when they were babies and toddlers, they slept with mommy, as nature intended.

My kids are 18 months apart, one will be 2 on friday, the other 6 months. We bought my oldest a toddler bed, but he hates it. He prefers the crib. We initially bought the baby a bassinet, hoping to reuse the crib, but we aren't going to upset the big one.

Don't force the oldest to give up her comfort zone, she'll already have to get used to a new little person in her home.

your daughter will only sleep in a bed when she is at least 2 years old, so if you keep your newborn for about 4 months then yes you can use the crib!

I usually waited until they started climing over the bars before I put them in a bed. You could put her in a bed and purchase the side rail for one side and have the bed up against the wall for the other side since she is restless, then you might not worry as much.

age 2

Well when i found out that i was going to have another baby right before i had my son I put my daughter in a toddler bed she was about 17 months old. The toddler beds are low to the ground and my daughter only fell once and she never did it again. A child will learn but the only way is to try. If she fall to much then just put her back in the crib. Best of luck

when the toddler starts trying to climb out of the crib i say it's time to get him a toddler bed. less dangerouse for him to try to get out of.

Between 1 1/2-2 years is fine. My daughter started sleeping in a bed at 23 months because I was pregnant and wanted her to get used to the bed so she wouldn't be jealous when I put the new baby in the crib.

My son started sleeping in a toddler bed at 13 months. He was walking very good at this point so it was an easy transition. They have rails for toddler bed look at places like babiesrus, or walmart. That way she can have one wall as a rail and an extra rail to keep them safe.

Between 18 months and 2 years is a good time to switch to a bed. Twin beds were a bit overwhelming when I switched my kids to beds--their little head hardly reached the top of the bed while standing next to it. Look for a toddler bed with built-in side rails. Toddler beds are so low to the floor that she won't get hurt if she happens to fall. Your daughter will love it--it gives her so much independance. Plus you can use it for the next baby too
You can also put the crib mattress directly on the floor, but don't do this if their are a lot of bugs in your house/apartment (easy access for bug bites).

Most toddlers move to a bed from the crib when they need to be able to get up to use the toilet.But if she is a limber little girl you could just put the crib on the lowest setting and leave the bar down this creates a bed with a rail. Since it sounds like you will be dealing with a newborn and 2 year old at same time you will want to start working your older one toward potty training and a "big girl" bed is one step toward that.

Around the age 1 1/2 or 2

If you're truly afraid she'll fallout place the mattress on the floor and wait until she can go several nights without rolling off. Then you'll know she's learned to recognize the edge in her sleep. Then put her in the bed with a toddler rail. Good luck

2 years old