toddler beds at 17 months

So today after morning nap, I heard a loud thud! I knew what had happened immediately. Ella had woke up and was playing in her crib for about 10 minutes like she does everyday...and tried to climb out and fell right out of the crib. Both my kids are barely 30" and the crib is as low as possible. I know the crib tents won't be an option (they will destruct) and we'd planned on moving to twin rather than toddler beds. However, I don't feel safe even putting her in the crib for this afternoon's nap. I am going to use the PNP for today. Hoping that by night we'll know what to do with all of this. I have so many questions. I have several different ideas. They are in separate rooms now. I've thought about putting them in the same room and doing both in toddler beds at the same time, removing all furniture,etc.. and that way I can sit in one room or outside the door and train them. Then I wonder is it easier to do one at a time? I"m open to any and all advice you can give me!! HELP!!!

 

Honestly, if they are already in seperate rooms, I would keep them there. And you could still do it one at a time if you like. I put all 3 of my bigger kids in big beds at 15-17 months, and they all did just fine. But, I tried these two together, and they egged each other into everything, so I gave up! I hope you have better luck and it goes smooth for you!

 

My one DD has had her crib tent on for 1.5 years now, and it's still in perfect shape. No destruction. I'd go with the crib tent, mine (even at 2.5) aren't ready for beds yet. It would be a party in their room every night.

 

Mine haven't tried to climb out of their cribs yet, and I am dreading the day. Could you put your kids in sleep sacks? I think since mine always sleep in sacks, they can't raise their feet high enough to climb out. That might buy you a few months. I know nothing about crib tents so no advice there. If you don't want tents, though, maybe get twin beds and just use the mattresses until you're comfortable that they won't fall out? That way you don't have to buy toddler beds and then twin beds. Or, you could cut the legs off your cribs and just use the crib on the floor with one side taken off. That's what my cousin did and it worked out great. She just sawed off the legs and rested the mattress on the floor. She then took off the side that moves up and down and voila! a safe and free alternative. Good luck!!

 

I don't understand why you're so sure crib tents won't work. Unless your kids have access to scissors in their beds, the tents will probably hold up to whatever a 17-month-old can throw at them, at least for several months. We've had crib tents for just over a year now, and granted my kids are not very destructive by nature, but the tents are in fine shape. I would do that before you do something as drastic as moving twins that age into toddler beds.

 

I had a thread here a few weeks back about this same issue. I ended up getting the crib tent and it has been a miracle (and I was very pessimistic about it). Already though, mine got a tear but I think the problem is that our cribs are sleigh cribs and the tent may be a tad too tight. The tear though is not a problem as far as the tent staying up. It is still as stable as can be. The only problem we have it that my little punko puts his "ducky" in the hole and cries for me to get it out!

 

I'd get the tent first - at nearly 2.5 I don't DARE put my two in beds yet - I'm waiting till after their 3rd birthday...

 

My story is that mine are 22 months. They got out of their cribs about 3 months ago, give or take a week. I was going to buy the tents, but they're a bit pricey (not outrageous, but it was about $70 a pop), so I held off and tried to see if I could figure something else out. After all, my mother never had a crib tent for us.

Anyway, what I had to do, since money was tight, was sit outside their room and, well, bust 'em in the act as soon as I heard them creeping out of their cribs. I nearly scared the bejesus out them a couple of times. Sometimes, I just don't have the stamina to just stand outside their door, and those times were hit or miss. Most times they didn't get out, but sometimes they would.

Anyway, my point. I'm just going to keep them in their cribs for now without the tents. They're kind of obeying me (emphasis on kind of). I'm hoping that when it comes time for the beds (we're going to get trundle beds), they'll know the routine of "GET BACK INTO YOUR BED" the moment I hear them trying to escape.

So, this is not against the idea of tents, but it is a pro you-can-get-it-done-without-them-with-some-patience. That and some good ol' fashioned catching them redhanded!

 

Two weeks ago, my boys starting getting out of their cribs, while still in sleep sacks Thankfully, no one has been hurt while getting out of their cribs. Then another day, they were "napping" and I heard loud crying. I went into their room and they both were stuck between their cribs. The way we have their room set up, is that their cribs are side by side. I was able to lift on DS out but had to move the crib to get the other one out. Thankfully, they fell feet first. My DH and I just decided to convert the cribs to toddler beds. Which the boys loved. After the excitement wore off, they both sleep in their beds. However, they are now just sleeping in one bed, snuggled up to each other. I would have loved to use the crib tents, but they are so expensive, and I didn't think they would fit on the cribs. Also, my boys destroy everything.

My feeling, is if that you are okay with them in toddler beds. I would do it. We just moved anything climbable out of their rooms and put locks on the closet. I also lock their door anr/or put a child proof lock on the handle.

 

I break into a cold sweat at the mere thought of my boys being in anything other than a crib. They are WAY too young and lack the impulse control to successfully make such a transition. If it were me, knowing my sons, I would spring for the crib tents and risk it. If you tried it for one night and it didn't work, you could always return them as long as they're not broken/damaged.

If you are up for it, though, best of luck!!

 

My girls too started to cliem out of their cribs. And i am not so lucky with the tents. I now put the crib sides down so they can get out rahter than fall out all the time. We too are considering beds any time soon now.

 

I guess i am playing Devils Advocate here, but my boys have been in a queen size bed for a good 6+ months now, w/just the double bed rail on it. My DH lays w/them until they fall asleep and usually we don't get a peep out of them till the next morning, worse case for us is one wanders in our bed in the middle of the night. i am just now contemplating Toddler beds for room size reasons.
But mine did wonderfully when switched to a big boy bed, I think everyones childer are very different, and unfortunately you won't know until you try. My boys are also SUPER destructive and don't do well with confinement, so tents were never even thought of for them.

 

QUOTE(2BUSYGs @ Oct 9 2008, 06:49 PM) [snapback]1019461[/snapback]
So today after morning nap, I heard a loud thud! I knew what had happened immediately. Ella had woke up and was playing in her crib for about 10 minutes like she does everyday...and tried to climb out and fell right out of the crib. Both my kids are barely 30" and the crib is as low as possible. I know the crib tents won't be an option (they will destruct) and we'd planned on moving to twin rather than toddler beds. However, I don't feel safe even putting her in the crib for this afternoon's nap. I am going to use the PNP for today. Hoping that by night we'll know what to do with all of this. I have so many questions. I have several different ideas. They are in separate rooms now. I've thought about putting them in the same room and doing both in toddler beds at the same time, removing all furniture,etc.. and that way I can sit in one room or outside the door and train them. Then I wonder is it easier to do one at a time? I"m open to any and all advice you can give me!! HELP!!!



Well...we did it! Yesterday for nap, NO PNP, we just put up a borrowed bed and put her in...she climbed out and quietly walked around..then climbed into bed and went to sleep in less than 5 minutes. Last night, tucked her in- sound asleep 12.5 hours. Today, just tucked her into bed for nap, no peeps...silently asleep! I guess she was just ready! Thanks for all of the advice, but for once I just rolled with it and it seems to be working. I do have her in her own room, with her bed. Griffin still in his room, in his crib. We're setting up his toddler bed tonight. Since we received 2 free toddler beds, we're going to use those to transition and then they are getting "big kid rooms" for Christmas
So for those of you who are on the fence about trying the beds- I say give it a try, maybe they know when they're ready and we just need to listen!???
Good luck!!

:woohoo:

 

QUOTE(emmyshannon @ Oct 10 2008, 02:54 AM) [snapback]1019991[/snapback]
Two weeks ago, my boys starting getting out of their cribs, while still in sleep sacks Thankfully, no one has been hurt while getting out of their cribs. Then another day, they were "napping" and I heard loud crying. I went into their room and they both were stuck between their cribs. The way we have their room set up, is that their cribs are side by side. I was able to lift on DS out but had to move the crib to get the other one out. Thankfully, they fell feet first. My DH and I just decided to convert the cribs to toddler beds. Which the boys loved. After the excitement wore off, they both sleep in their beds. However, they are now just sleeping in one bed, snuggled up to each other. I would have loved to use the crib tents, but they are so expensive, and I didn't think they would fit on the cribs. Also, my boys destroy everything.

My feeling, is if that you are okay with them in toddler beds. I would do it. We just moved anything climbable out of their rooms and put locks on the closet. I also lock their door anr/or put a child proof lock on the handle.



Yes, I forgot to add..we took everything out except her old crib and her new bed...pulled the curtains up high...she looked at her old crib and questionably said, "me?"...like, why can't I sleep there..? We put the monitor in the crib so we could still hear her, but she can't get to it to play with! I also felt that after 17 months of no crib tents, and knowing their personalities..they would feel trapped and scream with a tent. I just don't see the point in paying more $$ to put off the next step that's obviously inevitable. I think IF we can get this to work sooner, why not? Can't hurt to try!