I am in NO rush to get James out of his crib just yet. However, this weekend while we were visiting Toys 'R Us, James was playing around in a race car toddler bed they had set up. He seemed to really like it, and seeing him in it made me think that he could almost be ready for that transition. We had basically planned to put him right into a twin bed, with those guard rails you can buy. After seeing him in the toddler bed though, it made me think that maybe he should be in a toddler bed first. My brother and I were both in a twin bed by the time we were between 18 months and 2 years old. Others would definately say that a toddler bed is the better way to start, because it's easier for them to get in and out. If we buy a toddler bed, it means that we also have to buy another mattress and stuff, whereas if we put him in the twin bed we already have everything but the guard rails. Hum, hum, hum... what to do? I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences.
Monday, April 7
Switching to a Bed
I am in NO rush to get James out of his crib just yet. However, this weekend while we were visiting Toys 'R Us, James was playing around in a race car toddler bed they had set up. He seemed to really like it, and seeing him in it made me think that he could almost be ready for that transition. We had basically planned to put him right into a twin bed, with those guard rails you can buy. After seeing him in the toddler bed though, it made me think that maybe he should be in a toddler bed first. My brother and I were both in a twin bed by the time we were between 18 months and 2 years old. Others would definately say that a toddler bed is the better way to start, because it's easier for them to get in and out. If we buy a toddler bed, it means that we also have to buy another mattress and stuff, whereas if we put him in the twin bed we already have everything but the guard rails. Hum, hum, hum... what to do? I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences.
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19 comments :
I'm trying to remember but I thought we transfered our crib mattress to the toddler bed because they were the same size. I'm quite sure because we used the same bedding. Some toddler beds are really cheap. It is a nice transition...
Yeah you can use the crib mattress with the toddler bed...the only downside is yes they can get in and out on their own..Son #1 had the race car bed and it was hard to lay with him...so #2 got a twin bed much easier but #3 will probably get his brothers car bed...#2 (was a girl so wasn't needed) LOL enjoy though
We bought Tristan a toddler racecar bed and we regretted it because he could only use it for a short time and then he outgrew it and he was only 3. If you are going to spend the money I would recommend getting him the twin racecar bed...it's not much higher off the ground and you can use the bedrail in it. You will get many more years out of it!!
Personally, I think toddler beds are a waste of money. You're right, he will only be in it for a short time and then you need to buy a new bed and mattress all over again. They are cute, but not really worth it.
Also, it may be a plus if they ahve a little trouble getting in and out of the twin bed as James will be less likely to be getting out in the middle of the night and running around. You may have less trouble getting him to bed. No guarantees. But I do know quite a few people who've had trouble getting their kids to stay in their cool new toddler bed and sleep. :)
For our first born we did buy a toddler bed and we put it in a room where the toddler bed was set up and a guest bed. He rotates every so often. Which makes us also scratch our heads why we bought the toddler bed in the first place! But now that we have 2 children we are looking into buying a bunkbed for both of our children to sleep in. Leave the crib for baby # 3 and move the toddler bed out of the way. It was such a nice toddler bed as soon as I saw it I fell in love with it and just HAD to have it. It's a cottage toddler bed. But I will admit that countless hours have been passed with the children PLAYING with it to slide down and use the storage for a garage/shed and all kinds of fun things but sleeping in it was used for 2 plus years.
We're in a situation (starting last night) where Simon can get out of his playpen and needs T's crib but we wanted to keep T behind bars for at least another year. Love this bed!
We put Henry first in his crib mattress on the floor, just to see if he'd stay there, and he did. Then we bought a twin mattress and box spring and have them on the floor, where he still sleeps. When he's a little older we'll use the bed frame and the same twin set.
i agree with one of your other readers that a toddler bed is a waste of money. they are in and out of them so quickly and also not enough room to cuddle and read bedtime stories in.
we moved my daughter into a double bed with rails on both sides when she turned 2. to this day she has never tried to get out and has begun sleeping through the night. that was a huge rarity before the transition.
i say go with at least a single bed, if his new room accomodates i'd say a double is the best choice. that way they don't need a new bed till they move out!
good luck :)
I got my nephew a toddler bed on kijiji.ca It was one of the race car beds...think I got it for $60(it was in perfect shape)...we used his crib mattress and the bedding. He seems to really like it. I made him some bedding for Christmas as "fun" toddler bedding can be difficult to find...but luckily I found an easy pattern on the net for making a fitted sheet. He's been in it for 1 year and will likely be in it for at least 1 more...I think it was worth the $60...but don't think even antee would have paid the $250 for it new!
K
Someone recommended to me to use a twin bed. To start, just put the mattress on the floor on its own. Then you don't have to worry about James falling out, and it is also easy for him to get in by himself.
When he gets a bit older, you can add the box spring, and then eventually the frame.
You won't need the guard rails this way, and won't have to purchase an extra bed either.
As long as kids don't get too tall they can be in a toddler bed until they are about 5 years old. When Riker was ready for a bed we had a frame given to us and a mattress bought as a present. When Trinity was ready for a bed we had no money, so I bought a toddler frame on Buy and Sell for $15. I got rails for both kids beds for around $5 at garage sales. If you have a twin and just need the rail, I say get the rail, he'll adjust. If you really want the car bed and can afford it, then get the car bed. To each his own.
I'm kind of torn on my opinion. Preston has this bed that you have pictured. To be honest I don't know if I would have bought it for him, but my dad insisted he needed it for his 1st b-day! I don't think they are a huge waste of money, but at the same time they aren't a necessity. Here are my thoughts:
Toddler bed is nice because they can get in and out way easier. But if you buy a toddler bed definitly get one that is sturdy like the car bed. DONT buy a cheap $80 from wal-mart that you see with the theme of Thomas the train, or Dora...they are made really cheap and if you sit on one or try to lay on it, it probably won't hold up. Toddler beds use crib mattresses so you wouln't have to buy a new one, just use one from James' crib. They are good until the kids is like 4 or 5, so you will be able to get a few years out of it, but not as many as if you use a twin. Because the toddler bed fits a crib mattress you can use the same bedding as in James' crib or you can buy new...your choice. With a twin you would have to buy new bedding (if you want to get cute stuff, that in itself will almost be the amount of the race car bed!).
Either way, I don't think that the toddler bed is a waste of money, but on the other hand it's not a must-have. Oh another thing is toddler beds are smaller, so if you have a space issue(as we always have) then that's a plus.
Personally, I think we will buy Isabella a toddler bed as well. If you think of the cost of the toddler bed over how many years they would use it, really it's not thta $$$.
Either way I think it's your choice, and whatever you did will be awesome for you, but that's just my 2 cents worth...or novel! haha
Oh ya I was also going to add...we bought the bed at Toys'R'Us when they had a "Little Tykes" sale...the sale was 25% off. So on a $200 bed it take off $50. So it was only $150, and we did have to buy another mattress because we needed his crib mattress for Izzy in the crib. For bedding, my mom made a duvet cover for a cute kids duvet we found at "jysk" (don't know if you have that store). She also made pillow cases with the left over fabric. I can e-mail pics of Preston's set if you like!
Bottom line is, if you can afford it, why not! Kids are only kids once, so they might as well be as cute as possible! haha That's my thinking!
Anyway, keep us posted with what you decide!
Hi a friendly delurker here!
I can't remember from what blog I linked here, but the point is that I'm here. Hi!
Our son, Jaia is 22 months.
He was in our bed, till 17 months, we got a toddler (bed) one from Ikea (we love it! It's the one with the 3 piece matteress). Anyways Once we set it all up, and let him walk in the room, he was thrilled, SO EXCITED to have his own bed. His transition was SO easy, I think we are still in shock about it. He is so proud of his bed.
I totally say go for the toddler bed first, not just cause of the height (it's so cute to see him getting in and out of his own bed)but because it's cozier.
The toddler bed we got grows with him. the ends fold up for when he is little like now, and it fols out to a full size twin bed. So it's awesome!
Anyways now I am blabbing! Sorry!
Hi and good luck with the bed choices! SO many cute beds and bedding. Okay I'm done. bye!
LOL. I was going to write, "Can't you just transfer the crib mattress over?" But I see that was already covered. We got a toddler bed, mostly for space reasons, and I'm so glad we did... Probably a lot has to do with how cute they look in it though... :)
I realize that the crib mattress can be used in the toddler bed - but, God-willing, I hope that our crib will eventually be in use again too! That isn't going to be for some time yet, but eventually I would have to get another mattress.
Whatever you do I'm sure will be fine and great. we're going to put Annika in a double bed right from teh get-go. Just cause that's what we have in our guest room right now...and (God willing) if we have another baby down the road, the crib mattress will be free for baby #2, and we won't have to keep dealing with "bed transitions". Get her in the big bed and that will be that...but I'm not going to start worrying about until she's AT LEAST 2 years old. Good luck!
i agree with the readers who say a toddler bed is a waste of money. We're going straight to a twin bed for Taeya. And if the height is an issue, you can always just skip the frame and put the mattress on the floor while he adjusts.
Its funny you posted that photo! we had that same bed given to us back in ohio. Caleb HATED IT after we tried laying him down in it. screamed so hard. He loved playing on it.. but didnt want to sleep on it.
So we gave it back..
and then just put a full size mattress (was our guestbed) up in his room.. beside his crib. This way he eventually got use to the bed being there... and then that helped with the transition from crib to bed. I think right after he turned 2 he refused to go back into his crib. It was his choice and he wanted to sleep in the big bed now. I didnt push him at all .. seems like once I stopped pressuring him thats when he wanted in it.
I think the fact he got to see the bed in his room for months helped a lot.
But I do think toddler beds are cute.. but id prob. invest in a full size or twin. It last longer.. i do have a friend tho whos lil boy slept in a toddler bed until he was 5 or older. So they work for some better than others.
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