when to stop using crib

[hockeydad]

So the wife and I are wondering when it's time to stop using the crib. I imagine we have some time yet. But the little one is already sitting at will and pulling herself to standing on occasion. And with her the minute she can get over the side, she do it - not exactly one for patience. We want to start planning ahead. When did you all stop using the crib, why, and what did you move to?

[Don-Dad]

My first little guy jumped out of the crib by 1.5 years old, that was scary and the transition to a toddler bed was a hard one.

Little guy #2 is almost 15 months but he is not as big as #4 was so we probably will get some more time out of the crib this time.

Really varies for each child, a buddy of mines child is over 2 years old in a crib.

[thoth187]

Our 6 year old kicked the front of his crib off when he was about 18 monthes old. Thankfuly the crib had that day bed conversion thing built into it.

[Weston]

So I guess what you're saying thoth is that your kid will let u know when he/she is ready, huh?

:shock: :lol:

[hockeydad]

ok the little lady stood up for the first time in the crib today. freaked me out. I just hope she doesn't know how to do pull ups.

[tt3]

Tara's almost 2 and still in her crib. She's still really wiggly at night, so we didn't try earlier, and with Leah just joining us, one change is enough.

hock, just wait till she starts jumping like mad! :lol:

[SmokinZBT]

Mine started standing in her crib yesterday. I put her down for a nap, and her happy sounds, I went to check on her, and she was sitting with her legs through the slats. I layed her back down, and heard noises again. I went in to see the happiest kid on the planet standing holding on to the railing.

Now that she has this new skill, she decided at about a quareter to two last night that she would stand up and scream. I was up and down for about half an hour, finally giving her a bottle, and getting her back to bed at about 2:30. At least she slept until 7:30 this morning.
I am a little worried about her letting go and getting her neck stuck on the railing. We have a doctors appointment today, so I'll ask.
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[floridamcmarion1]

Our process is pretty simple. When they are able to sit up the matress height gets dropped. Once they can pull themselves up the matress height gets dropped as much as possible. Once they climb out once, or look like they are about to, one side comes off and it becomes a toddler bed. We have thick carpet and I also put a thick blanket down in case of a fall out of bed. It's a fairly easy transition because the only change is losing one rail. The other rail is left on to leave as much of the crib looking the same as possible. Once they are too tall for that, they get a twin bed with a safety rail.

For some cheap entertainment make sure that you ask your toddler who has just climbed out of the crib to show you how they did it while you can be there to catch them if needed. I have had a number of toddlers climb out, and they all seem to have found a different method of escape. My favorite was one day that our 2 toddlers both came walking out of their room from a nap. We had them show us how they did it. The girl basically did a gymnastic leap and was out in a second. She then went over and coached our son to throw over a leg. Once he did, she grabbed it and pulled him over. I have yet to find a kid who won't show you, as long as you remain calm about the escape and don't make it seem like they just did something horrible. We make it seem like a big deal that they are so big now that they can escape and have the big boy (girl) bed with one rail removed. Most important to us is that it's a celebration time of a major accomplishment.

[tt3]

sweet, and smple...
I dig it and will see if it'll work for us!

[Richard of Chelmsford]

We used ours for a year.