Should I buy a toddler bed or another crib?

Question

When my second baby is born my first son will be only 21 months. as of right now I do not think he is ready for a toddler bed, but my husband thinks we should get him one. I think he should stay in his crib until he can climb out of it. Also it converts into a day bed and i think it would be just better to buy the same exact crib so they match. Plus I'm not ready for him to be getting out of bed and just roaming the house while I'm still asleep.

Answer 1

I think the way you do. I would keep the 1st born in a crib until he climbs out.

However, the answerer who said to use a bassinet first had a great idea. You can use it for several months and if your son climbs out during that time, you can just get a toddler or twin bed. Actually, I never got a toddler or twin. We bought a full set and put it on the full with rails.

Answer 2

We have 2 kids. When my daughter was born, my son was 2yrs 5 m old. We got him into a regular twin size bed and used railing so he wouldn't fall out. We made it a big feel that he will be in a "big Boy's bed" and he loved it. I just didn't see it economical for us to spend another 100s of $$ on another crib. I think toddlers bed would be right for your older baby. He will be roaming around the house anyway, even when he gets older. My son is now  almost 6, sometimes he gets up before me and roams around the house  :) You just have to  get up with them, there is no getting around that.  

Answer 3

You can always put the new baby in a playpen during the transition period, and switch them later.  

Answer 4

My oldest was 17 months when his brother was born and that second baby slept in a port-a-crib for his whole first year.  

Right now, my youngest is 8 months and just finally got into a big crib from the port-a-crib because her brother, who is 23 months, just moved to a toddler bed.  He was already climbing out of his crib at 22 months (the older ones never did climb out), and it's less dangerous to just move them to a toddler bed at that point.  We stay in his room with him until he falls asleep so he won't be up and wandering the house forever at bedtime.

So, I don't think you need to buy even a second crib or a toddler bed just yet.  Use a bassinet (if you have one) or just a port-a-crib with the new baby until you figure out what might work best for your family.  At that point, your older one might be ready for a toddler bed.  It usually happens sometime after they are 2 before they are 3 (usually).  

And as far as the roaming the house bit, just put a childproof doorknob cover on the inside of his bedroom door and then he will have to stay in his room if he wakes up.  That can be a great sleep-training technique.  They might cry the first night or two (our oldest even slept on the floor by the door until he realized his bed was more comfortable), but soon enough he'll be sleeping in his own big boy bed.  The real challenge will come when they have to start sharing a room!

Answer 5

He is old enough for a toddler bed but that does not always mean he has to be in one. When they can climb out then yes, but if he is okay and not too big don't worry about it. I would say if it can turn into a daybed then just by the new one for the new baby. I would also think about how old he will be when the new baby comes. If he is going to be able to climb out before or right after the baby comes I would transition him now. Once the new baby is home he might be upset so changing his bed before then might be a good idea. Good luck.

Answer 6

i understand your concern, we just went through something similar, my daughter is 18 months and just started using a regular twin bed with rails that we hooked to the side.  To avoid her wandering the house i put a baby gate up in her door at night so she can not get out of her room, in the morning she just gets out of bed and comes to the gate and yells for me, it actually works out fine and she sleeps much better in her big bed and i like if because i love to snuggle with my daughter and when she isnt sleeping well i can go lay in her bed with her instead of starting the habit of letting her come into our bed.  Also something to think about it when you are ready just getting a twin size bed and put a rail on the side toddler beds are only good for a year or so before they are too small for them then you have to buy another bed, they are just a gimmick to get you to spend money, there is no reason that he needs to be in a minature bed.  I would say that very soon after 21 months he will be ready to move on so it would not be a wise way to spend money to buy another crib, but thats up to you.  we are doing well with the big bed and baby gate, though so i would reccomend that as an alternative.  good luck and congrats.