Controversial parenting decisions: Transitioning from the crib

Controversial parenting decisions: Transitioning from the crib

• 2.11.2022

This is one of the final posts in my series about parenting decisions that can be controversial or done many different ways. For those who are interested, I'm sharing my experience, no judgment, of what we did! (See the whole list below.)

1. Breastfeeding
2. Sleep training
3. Co-sleeping
   
4. Babywearing
   
5. Baby-led weaning
6. Cloth diapering
7. Potty training
   
8. Daycare vs. nanny
9. Transitioning from the crib
10. TV time

Transitioning from the crib

I think we're on the slow end of when to transition the crib to a toddler bed, and when to transition from a toddler bed to a twin. Otto was such a great sleeper after we sleep trained (see this post from this series!) and cut out the night feeds that we just didn’t want to mess anything up so we kept him in his crib for a long time. He also never, never, never tried to climb out. He slept in a sleep sack until very recently so his legs were never that free to move around, but he just also isn’t a super adventurous/physical/climber type of kid. I don’t think will have the same experience with Lucy, she is more likely to try to climb out!  

There is a height limit on when you're supposed to transition out of the crib (34.5"-36" depending where you look). I'm not sure how tall Otto was when we took the side off his, but since he never tried to climb out we mostly just did it when we were tired of lifting him in and out! It was right around his third birthday, compared to others' experiences I've heard is pretty late, and unfortunately almost overlapped with a time when he started to have a bit of a sleep regression/some sleep problems. Not long after turning 3 he started fighting us more at that time, and there was a brief while there when he would get up in the middle of the night and come into our room (one time he did it seven times--that was a rough night), and even wake up early from his nap sometimes wailing. Screaming or crying for no reason, couldn’t be calmed down easily, it was like he was still asleep almost. We solved that by cutting his starting his nap later so it was shorter. 

Anyway, in hindsight I wish we had transitioned him to a toddler bed a little bit earlier that he could've gotten used to it before starting three year old sleep problems. When we did transition we gave him some bumpers under the sheets so he didn’t fall out, and he did actually fall out the one night we didn’t have them.  Lucy's crib has an optional toddler rail we can purchase so I think we will probably do that for her. Otto's (see below) is great because we can all three sit in the crib with the side down while I’m reading a book to Otto and feeding Lucy before putting them down for naps, though.  At 3-1/2, Otto could definitely have a twin bed, but it would probably need a safety rail too, and the main reason we haven’t done it is his room is very small. It all fits in there really nicely with the crib, rocker, and dresser, and because of the big windows and closet wall, that’s about all you could fit.  If we put a twin in there we would have to get rid of the rocker, and we still use that a lot with Lucy when we’re all in there together. Also, Otto likes to carry his blankets around so he prefers the toddler sized ones to the twin comforter I got for him before I made over those twin size comforters and covers. We will get there someday but for now he is very happy in this little bed! Also for a long time until recently he used to sleep perpendicular curled up in the corner anyway!

Just finished Otto's room, see it all in this post!

The posts in this series are meant to be me sharing my personal experience only. 100% no judgment if you did things differently! If you don't like the sound of what I did, no worries! I'm just sharing for those of you out there who are interested. Best wishes to you no matter what you choose!