There are no hard and fast rules on when exactly you should move your child from the crib to a bed although most make the transition between the ages of 18 to 36 months. Different children react to this transition differently with some freely giving up their crib while others stubbornly refusing to move no matter what you do.
Crib Tent
Toddler Guard Rail
Parents too have differing views on this issue. Some feel an early transition is good as it fosters confidence and independence. On the other hand, others do not like to rush and prefer to make the transition at the last possible moment when they feel that their child is truly ready for the move. To keep their child safe in the crib, they resort to a crib tent. Although some experts deem crib tents to be hazardous as it can be difficult to get your child out in case of an emergency, it is one way of preventing your toddler from climbing out of the crib.
General Rule
Because transition to a bed may cause some toddlers to feel distraught and may result in bedtime battles, some parents tend to delay the move. However, the general rule is you should move your toddler to a bed when he or she has reached around three feet in height or shows signs of climbing out of the crib. The other good gauge is you should move your toddler when the side rails come up to less than 75% of your child's height when he or she is standing in the crib.
One other question you should ask yourself is whether your child is potty-trained and maybe better off sleeping on a bed to enable him or her to get up and use the toilet as and when necessary.
Readiness
The other view is you should assess your child's readiness first before deciding when to move him or her from the crib to a bed. Therefore, you do not need to rush out and buy a toddler bed the moment your child shows signs of climbing out of the crib. This is because being able to climb out of the crib does not mean he or she is ready for a bed. Not all toddlers can sleep soundly throughout the night on their own and it may be equally dangerous to have your child roaming the house in the middle of the night when you are fast asleep.
Bear in mind that your toddler can easily get on and off a toddler bed once you make him or her move out of the crib. You would have to assess the risk of keeping your toddler in a crib as well as shifting him to a bed and put in place safety measures to guard against injury. The above are just some of the factors you should consider when confronted with the issue of transition.
Free Up The Crib
One other common reason parents move their child to a bed is because they need to free up the crib for the new baby. However, to force your child out of the crib to accommodate a new baby will only cause resentment in the process. If you really need to get your toddler out of the crib for the new baby, try to do so weeks before your baby is due. This way, your toddler is less likely to feel that he or she has to give up the crib for the new baby. Otherwise, you may be better off getting another crib, especially if you know your toddler just isn't ready for a bed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while there is no necessity to rush your child to a bed, there is also little reason to delay the transition when the need arises. A way to help your toddler along with the move is to ease him or her into the idea before it becomes absolutely necessary to make the transition for obvious safety reasons. By doing so, your child would be less likely to reject the new bed as the move does not seem sudden and forced.