Baby number 2 needed the crib so converting it to a toddler bed was not an option for us. We went straight to the twin bed with a rail when my daughter was 20 months. It took about a week to convince her it was awesome but ever since she loves her bed and does just great in it. I think the toddler bed is unnecessary and am glad we went straight to the twin bed.

Completely and totally unnecessary piece of furniture.

It does not make sense to me to go from crib, to crib mattress on frame (aka toddler bed.) A twin sized bed is not too big, I repeat, not too big, nor too high for a 2 yr old who is transitioning out of his crib (or out of your bed.)

If you are tight on space (read: your child's room is in the closet) then just put the crib mattress on the floor, store the crib away and save yourself the time and expense of a silly toddler bed that will last you less than a year. Why make your child go from crib to toddler bed then to a "real" big kid bed a few months later?

---(And please do the the same with potty training! Diapers to underpants. No transition to Pull-ups--those are still just diapers and your child knows this!!)---

waste. they're cute though!

the older babe was still using his crib when the younger one was born (18 months apart). the younger one has only ever slept in a queen size bed with me. the older one went from crib to toddler bed (convertible) to twin mattress on the floor to twin bed to . . . my bed. not sure how that happened, but it sure is sweet to cuddle and see my sleeping babes first thing in the morning, hear their dreams when they first wake up and sometimes (if i'm lucky) hear them laughing in their sleep. love it.

now i'm regretting buying the boys twin beds. they'd probably rather share a bigger bed with each other than to sleep alone.

When my not-quite-two-year old learned how to climb in and out of his crib, we decided it was time for a new bed. The decision between the twin bed and toddler bed was difficult. We finally decided on a very inexpensive toddler bed which also doubles as a chair!

The P'kolino bed has been fantastic for us. It is low to the ground which was a must for the child that constantly falls out of bed. A mattress on the floor just wouldn't work with a 100lb dog waiting for the right moment to claim it as his own. And we can FINALLY use the comforter that came with the Dwell bedding set purchased for our first child. And did I mention that it turns into a chair?

We invested in a very nice a crib that converts from crib to toddler bed to full bed. My daughter has been sleeping in her toddler bed since 20 months and loves it. I love that she still has plenty of room to play in her small bedroom, and we don't have to buy a new mattress/bedding just yet.

And yes, we are also in Pull-ups.

My daughter was content to stay in her crib, sides and all, until she was 3. She never climbed out or expressed any impatience with being stuck in there. However, she did get too big. Switching to a toddler bed was pointless because that didn't give her any extra room, it just took away the sides that she smooshed herself up against, and she would have rolled right onto the floor. There was no toddler bed for her and I doubt there will be for any future kids either.

I think it really depends on the kid. My twins are in toddler beds and they love them. We had been using inflatable aerobeds for travel, but always gave them the option when traveling to sleep in the twin bed vs. their aerobeds. They preferred the aerobeds, so we decided to go with the smaller sized toddler beds and keep the same bedding from their cribs. I scored two for $45 each on sale at Walmart, and they are really nice and very sturdy.

They are now in their own rooms, and my daughter's room is tiny, so the toddler bed doesn't take up much space and, in my opinion, looks nicer than a mattress on the floor.

We are also in pull-ups, thlitt! ; )

We actually went ahead a bought a toddler bed- a very nice one for under 150$ for our son when he was around 3, after several attempts to climb out of the crib. Not because he didn't want to sleep in the crib, but because he wanted to get something (dropped car...) The difference is we actually found a toddler bed that has a low rail ALL THE WAY AROUND- just what he wanted. Even at 3, he was still sleeping all smushed into the corner of his crib, because he likes being right against the rail. When we went to the store to decide on beds, this is the one he loved. And it's fine- considering he was in the crib till 3, he'll be in this until we move again right before he turns 6. As for space- he's fine (even though he's actually very tall). The biggest consideration is HOW your child sleeps- my son loves to be surrounded- he wanted the rails all around and sleeps comfortably that way. Just putting a small temporary rail on a big bed was not the answer. This was. While I wouldn't spend 500 on a toddler bed, what we spent was fine, considering we hadn't bought a super-expensive crib, either.

We moved from a one-bedroom appartment to a 3 bedroom house when our son was 2. To make it attractive to him to move out of our bedroom we bought a wooden firetruck toddler bed off craigslist like this:
http://www.babycribstation.com/KidKraft-Fire-Truck-Toddler-Bed-76021.htm?src=AdWords&gclid=CIytxPj6kp8CFdx05QodUkGLfw
He loved it and moved without any complaint!
He slept in it for about 1.5 years total. I am sure we could just resell the fire truck bed with very little loss. We also potty trained him while he slept in it. the plastic covered crib mattress and the small bedding helped with the accidents too...

I really wish we could have gone straight to a twin bed. Unfortunately with toddler and baby sharing a room, there was not space. So, we got a hand-me-down toddler bed from a cousin and bought an inexpensive Ikea crib mattress for it. I was annoyed at having to buy another crib mattress that we will not use again, but Oh well!

we were given a toddler bed and plan to use it when the time comes....probably wouldn't have paid money for one though.

toddler beds seem like a waste to me, but i guess they work well for some kids.
my oldest was in her crib until she was a little over 3 years old, never tried to get out or climb it at all. we moved her straight into a twin size bed without a railing or anything. she stayed in that bed just like she stayed in her crib, and it's been great for her.
i don't know what we'll do with her little brother, though. he's been climbing in and out of his crib for months (he's 3 now) and he's a really wild sleeper. might have to get a rail this time.

totally unnecessary. to straight to a twin bed you can ship them off to college with (IMO). My daughter was in a platform twin bed at 18 months with no problems.

So funny that this is the "hot" topic - we just transitioned our 2 year old into his big boy bed this wk/end. it's a twin, no headboard, old frame, took the wheels off so it's lower to the ground. i covered the boxspring w/denim fabric and covered the frame as well (as i recall many bruises incurred on my shins from the old metal frames).
the bed is in a corner, a bookcase is at the foot (facing out) and another bookcase is at the top (along the free lenthwise side) facing out so as to prevent any rolling out & it has created a lil nooklike feel... which is very cozy and has worked out (except for the first night and some naps this week) VERY well.

we hesitated with a toddler bed, our little guy's very tall... and it just seemed another thing we'd be replacing in no time at all.... the twin is not going anywhere anytime soon.

My daughter has been sleeping in the Ikea Vikare (a toddler bed that can be extended to a narrow full-length bed) for two years now. She's four and I expect we won't have to extend it for another year or so. We've bought another Vikare for her 1 year old sister who shares the room. The toddler size beds allow for some much needed play space in their tiny room.

To each their own, and I generally try not to pass judgement, but for the most part toddler beds just seem like a stop gap and given their short time span of useage almost disposable. Those horrendous hotwheels car beds, they're $$$, ugly and nothing more than a big ugly blob of plastic.

#1 went to a twin, then when #3 was coming along we bought a bunk bed, #1 went to the top which is a twin and #2 went right from the crib to the bottom bunk which is a double.
We're planning #4 and #1 will go into the old twin in the basement #2 will go to the top twin #3 will go directly from the crib to the double bunk.

I've never so much as touched a pull up and both my boys (youngest is still under a year) were fully trained in under a week, including overnight.

Honestly, I'm looking forward to our son growing out of his crib so that I can buy a twin captain's bed for him and have somewhere to store his toys! There will also be more snuggle room for him. I went from a crib to a twin and didn't break my head, so I'm not worried for my boy.

Waste of money but I think a crib is waste of money too. I don't think pull-ups are a waste of money, though.

Guess we're in the minority...we have a toddler bed and really, really like it. We were in a very small space when our first child outgrew his crib, so we bought an Argington Petra in natural. It is stylish, minimalist, and well-constructed, and worked very well with our space limitations. Our son slept in it from age 2 to 4.5 -- easy to get in and out of, no rolling out or falling, and a cozy feel. Our second child now sleeps in it, and our third child will take it over in a couple of years. We knew we wanted to have more than one child so we figured we'd get good use out of it. I'm already looking forward to passing it on to friends when our kids outgrow it.

A must have? No, but a great idea for those who don't have a ton of extra space.

I think it's funny how some of the comments seem judgmental. To each their own… every family has different space issues, sleep issues, preferences and budgets so there could never be one solution that is right for everyone. For me, the crib was really the unnecessary piece of furniture. I bought one while pregnant thinking I needed it. However, it was recalled when my daughter was a few months old. Rather than replace it she slept in a play yard next to my bed until she was about a year old. Once she was a year, my husband made a toddler size bed for her (using the mattress we already had) and she loves it. I think she’ll use it for a few years. We enjoy the extra space we get with a smaller bed (more room for play), and my daughter loves feeling enclosed in a smaller space.

I got a toddler bed off craigslist for around 20 bucks, and we love it! The smaller size is something I want to take advantage of until my son doesnt fit. His room is not exactly small, but the smaller bed leaves a lot more room for play. So, I think they are great options if you can get one for little money - otherwise like other posters it makes sense to just move on to a twin that they will use for a long time.

Oh yes, the judgmental comments come out every time the editors post an "either/or" question.

The parents who always poopoo toddler beds will be happy to know that kid beds aren't even necessary and that families around the world sleep in a big bed, on the floor, or in one big room. Really, who cares if you want to buy a toddler bed then resell it?

My mother-in-law bought my son a single "car bed" off Craigslist. While I initially thought it was way too big for my 2-year-old 'baby,' he loves it ("my car bed!") and by using just the mattress without the boxspring, the sides serve as guard rails. Soon we will put the boxspring back in.. hopefully the allure of a car bed won't wear off for awhile..

Wow Angus, you *are* the perfect parent. Congratulations on your sanctimonious skillz. I guess everyone who has "touched a pull up" is just not up to snuff.

What bed? As a parent who truly loves my child, he slept with us until the age of 5.

No, actually, we lived in a really small apt, so keeping ds in a toddler bed freed up some space in that room for me to have some ofc space. It was safe and sturdy, and I paid $8 for it second-hand. He slept on it for 2 1/2 years.

BlueLM has me laughing and to contribute, but perhaps redundantly...

We went back and forth on the toddler bed thing and ended up getting one for our son. We were moving and didn't have any idea as the size of his room; of course it turned out to be big and now we sort of wish we got him a bed.

That said the toddler bed has been great because:
- It is sooo much easier to change the sheet and mattress pad on a small little toddler bed than a twin bed. Our son has been pretty good at potty training and we'll go weeks without an accident then have 2 back to back. In a 3:00 am stupor it's a lot less stress to have a quick bed change.

- Our son was really attached to his crib bedding and it had a lot of good use left in it. So the toddler bed allowed us to maximize that purchase.

We are weeks away from transitioning our 18 month old to a toddler bed, so this post came at a great time! Our 1st and 2nd (due in March) will share a small room, so a toddler bed is the best option for us. Lucky for us we received a free toddler bed from a family member.

I guess it was just me but I thought Angus's comment about toilet training was mean to be facetious:

I've never so much as touched a pull up and both my boys (youngest is still under a year) were fully trained in under a week, including overnight.

If not...he or she sure got a lot of eye rolls!

P.S. I'm all about the Pack'n'Play straight to the twin. But that is because I am cheap and also because my toddler is/was big. I think toddler beds are cute and an easy way to save space for a year or so, and cost effective if you buy used and then sell.

I'm still sleeping in the bed my parents got me at 24, a nice continental single(new matress since). My son got a twin bed from grandpa over christmas and will probably sleep on it till he is 20.
I see a quality frame and matress as an investment.
It should be around for a lifetime of use.

Plus my little guy likes his better than mine. He pushes me off and chants comfy.

Please write an informative essay on the potty training procces you used to avoid pull ups and be accident free under a year. We thought we were doing well with intermitent accidents and nap time diapers at 15mths.

i'm a little late to this party, but we bought two conversion kits for our crib, when we bought it in the first place. one kit changes our crib into a toddler bed, and the other one into a twin bed. we completely plan on using the toddler conversion kit. we moved to maryland for a job a little over a year ago, and the rooms in our town home are *tiny.* there's absolutely no way i can fit a twin bed in with my daughter's dresser and still have room to move. i hope she'll use it for a couple years until we can move into a house with bigger rooms. and i'm pregnant with my next baby. we plan on getting the same kind of conversion kits for it's crib too. they'll both have gorgeous furniture that they can take with them to college.

as far as potty training goes, we haven't entered that realm. but i'm sure we'll find what's right for us when the time comes.

and goodness. some of you people can sure be rude and snippy. it makes me feel bad for all of the kids who are friends with your kids, because they must be rude too. :( and no one likes a rude friend.

We live in a very compact double storey townhouse and our two (5 year old girl and 2 year old boy) share a very small room - the only saving grace is a builtin cupboard alone one wall. We bought a single vintage wrought iron bed from the thrift store for our daughter when she moved out of the cot, mainly because she was starting to climb out of it and it didn't convert to a toddler bed (and we didn't know about toddler beds back then!!) Our 2 year old has been in a cot that converts to a toddler bed since he was born, but the sides are too high so now he climbs over them, even if the "front" of it is taken off! I bought him a cute wrought iron single bed about a year ago but have since decided that it's too big for the room without them squashing into each other.. so we've decided to buy a second hand ikea extendable bed so he gets the "idea" of a bed but we save space (and our sanity!). And we'll just resell it if we move to a bigger house and then use the bed that we originally bought him, as it will definitely last him for a long time...

And to all the comments about toilet training? People please, leave other parent's parenting philosophies alone... you aren't there with them everyday, you don't know what stage their child is at and what works for you doesn't necessarily work for them. As an early childhood educator with two young children with very different personalities and traits, I have learnt that every child is unique and reach milestones when they are ready in a supportive and loving environment. Rather than criticising other's ways of doing things we should support and offer experience and knowledge rather than judgement and eye-rolling.

we were gifted a crib that was supposed to convert to a toddler bed. We barely used the crib - our son slept with us until he turned one. Then in the crib for about 4 months. Then he began climbing out of it. We transitioned it to a toddler bed but the bed had no bar on the fourth side, making it a falling hazard so my husband sawed off the side leaving a small gap where our son can get in and out of. Problem with this is he can get out, so it is hard to get him to stay in it through the night. He's been in our bed for most of his life so it's what he's used to. We plan to move in a month to a larger place and I want to get a twin bed for him when we do. We'll see how it goes.