When is the best age? my son is 18months , also my mum said with us she bought a proper single bed not a toddler bed and used the guard so she didnt have to buy another bed in a few years whats your opinions on that?
My son left his crib behind for a regular bed at abt 16 months old because he wasn't comfortable. I don't like toddler beds because it's the same hard nasty mattress as a crib and it means more furniture to figure out what to do with later. Toddler beds are a waste of money in my opinion. He is now 27 months old and he is currently sleeping with the guard rail. He wasn't for a while but fell out during the night onto the floor and became scared of the bed for a few nights. Be sure to use a rail on both sides of the bed (even if against a wall) so they don't get wedged in between the wall and the bed.
My kids always started in a toddler bed. Simply because they were also about 18 months old, and I didn't want them to accidently fall over the gaurd. I kept them in the toddler beds until about 2 1/2. Then they were moved to single beds.
I will be getting a double size, put it on the floor at about 1 year- 18months and let them sleep on that until I feel they are ready to put it up on a frame. A toddler bed is just a waste of money. It is about the same size as a crib mattress, so really you could just use the mattress from the crib on the floor as easily. I think it's too small though, and I won't be getting a crib anyway, we are cosleeping.
He should go from crib to cot when he has started getting up by climbing over the crib sides. Cots (toddler beds) should be used as they're generally closer to the floor than regular beds, in case he falls out. They're not all that expensive. Regular bed maybe around 3 or 4, when he's filling up the cot pretty well.
I would have to agree that the bigger bed with the guard is a better investment. They also have more room when they roll, and less chance of them waking themselves like in a toddler bed. Toddler beds are only used for a few years, and unless the crib you have converts, it is not worth it.
