I put Amy into a toddler bed when she was 15 months old. I put one side against the wall and had a bed guard on the other side then took the bed guard away when she was 2 then put the bed in the middle of the room (so nothing on each side) when she was 2 and a half. To this day I make sure that she is tucked in just to make her secure and I was lucky because Amy is not a very active sleeper so  has never fallen  out  of bed, unlike my nephew who no matter how well you tuck him in he still manges to fall out as he moves around a lot in his sleep so even at the age of 4 he still has to have his bed against the wall with a guard. so I suppose what I am getting at is do it when you feel your child is ready and do what you feel will keep your child safe.

Hope this helps

Clare x

I put my kids in single beds at 18 months. They really looked forward to it. I made it exciting for the; choosing quilt covers etc. I pushed beds up to the wall on one side and used a bad guard at the other I didn't have any problems but some children aren't always ready at this age to go  into a 'big bed'. Good luck.

My daughter was 2.  We made a big deal of it that when it was her third birthday she could have a big bed rather than a baby cot.  She never had any problems adjusting.  She fell out a few times but it didn't deter her from wanting it.

We got rid of the cot straight away as we didn't want her to have the opportunity to ask for it.

For our girls, the transition was exciting, as they really thought they were big girls.  We started by them having their daytime naps in the bed, so they could get used to it without waking up in the dark and panicking.  We started them at about 18 months, and for us, it was soooo easy.  Freedom and more thinks to wreck were certainly great incentives! lol.

My girl was 8m and she did great.  I started out by putting the mattress on the floor next to our bed, against the wall and a rail.  Then when she got used to sleeping there we put the mattress on a frame.  She never had any problems...