We put our daughter in a big bed at about 17 months. She was wriggling around so much in the cot that we could hear her connect with the rails every time she rolled over.

We took Lorelei shopping with us for the bed so she knew what was happening and she just loved the idea of being a 'big girl'. We found a bed at Ikea that was low to the ground and extendable (starts about the length of a cot but full width. Has three stages to make it a full-sized single).  It is easy for her to climb into and the ends and siderail prevent her from falling out. She was so excited about that her bed that she helped us put it together then played in it for the next hour. She went to bed that night in her big bed and hasn't looked at her cot since.

In short, you'll know when your daughter is ready to make the transition. I would recommend including them in the shop for the bed and making sure that it is something they are excited about rather than just surprising them with it.

We just put harrison into a big bed about 1-2 months ago.  He was 2 in feb.  He didn't really act like he wanted out of the crib, just that he is getting big and he moves all over the place and was just out growing it.  Of course, if you have a climber, then you need to look at safety issues. 

Arna mentioned siderails.  I do have one on the side of the bed (head and other side are against the wall) but not one of the foot.  He has fallen off the end of the bed twice but not lately.  He didn't get hurt, just a bit startled.  I almost wish I hadn't bought the siderail.  He is going to have to learn at some point that there is an edge there he can fall out of.  So the learning of the edge of the bed is either now or later...your choice. 

We've waited until ours have actually started looking to go into a big bed, like them climbing into older sisters beds and starting to nod off! lol.  It varies with each child, but you can get guard rails to put on a bed to stop them falling out.  Need at least 1 on the side and one at the foot of the bed if no footboard there.

I think the most important thing is that he won't be falling out of bed & injuring himself or at least not be able to climb back in. (I fell out of a mountainous bed regularly when I was a small child.) So I started my daughter off with a mattress on the floor to be sure. When she got to the point where she was generally still 'in place' in the morning, I gradually increased the height. (since I had a single bed base with detatchable legs) 1st the mattress on the base (a foot or so off the floor), then she was in a 'proper' bed by the time she went to school. I guess I was determined my own child wouldn't suffer the lumpy bruised head I generally dealt with when I was young. Or had to make a bed on the cold floor for the rest of the night b/c she couldn't climb that far, as I did.

I don't reckon its a specific age; it varies from one child to another..

 Rosalinda

hi Lisa,

We put Josh into a bed when he was 18 months old. He was too big for a cot by then, we just put a side rail on it. Putting Josh into a bed was the best thing we could have done because it seemed he slept better.

Good Luck, Juzzy xox

Hi, the decision is up to you, we put our daughter in a single bed when she was 18 months old because she wouldn't sleep in the cot anymore & then after about 4 weeks we put her in a queens size bed because she kept falling out of the single & I was going to go & get the safety sides you put on the single beds but I had a queen size spare so we just put her in that & I have never looked back.

Good luck

its up to you sweety.

Alex was about 27 months as charlie needed the cot and Charlie was almost 3. Pia has just put Aaliyah in her bed (today i think) and she is just 2. its all what you think they can handle

I put my eldest in a bed when she was almost 20 months.  There is no rush to make the move unless of course you need the cot for another baby.

I didnt put my son in his big bed untill 18 mnths but if she's trying to climb out of her cot then sooner, i use a bed rail to prevent accidents not that it helped much they only cover the middle area and he's a rigler so if he rolled at the top out he came, i ended up re arranging his bedroom to block the gaps and if he decides to climb over i have a bean bag standing by, theres nothing like that horrible bump in the night to mk you move like lightening..so just do it when your both ready

hugs jo xxx