At twelve months, it is unlikely that your child will be ready to move into a bed, but he will be more ready as he gets closer to twenty-four months. If your child is climbing out of his crib or is close to the same length as his mattress, he is ready for a bed. You may be nervous that he will roll out of the bed, but it's possible to get bumpers or bars to put around the bed that will prevent this from happening. It is much safer for him to be in a toddler bed than a crib that he can climb out of; the bars of a crib are higher than the edge of a bed, and a fall could be dangerous.

If your child is comfortable in his crib and not trying to escape from it, then you should certainly feel free to let him sleep in it until he is closer to two.

Most children are thrilled to be in a bed, especially if you have outfitted it with nifty sheets covered in something they love (flowers, motorcycles, sports figures, or favorite cartoon characters). To encourage their excitement, set the bed up a few weeks before they will be expected to sleep there each night. Lie down with them, take a nap with them, and then let them take naps there. They just might decide on their own that they'll never go back to their crib again — something that often happens when a child gets excited about a new bed setup.

Common Fears

If your child is nervous about this change, it might be for a few reasons. First, she knows that she will never be in a crib again, and her crib might be a favorite place. Let her say goodbye to it and acknowledge her feelings of attachment.

Some children have to move into a bed because there is a new baby in the house, or because you are moving to a new home altogether. You can always present the bed as her reward for all of these special changes. Most children really are thrilled that they are involved in something special and that the changes aren't just happening around them.

You might also explain to your child that even though she will be sleeping in a bed, she will still be your baby and that you're always going to love her and take care of her no matter where she sleeps. Tell her (and demonstrate) that you will continue your bedtime rituals — the songs, the reading, the bath time — and that you are happy to lie down with her for a few minutes if she would like. She needs to know that the only thing that has changed is the actual bed, not the love and affection you share.

Bed Safety

Bed are generally safe for older babies and younger children, unless you have a child who rolls around a lot and isn't easily awakened. Many children do sleep very deeply. If she can't feel that her arm or leg is dangling off the side, you might need to get rails or a bed that has higher rims.

At the age of one, your child can sleep with blankets and a small pillow. Many children can cover themselves back up if the blankets fall off. If your child can't, and she's kicking these things off at night, she can still be in a zippered outfit that covers her from her neck to her toes. Just make sure she isn't getting overheated.