The right time for transitioning a toddler from a crib to a bed is between the ages of 2 1/2 and 3 because, therefore, they are mentally capable about the responsibility of moving to his own bed. It is a huge responsibility that a toddler has to move into his bed. It's a new bed. It's totally different from his crib. He's able to get out and he's free. He can get out and play with his toys if he wants. He can get out and ask you for a glass of water ten times. He can come into your bed 15 times in the middle of the night. It's a huge responsibility. If your toddler is 2 1/2 and all of his friends are moving into a bed, don't feel pressure to move into a bed. Wait until he is three. There is nothing wrong with a toddler staying in his bed until he's three. The easiest way to do it, is to have the bed and the crib in the same room, so he can take naps in the bed and, at nighttime, sleep in the crib. Until he's sleeping in the bed for naps well, I wouldn't suggest you put him in the bed for nighttime. After he's be consistently sleeping for a week for naps, then I would from the crib to the bed for his nighttime. Don't ever use the crib in the way to say, "Oh, you are getting out of bed too much, I'm going to put you back in the crib." Don't use it as a disciplinary method. It's not good to do that. We want every place that they sleep to be a good, safe, happy place.