is there a reason to stop using the crib before it's outgrown?

[catmom]

I've noticed that a lot of moms here seem to be transitioning their dc's out of the crib at pretty young ages... like 2 or under. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but is there a reason to do so? I know I was still in my crib until I was almost 4 :eek: , at which point I went to my mother and said, "I need a real bed, there's no room for my feet!." From the time I could climb out of it, she just left the side down all the time, and I guess I'm not sure how this is different than a toddler bed.

Is there some reason I'm missing, like a weight limit for the crib? I'm asking because I am thinking of getting a new (more comfortable) crib mattress, but I don't want to spend a bunch of money if I'll need to stop using the crib soon.

[AlisonCO]

I think that people move their kids out of the crib for several reasons: having a baby, kids climbing out, kid hating crib. My son loves the crib and I don't plan on getting rid of it anytime soon. He has plenty of room left and I am so not ready for him to be able to come see me at 2am:) I actually asked my ped at his 2 year visit and he recommended getting him out of the crib sometime after age 3 but that there was no reason to do it before if he was happy.

I have a good friend that moved her son out at 16 months because he hated it and cried - she thought that he felt like it was a prison and he was much happier on a mattress on the floor.

You can always resell your new mattress if you do not have more kids - I see them at my local resale shop all the time for $30-40.