My daughter has started to sleep in a toddler bed since she's 15 months old. The bed is really low, she can climb up and down with little help at the beginning (now, she does not need any help). Actually, I taught her how to do that so that she won't hurt when she wants to get down. I put a lot of pillows and cushions next to the bed in the first month. Also, I usually line an extra blanket at the edge. After a few months' "practising", she's now an expert on climbing in and out the bed. She's now responsible for waking me up everyday = she will come to my bed and call me every morning because she wants mommy's milk.
I think that it's okay to introduce your baby to a toddler bed if he/she knows how to climb in and out the bed. Of course, you should choose a good toddler bed. My daughter is so active and she sees my son sleeping in his toddler bed and climb in and out on his own, it's no way that I can have a toddler bed with gate to lock her in. It may create more danger. Since we all room in one bedroom and I told my kids not to go out of the bedroom with me or my hubby, so far they are okay.
花旗太太生活在花旗國,留意時差,你問我未必即時答到。