to a big girl bed?We've been trying to build up the anticipation. The mattress has been behind her crib for a couple of months now, and we point to it and talk about it and have put it down and let her jump on it a couple of times. She came with me to buy sheets and comforters and loved toting those around the house. She's excited for it.
But she's going to be even more excited when she realizes she can get in and out of the bed herself without getting hurt (the pain is all that stops her from climbing out of her crib - she's been able to do it since May).
What strategies have you employed as you moved your kids from crib to bed that you recommend? What did you do that you wouldn't have if you knew what you do now? How long can I expect Hazel to take spotty naps and wake us up in the middle of the night?
6 comments:
We let Ruby keep her pacifier for the transition to a twin bed. We started her sleeping on her twin bed at nap time one day shortly after Jack got back from deployment (19 months old). She was fine with it. We also made certain that her room was completely safe for her to be in. We put a knob cover on the door so she wouldn't get out or (bigger problem) keep locking herself in. Then we started a 15 minute bedtime routine. She would read a couple of books, say goodnight to everything in her room, turn on her music and lay down while we sang songs. She did just fine. Our overall goal was for her to forget about her baby bed by the time Fiona was born (which she did...). We didn't really have any problems until she was weaned off the NUK about 2 weeks later. Then she had to cry it out for about a week. Seriously, once she lasted nearly 2 hours. So- the bed part was easy. Nuk was awful. I highly recommend barring her in so she won't wander the house. A baby gate is what we use here in the UAE since she can open the doors here. Sorry this is rambling. The only real recommendation is to pick a time and have it to where her crib magically disappears while she isn't there. Then, there's no going back. Decide where you want her to sleep and don't revert. She'll catch on really quickly-- especially if you make it sound really fun. Hope pregnancy is going well. It's great to have all these challenges to face with #1 while you are still cooking #2, isn't it?? :)
I should mention that she'd been having the same bedtime routine for a while before we started the bed transition. And that after her baby bed "disappeared" before nap time, it stayed gone from them on out. We just chose naptime to start because if she didn't take a nap, we had all afternoon to try to hype up the new bed and show her how we likes sleeping on it (instead of trying to start at night!). Sorry this is so long!!
I think alot of kids don't really realize they can get out or once the challenge of it is gone they just stay put. Hopefully that will be you. :)
The first night Macey got out a few times, but we just went upstairs and set her back in without saying anything. After that we didn't have too much of an issue. She still stays in her bed (or on the floor next to it) until we come to get her in the morning.
Macey doesn't really have toys in her room though, just books. If she stayed in bed she got to have a pile of books, if she got out we started taking them away (but I've only had to do that a few times). I also think it's easier if the crib is down.
Good luck, hopefully won't be as hard as you think it will be.
Whatever you do, be consistent and don't let her see your emotions (aka frustration).
Good luck!!
Hey Angie, Both of our boys just stayed in their beds and went to sleep. It wasn't until they were a little wiser (and older) that they pulled the 'I need...' card. It's true though that naps are a little more difficult. Good Luck! Oh, and a ton of congrats on little Jr. - we're horrible at leaving posts, so sorry we're late! Julie
Hey I don't know how much help I am, but I moved my oldest to a bed at 18 months when #2 was born he wouldn't stay for anything and he ended up sleeping on a blanket on the floor next to my bed until he was 2 when I decided to just buy a second crib and put him back. Then when #3 came along I moved #2 into a bed. He was two already and he would stay awake from 3am to 7 am every night. Like clock work. I just went crazy so, I put him back in the crib. Now my advice is, if you like how they are sleeping DON'T change it. Two cribs fit just as nicely as a bed and a crib, and everyone gets more sleep. but hey that's just me. good luck
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