There are a lot of milestones in a child's life. Rolling over, sleeping through the night, taking their first steps, saying their first word, potting training, and so on.
The one I want advice on today is: moving to a toddler bed.
When did you move your child into a big boy/big girl bed? Were they still able to take naps after they weren't caged anymore? How was the transition to sleeping in a bed? Any advice or special tricks that worked for you?
S is coming up on his 2nd birthday, so we want to start moving that way soon. I just want to be very prepared! :)
6 comments:
J still napped. Slept just fine in his "big boy bed".
B never would sleep in his crib since he was born. We moved him early at 11 months old. He did great. He never got up out of bed at night, probably because he and J share a room and they both stay in great.
Sure, S might fall out every now and then, but just put a big comforter or something by his bed at night just incase.
My nephew would constantly get out of bed, so my brother and his wife put a baby gate at his door at night. That way they could still see him, but knew he was safe. Some nights he'd be asleep at the gate. Happens.
Good luck!!
I have a massage table, which is very comfy and soft. We put that slightly under J's big boy bed so that if he did fall out (and he's definitely a mover and a shaker) he wouldn't hurt himself. But like Mindi suggested, I think a comforter would soften the blow enough.
J did alright in his big boy bed. I think we made such a big deal out of it that he thought it was way neato to be able to sleep there. Of course we had to change how we put him to bed. I'd sit on the floor by his bed but wouldn't touch him or say anything. I'd just make sure he was on his bed. He'd put himself to sleep after a few nights of that.
Of course there are those nights like Mindi said where they'll fall asleep at their doorway because they just won't go to sleep in their beds. It does happen.
I think we'll use a railing for a while, you know, one of those temporary ones. I'm not to worried about him FALLING out of bed, I'm more concerned about him GETTING out of bed:)
WE moved M shortly after her second birthday, the first nap was short but she did stick to her bed. We never had a problem. We talked it up BIG time..told EVERYONE she was getting a big girl bed, let her pick the bedding then she helped daddy put it up! She cried a bit the first night but that was that. She still naps and goes to bed great!
My neice also got out of bed a LOT and they would shut the door and put the baby gate on the other side of that so she was good and stuck then they just checked on her before they went to bed.
Also, we didn't do a toddler bed..we went straight to a twin. For a few reasons 1, it's only ONE bed we have to pay for and 2, it's only one bed we have to get her used to! She'll be in this bed until she moves out!
Good luck!
I agree with everyone else's comments. Some things we do are:
We move our children to twin beds (Like others, I don't want to buy two beds due to cost of beding and the bed)as soon as they start climbing out of the crib (I have heard horror stories of kids breaking their knecks as they get out. I don't even fiddle with that. As soon as I hear them at the door after I put them in bed or see their leg over the rail when I go to get them out of bed in the morning or afternoon, they are moved that day).
The next important thing you'll want to invest in are: door handle locks, and plug outlet covers IF you don't have those already. Put the door lock on the inside of the door so that he can't open it up from inside, and then cover all the outlet covers because boys (well kids in general, but boys more than anything) like to stick sticks in the sockets. If you have a nightlight in the room, put the dresser infront of it or some other toy that he can't move and get to the night light.
Next, make sure the dressor is not a tipsy dresser. If it is, secure it to the wall.
Last, Remove anything of value or that he can choke on from the room. Put some fun baby/toddler toys in there, and when it is time for bed make a big deal out of his big bed. Follow your normal time for bed routine and all, and your nap routine, and when done, take him in and put him to bed. Tell him goodnight, and walk out.
For the next 2 to 3 months (unless he learns sooner than that or takes longer to figure it out), you will find them asleep on the floor. I have no problem letting my kids cry themselves to sleep because they have to learn how to put themselves to sleep (it is an essential part of life), but some parents just can't do it. If you are one of those that can't, then you'll want to put a chair next to his bed, and rub his back until he is asleep, or put a chair outside the door, and sit there, when he comes out the door to get you, you pick him up and gently put him back to bed without saying anything. But, if you are like me, the door lock on the inside will keep them in there (until they learn how to pull it off), and since you child proofed the room, they will play for a while every nap time and every nap time and they will fall asleep right by the door. after a while they learn the the floor sucks to sleep on and they will start to climb back into bed. It is all a matter of choice. Eventually they will get into the sleep with mommy and daddy phase, and you'll have to take them back to bed throughout the night, but that is another phase, but maybe those mom's that stayed up for hours getting them to sleep don't expereience that, but since I don't have the patience or desire to spend hours in the beginning, they do the night time thing and they get put back to bed as soon as tey come in. No system is fall proof, but no matter what you do, make sure his room is safe and sicure in ALL ways, because they will climb, put things in outlets, chock on small toys and so much more. Your choice. Then if you are like me, remember that naps are not for kids, but for moms. Put them to bed at nap time and if they are awake the whole time playing then they learn to be self entertained, but even if life happens, naps are for mom not the kid.
P.s. We would have gotten a TWIN rather than a TODDLER bed, but because of our student housing circumstance and 2 boys sharing 1 tiny room, it was toddler beds for us. Do what you can!
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