All right, veteran moms. Time for you to chime in and tell me what to do!
Since Baby 2 will be here in 4 short months, we have been talking about getting Annie out of the crib and into a toddler bed. I thought we'd be looking all summer for a bed, but one happened to fall into our lap over the weekend, and now it is waiting in our garage. (We'll get it all set-up tonight so you can see how cute it is...)
So, how do you move your toddler to a toddler bed? Here are my thoughts/questions:
-do we set it up and let her "get used to" its presence? I don't want to freak her out, but I don't want it to be a place to sit and play.
-I've read you should try naps in there first, then nighttime sleep. But she doesn't nap at home anymore...
-She can probably roll out of it, but she can't climb back in. How do we make sure she stays safe at night?
We're just looking for any insight you can give. I'd really like her to be secure in her bed before the baby comes, even though we're a good 6 months from the baby going into the crib. We'll put a plan together and once school gets out really go at it. Thanks for your help!
2 comments:
Every kid is different I am sure--but here is how it went down at our house.
Jack--we got the bed set up before afternoon nap. He climbed in, rolled over and went to sleep. He never complained....
Luke--we got his bed set up for bedtime, he climbed in, cried a bit, but stayed in bed and slept there. Fell out once that night and slept walked a few times to his door and we found him sleeping behind the door but overall it was a smooth transition.
I think the important thing is that you keep her routine as normal as possible--whatever you do at bedtime, do at bedtime :) The only difference is you put her in (or have her climb on) her bed! :)
Good luck!
Corrie, is she sleeping in your room? If so, you can butt it up against your bed and buy a baby bed gate for one side that prevents falls(I suggest this if it's in her room too). You can try reading to her and laying next to her for a bit, or just sitting in a rocker in the same room with her. Start putting her favorite toys on the bed, getting excited about her "big girl" bed. Don't make a fuss if she gets out, just give her a kiss, put her back in bed, and tell her goodnight, just as you'd do in a crib setting. If she's having trouble climbing into it you could even buy a small stepstool to make it easier for her. Teresa is right, keep the routine the same. You might even let her go with you to the store to pick out her favorite sheets or comforter for her new bed. She'll feel some ownership of it that way.
I'd try and do it now so that by the time the baby comes she's not attached to the crib and feeling like she's lost her "space" from the new invasion of the baby!
Good luck!
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