M, who is now 2, has never tried to climb out of her crib before. We like her in there just fine. But I feel like she is ready for the big transition to a bed. She doesn't roll around too much like she used to do. We actually have 2 options since her crib is convertible. It can be a toddler bed, and then eventually a full size bed. (I'm totally jealous since I slept in the twin bed I had since I was little all the way until I got married.)
Option 1: Change crib to bed.
Option 2: Buy a boxspring and mattress for the floor next to the crib.
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't want the wandering during the night, even though she can't get to too many places with the safety gate we have up...just her room and our room only. We don't know how she'll handle the change, so I don't want to be dealing with too much resistance if she doesn't like, and then we'd have to change the bed back to a crib. She has a lot stuff going on right now...she's in the middle of a "separation" anxiety phase, potty training, and we're expecting our 2nd little one. But then again, having the mattress as well as the crib will take up space. We're not sure about the whole situation because when the baby comes, and M has a hard time sleeping at night, it may also be useful to have a full mattress in there, as well as her crib/toddler bed, so Hubby or I can help comfort her without having to go back and forth from our room to hers, etc...
So my thoughts are all over on this. I need your help.
What do you think we should do? How did you transition your child to a "big girl/boy bed"?
Comments (4)
Well you will eventually use the box spring & mattress when you convert it to a big girl bed, but it definitely will take up space. And it's not like you could just prop it up against the wall when you're not using it because you would risk it falling on her. I would change it into a toddler bed & if you're really concerned about having to sleep in the room with her maybe you could get an inexpensive inflatable bed from WalMart that is less dangerous. Make her REALLY excited about the big girl bed, like it's the coolest thing! I wish I had more input, but no babies for me....... yet.
I agree with the making her excited thing! We haven't done the transition yet - K turns 2 in April - but that's what we're planning on doing. Also, I think we'll put both the crib and the toddler bed in his room so he can get used to it first. (I guess that's not an option if you're converting the crib...).
The box spring seems like a good idea, but I would (try to) shy away from sleeping in her room with her - before you know it, it will be the only way she'll go to sleep, and you'll be going backwards, not forward! I know it's a hassle having to get out of bed all the time (esp with the belly!) but we experienced this kind of thing after we slept in the same room for a week (Christmas with the in-laws) and it was NOT fun. It took about five weeks of sleep training for K to get back to normal! Not fun...
Good luck with your decision!
I have a 14 month old baby and her bed is also transformable and I think, instead of spending more money on a boxspring and matters, just convert her crib. That's what it's for.
@key19@xanga - we do have 2 aerobeds, but they're not the quietest when you move around on them. we'll have a try with that. great idea.
@NotUeberMommy - hmmmm...i was thinking if we would have to use it once the baby arrives...or if we have one of our moms stay over to help us, etc. but you're right, she might want to stick with it after... usually she transitions pretty well...we had her with us when she was sick because she kept coughing when she had too much phlegm/mucus in her throat and we didn't want her to vomit, and it was easier to just turn her over and she just went to sleep. but she went right back to her crib. looks like we'll have to keep thinking on it.
@hannahtan528@xanga - we will eventually use the boxspring and mattress when the crib/toddler bed becomes a full size bed. so we'd spend the money anyhow.