Big Kid Bed

[Gwendolyn]

So...it finally happened. I took the pack 'n' play to San Fran and it took three minutes for DS to figure out how to climb out. He slept on his sleeping bag on the floor the whole time we were there. In the midst of unpacking I left his sleeping bag on his toddler bed. james has slept in his crib like a champ for at least a year...

Tonight he wanted to sleep on the sleeping bag in the bed. I tried a couple of times, but he wanted to chat and play. Finally I decided to put him in his crib. I put him in to go downstairs and look for my sleep books to read-up on this crib to bed thing, and THUD. James has climbed out of his crib. He never even hinted at thinking about climbing out before, but I think the pack'n'play taught him a valuable lesson.

DH is on call tonight and wakes up at this point to complain about all of the noise and tell me I need to get better blinds for DS's room!!! I can hear DS playing in his darkened room. I am frustrated and I don't know what to do...DH says, "let him play. He'll go to sleep when he is ready." Although a doctor, clearly this man hasn't raised children...seriously!

For now I am letting him play because I don't know how to proceed. I can't put him back in his crib...(his aqueduct syndrome can link head trauma to hearing loss!!!!) I also know that staying in his room will do more harm than good...

Help experienced ones! I am at a loss. The books I have all talk about when, but not how.

[Flynn]

Talk to him about the "rules" about having a big boy bed. Make it sound like a huge gift and a special thing DS gets. Maybe give him a sticker every day when he wakes up and "makes good choices?" Cheesy but it works for us.

Getting out of bed and "playing" at the beginning of having a big boy bed is totally normal. Let him know he needs to be quiet and get back in bed when he's tired. Most kids I know either never get out of bed (one of the benefits of changing to a big bed before they get out of their crib by themselves) OR they play quietly for two weeks -- and then hardly at all until they wake up in the morning.

Let him know that leaving the room is not allowed. We never had to get those door nobs that kids can't turn but I know plenty of people who did. It worked and the kids entertained themselves in their room.

We transitioned DD at 22 months due to DS coming when she turned 2. She was EASY but I don't think DS will be nearly as smooth when we transition him.

[Gwendolyn]

I'm sorry...I sounded more panicky than I needed to be. By the time I got up there he was asleep in bed and slept there until 8am. The truth is I needed to adjust. Potty training and big boy bed all in one weekend. It was a lot for mommy to process. sheesh :thud:

Thanks Flynn, I know the advice will come in handy.

[Phoebe]

What exciting changes for your little guy. Our 2.5 year old has been climbing out of her crib for a few months now. We put her railing down as far as it will go so she can climb out easier. She naps in her big girl bed, but at night she doesn't do so hot because we are trying to have her share a room with her older sister and it is too exciting for her.

Unfortunately, we had to put those plastic doorknob covers in her room because she keeps coming out. I keep a monitor in there so I can hear what is going on.

Jennifer

We switched to a big girl bed a few months back, and DD is 2.5 as well. I think talking about the rules is a great idea. We did that, and DD seemed to really understand it. She also hated the crib once she found out about the Big Girl Bed, but that's not much help to you, since DD never figured out how to climb out.

We also potty trained her at the same time as the bed switch, and I used that too, since she really loved her underwear. I told her that only big girls get to wear underwear and sleep in big girl beds, and if she got out of bed at night, we had to put diapers on again. One night after she got up for (what seemed like) the 100th time, I put a diaper on her, and we really haven't had a problem with it since.