WWYD? Re: transition from crib to bed

MrsT0514

So I'm back and forth between 2 options re: transitioning DS to a big boy bed. We atent doing the toddler bed or twin bed, since we have a perfectly good condition and very comfy queen bed/box spring wrapped and stored in our garage. We plan to just do that with a bed rail.

My question do we do it now before the baby comes? Or do we wait? DS is only 21mo, and he'll just be turning 2 when the baby is born. He sleeps like a champ in his crib, so I'm dreading moving him. We plan to have the baby sleep in a bassinet in our room for the first few months anyway, but our original intent was to get DS transitioned and settled before rhe baby comes so we dont have to worry about 2 crappy sleepers at once, instead of just one (presumably the baby).

Wwyd? Bite the bullet and move him now? Or hold off since the baby wont need the crib right away and just move him later?

olp920

Move him now. My son did way better than expected - it's worth a try

nunzchucks

Move now. You want this transition done before the baby comes. going from only child to sibling is a hard enough transition without losing your bed, too. Good luck!

angelashly

Move now. It went surprisingly well for us. Plus if you wait for the baby that is a lot of change at one time and it may backfire

dovetail223

My mom was just telling me the other day they moved me into a big bed before I was even 2 because my brother was born. This was back in the day so there wasn't even a rail. She said the first couple nights they just waited by the door and put me back everytime I got up. After 3 nights I was fine. I say make the move now! One less thing to worry about when the baby is born.

MrsT0514

That's what we were thinking too. I'm just really hoping he takes well to his big boy bed! I love my rock star sleeper!

Lol not sure why autocorrect changed big boy bed to birthday boy bed.

tbmadeamistake

Same as PPs, do it now. We were in the same position and she did awesome. I think I started with a map first, so if she had a hard time I'd have a heads up for bedtime. No issues, and doesn't get out of bed in the morning until we come get her.

carrotcake06

I'll be the dissenter - my vote is to change later.

The twins were born when my oldest was 3y2m. We had taken the front off his crib (to make a toddler bed) when I got too big to lift him in and it went really well. He didn't seem to realize he could get out for a while.

We had bought an additional crib and set that up thinking the twins would share for the immediate short term. They ended up sleeping in RNPs, same difference.

About the time we wanted to move the babies into separate cribs, we got him a bed and frame low enough to the ground that we didn't need a bed rail. We also had to switch his room bc at the house we lived in at that time, two cribs could only fit in the room he was in.

At the end of the day, I'm a big fan of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". If he sleeps well in the crib, I'd wait to move him until needed.

Bythebeach09

I say wait. I found that being able to put DS in his crib while I bathed and dressed the newborn was extremely helpful, rather than have him running about. Plus, he didn't climb out so it made mornings easier, nighttime feedings with the newborn easier (I knew he couldn't come running in if he woke up) and I didn't have to worry about him once he was in there.

I actually didn't transition him to a bed until he was just over 3. He was content, slept fine so I saw no reason to change that, especially with an infant, until he was just too big for the crib.

MrsT0514

rvasc said:

Also maybe at his age you could do just the mattress on the floor at first? Then add box spring? Then frame? Once you know he is not falling off. Might be an easier transition.

This is what we're thinking. Just the mattress and boxspring for now with a bed rail. Then we can add thw frame later once he's hopefully settled and not dive bombing off of the bed.

MrsT0514

ChickenOnSunday said:

We are battling this same question. W is 2 and will be 27 months when her little sister arrives. I was thinking about trying a weekend nap first in her new bed first over putting her down at night. 

Thats a good idea. The real task for us is getting his new room (previously our guest room, them it became a messy clusterfuck of storage in between!) painted and organized so we can get the bed set up! Ugh. Last minute as always here, haha.

Hopefully he'll surprise us and do really well, but I'm undoubtedly nervous about the transition. For one, my child seems to think adult size beds are good for nothing but jumping/playing on right now...so I'm hoping he quickly gets the memo that its for sleeping!

MrsT0514

@ChickenOnSunday‌ I know you said you don't want to buy another, but if you want to keep the existing one in the nursey for when the baby comes, maybe check with kids' consignment stores in your area? You may find one at a great price.

Our only rocker is in our living room bc the bedrooms in our too small house are tiny. When DS was getting bottles it worked out alright. We just had to sit in the living room to feed him (which we did most of the time anyway).

klondikebar

I'd switch now and get it out of the way. He'll have enough time to adjust to the new sleeping arrangement. My kids all went to a regular size bed before 2 years old. They actually slept better once they had more room to move around IMO. Who wants to flip over and hit feet and arms on wood slats in the middle of the night, kwim? We did the mattress and box springs on the floor with a retractable bed rail for the boys. I don't think DD even had a bed rail just some body pillows on the floor. We'll all have tips for you if he doesn't want to stay in bed. We're here for you. lol GL

MrsT0514

@klondikebar‌ LOL that's my biggest fear! That he wont stay in bed! He's such an awesome sleeper now that I really dont want to mess that up!