Crib to bed? Questions!

jjamas

DS is 2 1/2 and still happily sleeping in his crib.  We have a new baby on the way, due in May- 1 month before DS's 3rd bday.  I've asked the pedi about the switch to a big bed and he said not to rush it.  I'm not too worried since the baby will probably be in a bassinet or something for a few months.  And I don't want to buy a new crib when DS is almost finished with his.  So my question is- do I transition him now anyway or wait until the baby is here for a few months?  Also, what is the easiest way to do it- toddler bed?  Mattress on the floor with crib still in the room? 

 Also, DS has been having issues going to bed at night lately.  He is having some kind of separation anxiety or something and stalls going to bed.  I'm scared that these issues could get worse if we switched to a big bed, since then he will be able to just crawl out of bed instead of crying that he wants out.  I am so confused about what to do.  Anyone have experiences to share?

hikerbeth

I agree with not rushing.  We moved my DD right to a twin bed (with a rail) at 28 months because SHE told us she wanted to sleep in a big bed.

However, leading up to her actually telling us she wanted a big bed, she had some sleep issues. . . she is a VERY good sleeper and has been her whole life, so it was strange for her to be protesting bedtime. . . she finally told us she wanted the big bed and everything was fine.

Is your DS verbal enough to talk about it?

ilovemygirls

Are you also going to be moving him to a new room when the new baby comes?  My DD was 2.5 when her sister was born and since she was going to move rooms, I wanted to do that before baby came so that it didn't seem like she was ousted by the new arrival.  We moved her into a double bed w/a rail in her new special 'big girl' room and she loved it from the start.  She felt very special getting a whole new room (painted pink, which she chose) so the transition was seamless for us. 

jjamas

DS is staying in his room when the baby comes.  He talks about not liking his crib some days, but other days he can't wait to get in it.  He's very verbal, but I don't know if he understands what it would be like to sleep in a big bed.  He has never wanted to sleep in our bed (good thing, I think) so I'm scared he won't want to sleep in his own big bed. 

hikerbeth

Any chance you could take the crib rail off?  We took the rail down for a week to make sure it wasn't a fluke (that she wanted to be out of the crib).  We didn't have room for both beds in her room, so it was the best compromise.  If it's obviously not the right time, then you can put the rail back on.

Sulla

I would go ahead and set it up, if possible, and talk it up a lot to make it a cool, big boy thing.

 We let Ethan kind of try it out a bit at first, just climbing in it and playing and stuff. I think he napped in it for a few days before wanting to try it at night. 

I'm sure it's not really a huge deal either way, but personally, I'd have him totally in the bed and done with the crib before the baby comes. Then it's less of an issue that the baby is literally taking his crib away from him.  You have a few months, so I think you're fine. I think we transitioned only a month before #2 was born.

Good luck!

Bellisimo

We converted DS's crib to a full sized bed last week.  He's 28 mo. old and had been showing an interest in sleeping in a real bed (ours!).  We moved him to a bigger room upstairs so we could use his nursery as the baby's nursery.  Luckily, the transition went very well.  He LOVES his bed.  We just went straight for the full size bed with bedrails rather than the toddler bed/day bed.  His crib converted to be a little higher than we wanted, so I had MH drill holes lower than the ones already provided so we could lower it about 4-6".  I like that it's a full sized bed so that I can lie down with him and read books before he falls asleep.