XP on 12-24 mnths : When To Transition to Toddler Bed?

beautiflaw

I already posted this on a different board but I'd like specifically AP advice on this mostly. 

DD is almost 17 months old, and she is still falling asleep on the bottle or cup and needing to be rocked to sleep. We try putting her in the crib when she is sleepy and then patting her and singing to her and everything else, but she hates her crib and knows that once she falls asleep we leave her room. So she fights sleep and has tantrums.

Thing is, at her daycare for naps she sleeps on a cot with a blanket and a stuffed animal, and all they have to do is tell her "Its naptime" and she gets on the cot and lays there quietly until she falls asleep. They told me that at first she didn't want to and they just talked to her and sang to her and patted her back, and now they don't have to do that anymore. She just knows what to do. I have no doubt in my mind that she is capable of this at home, but for whatever reason she won't do it with us! 

We've tried giving her a blanket or a stuffed animal, but she ends up getting all riled up and then she REALLY doesn't want to go to sleep. She likes to wrap up the stuffed animal in the blanket and pat its back and tell it "night night". Which is adorable, but she's not sleeping!

I even bought the little glow in the dark seahorse that plays music. My mom told me I had the glow worm one when I was her age and that helped me go to sleep. DD hates the thing and throws it out of her crib. 

So I am starting to think that if we change her bedtime routine to where she herself climbs into bed (like at daycare) she will feel like she's in control of the process and maybe there will be less fighting and tantrums?

BriDaily

Oh gosh. I am going to be transitioning DS (almost 18 months) to a toddler bed from co-sleeping. He still nurses to sleep a little. I am not quite sure what to expect, but with only 7 weeks left until #2 is here, I need him in his own bed! The organic wool mattress we ordered for DS is going to be here soon! 

It is quite possible your LO just wants to feel like a big girl, instead of relying on you to put her to bed. 

 

Qmommy

I transitioned DD1 to a twin at 16 months and will do the same with DD2.  DD1 had no problems with the transition.  I suggest a twin that is low to the ground so she can safely climb in and out.  

holly321

Dd used to be hard to get to sleep, but at 18 months she wouldn't stop climbing out of the crib, so we bought her a toddler bed, and she loves it and goes right to sleep.