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Two Under 2
toddler bed v. crib dilemma for #1
Okay, so Baby Girl #2 is coming in three weeks. Hannah will be 23 months old then. For the first 2-3 months, Baby Girl #2 will be sleeping in a cradle in our room. Then she will move into Hannah's room with her. At that point Hannah will be 24-25 months old.
Right now, Hannah loves her crib. She goes down for naps and at nighttime with literally no work on my part at all. I literally put her in there with her teddy bear and a book and she lays down and "reads" for about 15 minutes or so then goes to sleep. When she wakes up, she 'reads" again and talks to her teddy bear for about 20 minutes. She doesn't try to climb out of her crib. When she is ready for me, she calls me, and I go in and get her. At that point she tries to "help" me take her out by lifting her leg up to the crib rail. So even though she doesn't try to climb out, I am pretty sure that If she were in a toddler bed, she would quickly become aware of the fact that she could get in and out on her own.
So here is my dliemma.
I hate to invest in another crib when Hannah will likely be in a toddler bed somewhat soon.
I don't expect Hannah to be "ready" for a toddler bed before Baby Girl is going to be "ready" for a crib.
I hate to mess up how great everything is right now. Bringing a new baby into the mix is enough of a change!
I don't want Hannah's transition to be "because" of the new baby needing her crib. I want her to go into a toddler bed when she is ready, and for no other reason.
I worry about Hannah's reaction to seeing Baby Girl in her crib immediately after she gave it up. It would be a different story if she was moving into a toddler bed, then several months later the baby was in her crib. I am especially concerned about it because they'll be sharing a room, so it will be very obvious to her.
Sorry this is so long, but I am really at a loss here. Hopefully you guys can help me out!
TIA!
Right now, Hannah loves her crib. She goes down for naps and at nighttime with literally no work on my part at all. I literally put her in there with her teddy bear and a book and she lays down and "reads" for about 15 minutes or so then goes to sleep. When she wakes up, she 'reads" again and talks to her teddy bear for about 20 minutes. She doesn't try to climb out of her crib. When she is ready for me, she calls me, and I go in and get her. At that point she tries to "help" me take her out by lifting her leg up to the crib rail. So even though she doesn't try to climb out, I am pretty sure that If she were in a toddler bed, she would quickly become aware of the fact that she could get in and out on her own.
So here is my dliemma.
I hate to invest in another crib when Hannah will likely be in a toddler bed somewhat soon.
I don't expect Hannah to be "ready" for a toddler bed before Baby Girl is going to be "ready" for a crib.
I hate to mess up how great everything is right now. Bringing a new baby into the mix is enough of a change!
I don't want Hannah's transition to be "because" of the new baby needing her crib. I want her to go into a toddler bed when she is ready, and for no other reason.
I worry about Hannah's reaction to seeing Baby Girl in her crib immediately after she gave it up. It would be a different story if she was moving into a toddler bed, then several months later the baby was in her crib. I am especially concerned about it because they'll be sharing a room, so it will be very obvious to her.
Sorry this is so long, but I am really at a loss here. Hopefully you guys can help me out!
TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: toddler bed v. crib dilemma for #1
We moved #1 into a toddler bed and I regret it. I wish I had bought a second crib. DS gets out of bed all the time now. This is the crib we have:
https://www.target.com/Graco-Lauren-Dropside-Convertible-Crib/dp/B000VX9HJ6/qid=1246432171/ref=br_1_7/179-7760421-7269041?ie=UTF8&node=371871011&frombrowse=1&index=tgt-mf-mv&rank=price&rh=&page=1
It has gotten great reviews and is only $160. Most toddler beds are over $100. It is also convertible, so you can convert it to a toddler bed when you need too.
It does work to use a toddler bed, but this is what I would do if I could do it over.
Baby # 2 edd 11/26/08 - Ezra Jacob born 11/29/08, 9 lbs 6 oz., 21 3/4 in
Baby #3 edd 05/04/13 - Titus Jude born 05/01/13, 9 lb 5 oz. 21.5 in
buy a second crib. I kept my DD in there until just this past weekend. The last thing you want is a mobile toddler with a baby, and being that close to 2 she WILL probably not like baby sister taking 'her' crib so soon after she gave it up.
ETA: we also have the graco lauren crib for DS. It's been great.
Another "keep the crib" vote.
It's soooo much easier when you know exactly where your toddler is and that they're safe.
Go cheap.
We looked on craigslist and would have bought one off there if we could have found the right wood. ?We ended up getting one for a little over $200 at BRU.
The second #2 moved to the toddler bed we sold the older crib on craigslist for $100.
You can do this cheap if $$ is a concern!?
Total score: 6 pregnancies, 5 losses, 2 amazing blessings that I'm thankful for every single day.
We are keeping our firstborn in his crib. Like your Hannah, Robbie is a great sleeper and I don't want to mess with that. Our little guy has been sleeping very comfortably in a packnplay since he was born.
They will soon be sharing a room and I will follow my gut when to switch my big guy to a bed and my little guy to the crib.
At this age, I'd talk up the "big girl bed" and how she's going to be a "big sister" and then move her into a twin bed with rails. Toddlers beds are a waste of money, IMO, and at 2 years old, your DD will most likely do just fine in a regular bed.
FWIW, I was terrified to move my son when he was 18 months. I seriously sat in front of the video monitor like a crazy woman watching his every move and wondering if he felt abandoned or rushed or displaced or lonely. When he woke up the next morning crying, I ran into the room like I was rescuing him. It was stupid. I was projecting all of my hang-ups and mommy guilt on to him and I was making HIM crazy instead. With every night, he got better. I came to my senses and stopped reacting like I was rescuing him from fate worse than death and instead walked into the room with a big smile on my face and lots of encouraging words about what a BIG boy he is, and how proud I was of him. The transition took a week. At the end of the week, he was back to sleeping like a champ and he couldn't care less that the baby was sleeping in "his" crib.
Give the bed a try. You can always put her back into the crib if she freaks out. It's not like anything you try is going to be permanent -- and I can absolutely assure you that when your DD is 3-4yo, she will not be scarred by the transition she experienced when she was 2. My son has no recollection of being in the crib. I showed him pictures of him in the crib when he was a baby and he asked me, "Why am I in sister's baby bed?"
Kids adapt. Give her a chance and be encouraging. I'll bet she'll surprise the heck out of you!
Mine are 25 months apart. ?We bought another crib. ?DD stayed in her crib until she was 3 and we converted it to a toddler bed. ? She is almost 4 and still in the toddler bed (once crib) and we have problems with her staying in it : ( ?Now I am pregnant with a 3rd and DS will stay in his crib, baby will get DDs crib and DD will get a big bed. ??
Does yours convert? ?Will you eventually have a third? ?Some things to consider.... GL!