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Transition to big bed. Word of wisdom?

gburghappyheartgburghappyheart member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
So with a new baby due in December we are about to move my son (22 months) into a big bed.  Any suggestions/words of wisdom?  He does so good going to bed now I am afraid to ruin it!
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Re: Transition to big bed. Word of wisdom?

  • PALGalPALGal member
    edited September 2013

    My son is in the crib with the rail off and has been since 16 months. What we did for him was:

    1) Make the change in early morning and let him get in and out of and play on his new bed so he knows it is a good thing, not a punishment.

     2) If you are going straight from crib to bed, I have heard to put the bed where the crib is. Since my son is still technically in the crib, we will put his "big boy bed" on the opposite wall and give him the option to sleep in the crib or bed. He loves our bed so much, it think he will like his bed (getting it next week)

    3) When he gets out of bed, which he will at first, be firm in putting him back and saying "Night night, i love you, bed time, etc." Keep putting him back in bed until he goes to sleep.

    4) Get a door lock or baby gate so he cannot leave his room in the night. I woke at 4am to my son jumping on the couch...

    5) We also screwed the dresser and bookshelf to the wall.

    6) I have hear that you should remove toys from the room but my son has never got out of bed in the night to play. He has gotten out of bed and went back to sleep in the recliner in his room.

    7) Keep up a bed time routine so he knows it's bed time. Story, bath, songs, whatever you do so that it is obvious to him it is time to sleep.

     

    GOOD LUCK!!!

     
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  • jld49jld49 member
    edited September 2013
    Great advice above. We transitioned our 22 month old son this past month bc he climbed out of his crib. Other than what's already been said, patience. It was a rough week or so, but later in the second week he got used to it-- and now, climbs in himself, willfully. It gives them, great power and great pride that they can do this themself. It was emotional as his mom to know he's already there :).
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  • allardrallardr member
    edited September 2013
    I agree with all the above, maybe one pass a night to get out of bed for drink, extra kiss etc. Gives them a little power to get up, but only once.

    Has anyone tried the more laid back approach of if LO gets out leave them (having done the above safety precautions so room is solidly toddler proof) and let them fall asleep wherever. They'll learn the bed is more comfy. The only "toys" in her room are stuffed animals and books.

    We will also transition around 20/22months before 2nd baby but this is what I'm thinking of doing, wondering if anyone has tried this...
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  • KaeldrasmommyKaeldrasmommy member
    allardr said:
    I agree with all the above, maybe one pass a night to get out of bed for drink, extra kiss etc. Gives them a little power to get up, but only once.

    Has anyone tried the more laid back approach of if LO gets out leave them (having done the above safety precautions so room is solidly toddler proof) and let them fall asleep wherever. They'll learn the bed is more comfy. The only "toys" in her room are stuffed animals and books.

    We will also transition around 20/22months before 2nd baby but this is what I'm thinking of doing, wondering if anyone has tried this...


    This is pretty much what we did. I found that our LO wouldn't leave her diaper on and was hoping that maybe if she could get up to go potty it would help. It hasn't gotten her potty trained any faster, but she's better about the diaper.

    It's gone pretty well doing it that way, she only has a rocking chair and a trunk and her bed with a drawer of stuffed animals under it. Occasionally she'll pull out a stuffed animal or two before she goes to sleep and sometimes she stays up for a while walking around and jabbering, but she always goes to sleep in her bed at night. Sometimes she sleeps on the floor in front of the door at naptime, so you have to peek and make sure before you open it. She cries sometimes, but not much more than before.

    Also, I've discovered that as kids get older you are even less able to force them to sleep unless they want to, and having a quiet bedroom time rather than a bedtime is more effective as time goes by, so letting her stay up until she is tired enough to sleep helps me to be used to the idea a bit more so that bedtime won't be a constant battle.

    Oops, wow, what a novel! Sorry!

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