My son will be 2.5 by the time I deliver my daughter. He is still in his crib and seems to be content. He climbed out once in February and that's it so far. We have a bassinet for her to use until she's too big for it and I had planned on buying a second crib, since our son is still in his. Now I am second guessing myself. Our son's crib turns into a toddler bed, then a headboard and footboard for a full. We have a full size bed ready for him when he is ready. He is a good sleeper at nap time and bed time, so I would hate to rock the boat with switching beds, especially with about 5 weeks to go. From what I gather, most people move their older child to a big bed because they need the crib for the next child, but I'd rather spend the $ on a new crib so my son continues to sleep well. Hopefully then he will continue his naps too after the baby is born....?? He can fall asleep in a big bed at night with me laying beside him, but I've always moved him to his crib, because we don't have safety rails on the sides.
Thoughts?
Re: Buy second crib, or have 2.5 year old move to big bed?
She will also be in a small "arms reach" style crib next to our bed for the first several months, but we wanted him to get a big boy bed early so there would be no (or less) resentment towards his sister. His sleep hasn't really changed since moving him to his new bed. In fact, he is finally sleeping through the night...just in time for a newborn to be waking me up at night. Again. Safety rails really have not been an issue for us as his bed is only a foot or so above the ground. Personally, I see no reason to have kept him in a crib, but I understand the reluctance to have a major change the closer you get to delivery.
We had already converted the crib to a toddler bed about a year before though. That transition was tough for about 2 nights and then he was fine.
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After we read books at night, he has taken his blanket and walked in to the other room with the full bed. If I lay with him, he falls asleep and then I transfer him to his crib. (Laying with him takes about an hour) If I leave before he falls asleep, he comes and finds me. I would love to lay with him every night, but this is unrealistic with a new baby on the way. We have a basinett for the baby, but it makes me feel uneasy not having her nursery set up by with a crib. I'm a stay at home Mom, so I am not willing to give up naptime.... especially be with a new baby on the way.