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Post by laurasnowbird on Oct 16, 2005 9:36:13 GMT -5
Hey, I know many of you have been through this, and at a much younger age. Ethan will be four in December, and is still sleeping in his crib. He has never climbed out, which has been FINE with us, LOL!
However, he is getting very adventurous lately, and we know it is coming. His bedroom is currently directly across the hall from us, but will be considerably further away when the addition on our house is completed. We are adding a master bedroom, and it will be completed around Thanksgiving.
Sooo, here are my thoughts, keep in mind that I'm not getting much sleep lately, LOL! I mentioned to Rod yesterday that it might be a good idea to make this switch while he's still across the hall from us so we can get an idea how he is going to handle it. I figure we are going to have a couple of sleepless months with the baby anyway (and my due date is next Sunday) so maybe we should tackle this now. Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are, and what kind of problems others encountered when they made this switch. Thanks in advance for your help! Laura
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Post by Staci on Oct 16, 2005 9:45:28 GMT -5
Aidan has done relatively well in his big boy bed. We made the switch when he was nearly 2. I had been given a bunk bed from my nephew and it had rails for the top bunk...DH put the part of the bunk that should be on top on the bottom...since no one would be sleeping on the top...and he learned with rails on his bed. I put a pillow between the rail and the bed, though, because there was a pretty big gap between the mattress and rail. He did great in his bed, but he does like to wonder around the house...I put up a gate at night time so he doesn't go anywhere but his room (and dh has attatched all of his furniture to the wall). He doesn't climb over the gate ever, though he knows how to. He just knows he has to stay in his room lol. I bought him a different bed, a captain's bed, and it's very high off of the ground! He has to have a step to get up and down. I was afraid he'd fall off the new bed, but those years of having the rail on the other bed made him learn where his mattress is and he has never fallen out of bed...with no rails! He does get down to play before bed and in the middle of the night sometimes. But...he always puts himself back in his bed and goes to sleep. I never wake anymore when he's in his room playing at 3 am...unless hes playing with a REALLY noisy toy! LOL I think it's good that he's learned to put himself back to bed and go to sleep, though. If it weren't for that gate...I know he'd be all over the house. I don't know WHAT we'll do when he decides to climb over that gate! EAK!  But anyway...that has been our experience. |
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Post by Valerie on Oct 16, 2005 10:42:02 GMT -5
Nicholas just moved into a toddler bed a couple monthes ago because he started climbing out of his crib. I was mostly worried about him falling out of it because he is such a restless sleeper. But, so far he hasn't fallen out at all! In fact, he doesn't seem as restless as he did in the crib.
We close the door when he's in there so he can't roam the house. He can't quite reach the door knob, yet.
As for him, he seems to really like it. He'll even climb in there with a book or some toys and play during the day.
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Post by dannysmom on Oct 16, 2005 11:04:55 GMT -5
My daughter has been in a toddler bed since she was a little over 2. We live in a raised ranch and there is a foyer with a significant drop if she was to climb over the railing. She also was climbing out of her crib at 14 months so we had to put the crib tent on. By 2 we figured she would understand the concept of a bed...she did great with the transition.
We keep her safe by having a monitor in her room. What I also did was put a safety knob on her door and closed it. I did this from the first night, so she just got used to it. She is now 3 and it is still there.
I was apprehensive at first to do this, but after speaking with my Ped and all of my friends.....safety is most important. She isn't locked in her room, she is just safe in her room. I make sure before bed she uses the bathroom...and if she has to go, she knows just to call. I could never let her get up and go to the bathroom alone at her age anyway. So to me, what is the need to have that door open and accessible to the rest of the house...she can only get hurt.
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Post by momofrussell on Oct 16, 2005 12:16:44 GMT -5
Well Now.. funny you should bring this up Laurapregnantbird!  We ALL know Russell is 7 and STILL in his crib.. I am TOTALLY fine with the situation. BUT.. Kevin brought up last night how he thinks we REALLY should turn his crib into the toddler bed conversion.  Kevin feels it's time, Russell knows what "night night" and "go to bed" mean and when he comes into our bed and we get up, he will go to our spot and climb in and pull the covers on himself. LOL. Also, he will climb INTO his bed to play but not when he isn't feeling good or tired. He will, go lay on Reece's bed or on the couch.. so Kevin feels it's time. I on the other hand don't know, he sleeps SO poorly, he really does.. so it's more for safety reasons we do this. But we just started Melatonin and well, I am willing to try it if Kevin feels it's time. Good luck.. let me know how it goes for you.. and I will let you know on our end! Russell's room is by ours, right next to it and we already use a gate in the hallway so... we are set for the change. ARE YOU!? heehee A. |
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Post by Pat on Oct 16, 2005 14:59:43 GMT -5
As John-John is the baby, ha ha, I didn't have to pull him out till he climbed at 4 yrs. I thought about buying a bed railing with my first one, but a friend said they used to use pillows on the floor near the bed when she was a kid. I thought what a great idea. I have a couple of BIG, & I mean BIG, stuffed animals, a bear & an elephant. I have thrown one of these on the floor near the bed. I have found them asleep on the bear. A kodak moment Are you afraid of him wandering? Pat |
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Post by Jessie on Oct 16, 2005 15:25:46 GMT -5
K, I have nothing to offer here on this subject, but I just had to comment on A.'s post. Do you know why Russell sleeps poorly? Does he sleep better when he is in bed with you and Kevin? Maybe he is ready for a big-boy bed and would sleep a little better?
Whatever either one of you decide . . . good luck . . . I can imagine you will have a few nights of "sleeping" with one eye open to make sure your boys aren't wandering around!
Jessie
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Post by laurasnowbird on Oct 16, 2005 16:23:45 GMT -5
Pat,
We did the same thing with Victoria when it was time for her to switch to a big bed, pillows on the floor. It worked really well! And yes, based on what I've read here, I think we have reason to be concerned that he might be a wanderer, simply because so many of our kids are! That is actually why we were thinking of doing it now rather than waiting, because we are close to him right now.
One of my girlfriends just mentioned that we might not want to make a big change like this just before the baby gets here. We are not kicking him out of his bed, we have a second crib for the new baby. His bed does convert to a daybed and a full sized bed, so converting it to a daybed seems like a good in-between step. What do you guys think?
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Post by Chester on Oct 16, 2005 20:03:07 GMT -5
Does Ethan still nap? We started "napping" on a toddler mattress on the floor. JT has done really well with that. He still sleeps much better in his crib though, I think it is his "safe place". So he still sleeps in his crib at night, we still have our same night time routine and he's out like a light. Nap time takes A LOT of my attention and time. I'm thinking JT just isn't ready to be done with his crib yet.
Good luck, let us know what you decide. Sleep is pretty precious!
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Post by Valerie on Oct 16, 2005 20:08:28 GMT -5
A, I just wanted to say that Jessie might be onto something. Like I said, Nicholas really seems to sleep better in the toddler bed than he did the crib. I have no idea why, but he does. He's not as restless, and he had been waking up a lot a night before we switched him. Now he just snoozes until morning! ;D
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Post by hannahph on Oct 16, 2005 21:18:35 GMT -5
We handled the wandering at night issue by simply putting a baby gate across the doorway to their rooms and then really childproofing their rooms well. we started with a toddler bed with a bed rail and eventually moved them to a twin bed.Hannah actually still has a bed rail because she is a thrasher at night(even with having tonsils and adnoids out for sleep apnea)Both of my kids did really well with this change even though I was worried.
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Post by donnita on Oct 16, 2005 22:03:11 GMT -5
I think it would bea good idea to do it now, while you are still close by at night to hear him. Cassie sleeps in the bottom bunk with rails and frequently gets up at night to play. I have a baby gate across their door so she has to stay in their room. If a baby gate wouldn't keep Ethan in, you could try one of those dutch doors where you can open just the top half.
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Post by momofrussell on Oct 17, 2005 10:05:23 GMT -5
Well, I have never allowed Russell to sleep with us the WHOLE night... but.. when he does dooze off in our bed, he still sleeps pourly. Russell needs to be "weighted down" to relax and sleep well though. Alot of kids w/Autism don't sleep well, heck some kids w/DS don't sleep well. But, I just equate it to the Autism. But.. in a round about way the toddler bed might be better... because Kevin thinks that we could "Mummy-fie" him LOL.. in the toddler bed and he won't be able to sit up to turn over and the weighted-ness MAY keep him relaxed and sleep longer. Again, I am not as convinced as Kevin that Russell is ready. And to be perfectly honest, 90% of the time, Russell lack of sleep and sleep habits in general DON'T bother me at all! I have gotten use to it for years and chocked it up to who Russell is. We have talked to the docs before about it (Kevin's concerns at times) and read online about things and have learned alot here.. but I don't ever worry or wonder WHY actually.. I just accept that this is who he is. Heck.. there are numerous reasons he could be waking up... a half of which have no medical meaning or concern.... so I just don't know. I am more concerned on how his lack of sleep would affect his learning at the moment. I am sure me getting use to it and accepting his sleep patterns is probably better for me and my sanity... because I don't let it bother me.. but on the other hand... I could be too accepting and maybe not understanding it could be something else. Oh.. and Jessie.. Russell has wandered since he was about 4 and has stayed pretty consistant.. hence the baby gate and totally "russell proof" room for him.. We adapted to that a long time ago! A. |
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Post by Staci on Oct 17, 2005 10:20:56 GMT -5
A, both of my kids sleep better in their big kid beds. You may be surprised ! And...like you said...you can mummyfie Russell. Parker loves to be mummified! LOL Parker was a HORRIBLE sleeper when in a crib, I don't know why...but she woke up several times a night! AUGH! Now, since being in the big kid bed, she sleeps alllll night...and it's WONDERFUL! I was sleep deprived before then! LOL Good luck, ya'll, with the transition!
Staci
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Post by momofrussell on Oct 17, 2005 10:45:49 GMT -5
I know, it may be what he needs... who the heck knows! I wish my darn boy would just tell me! heehee....
Kevin wants to do this tonight.. and we are supplied with Melatonin now.. so it may work! heehee..
A.
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But anyway...that has been our experience. 
We ALL know Russell is 7 and STILL in his crib.. I am TOTALLY fine with the situation. BUT.. Kevin brought up last night how he thinks we REALLY should turn his crib into the toddler bed conversion. 
Kevin feels it's time, Russell knows what "night night" and "go to bed" mean and when he comes into our bed and we get up, he will go to our spot and climb in and pull the covers on himself. LOL. Also, he will climb INTO his bed to play but not when he isn't feeling good or tired. He will, go lay on Reece's bed or on the couch.. so Kevin feels it's time. 
