Transition to big kid bed?

[Kristip]

OK i am curious who has made a transition to a big kid bed? We are getting to that point and have the toddler beds that I got for a steral waiting for us ( of course I went out and found really cute, not as cheap toddler bedding then)
We need to make the transition because M is climbing out of the bed so often and D. waits adn screams for me, but as I start coming, he starts jumping. What happens when I have to run to the restroom first or something- he might try jumping and he is just not as graceful as M.

Any tips that worked in your transition?

[Paula_in_DE]

It was a non-event for us. Dh converted our crib to the toddler bed right before Christmas. She climbed in and went to sleep. I was sad, but that was it.

[TrickiWoo]

We're considering doing it when the kids have recovered fully. Maybe in a few weeks. We want to get them used to a 'regular' bed before our trip to NY in May because it will make the sleeping arrangements so much less complicated. DD slept in the regular hospital bed with the rails when she was in last week and she did fine, so I'm optimistic for her. DS is another story

[Minnie2]

We talked about it in advance. That really helped. But each kid will be different. Emma took right to it, no problem, Meg did good the first week then had some resistance. Most mornings I find her sleeping on the side of my bed after coming in at 3 or 4 in the morning. She just drags her pillow and blanket down the hall and cuddles on the floor.


Mommy 2 ~
JT
Emma
Megan

[AlisonWI]

I'm not planning to switch for several more months at a minimum! We're moving cross country in the summer, and I can't see buying a new bed for Nadia before we do. And hey, I better yank that pacifier while she's still in a crib, right?

I recall that the initial transition with my son was a breeze. However, over time it got hard since he realized he could climb out of bed whenever he wanted. It made nap time really difficult!

[fluffybunny]

Not going good here. Once he started jumping out of his crib I decided to do the big boy bed since I was already losing sleep. Plus he's getting to a point where the space in the crib is snug. We have tried a few times and he does not want the big boy bead. He is too attached to his crib. We've put his animals, his blankies, a couple of toys in the big boy bed and he gets excited at the beginning but then 5 minutes later he's over it. He has NEVER slept in a bed. He has never wanted to sleep in one. Part of me thinks he just isn't ready but at the same time, what happens when a new baby comes along? I don't want to start trying then. And I don't want him to feel displaced by a baby.

I have no idea how to make him like his bed so if anyone has any good ideas I'll take them.

[sheandg]

It was a breeze for us too and still is. She loves her bed and goes to sleep without saying boo. Just a couple times at nap she was gotten out and knocked on the door and I just said no back to bed and that was that. We went right to a twin bed with the rails on the side and she doesn't fall out. In the mornings she gets out at the bottom knocks on the door and comes in my bed to chill every morning


Good luck hope it goes as smooth for you guys

[frdzgrl]

The first few days for us were a breeze. I can't say the same now. Each day is different. Nap might be rough but bedtime is a breeze or vice versa. Oddly though, Mackenzie will occasionally tell us she needs to go to her big girl bed or something and she will go!

[MonkeyMom]

HA! My son is still sleeping in his Pack and Play NEXT to his big boy bed. I'm glad we spent the money to buy him a beautiful big boy bedroom set from Pottery Barn Kids so that my cats have a comfortable full size bed to sleep in!!

[scorpio chick]

Kristi-
There was a thread about this on the Parenting Multis board. It's different with multis who share a room. Everyone I talk to says keep them in their cribs as long as possible. Use crib tents if you have to. (Won't work for our sleigh-style cribs.) Right now Alex is in a toddler bed and Chelsea is still in a crib. Seems like I'm the only multi mom who's done this (or at least publicly admitted it) and I am probably scarring my daughter for life. But it works for us. For now. If they had separate rooms, they would both be in a toddler bed, I'm sure.

Here's what we did:
-Took everything out of their room that they could mess with
-Bolted the dressers to the wall (learned the reason for this the hard way)
-Put some kind of drawer latches on the dresser drawers (to keep the clothes in)
-Put a lock on their closet door
-Put a childproof knob cover on their inside door knob
Some people gate the entrance to the room.

Good luck! I hope it goes better for you than it has for us. If you discover any brilliant tips, let me know.