So I bit the bullet and converted my daughters crib to a toddler bed this weekend while she was at her Meme's, we talked about it and she said she wanted a big girl bed, she's getting good at potty training so now she'll be able to get up and get to the potty quicker etc.. So tonight is the first night (she sleeps in a double bed at Meme's with no issues) do I stick with our normal routine?? I normally just do the kisses and put her in bed, shut the door and it's done. WIth the crib even if she didn't fall right asleep she's always been amazing at just laying down and closing her eyes.. Will she be tempted to get up now that she has the freedom? Do I wait until she's REALLY tired (so no more 8:00 bed time? sad face) I taped the door so that when her door shuts, the spring thing doesn't click into the hole, it just shuts so that she can open it if she wakes up. She has a nightlight and we have some throughout the house so if she wakes up she'll be able to see... I'm probably freaking out over nothing, I thought this would be so easy! She's gone in her room and laid down a couple of times but that was quite a bit before bedtime... I'm scared she'll be scared (stupid) and it doesn't help that husband is working (he stays on base) so it's just me. We had to switch now because there's a 99% change I'm having carpal tunnel surgery redone on my hand (yay!) and getting her in and out of bed will be impossible. With the baby I can manage with one hand because the mattress is so high... Do I take this time to create a new bedtime routine? LIke a story at her bed? Part of her old routine is that she turns out her light then she gets in bed... What do you think, stick with the familiar routine or make a new one? Or just add something to the old one? Any advice out there?! TIA I'm freaking out!
I say try to keep the exact same bedtime routine and see if that helps
the transition go smoothly.
You can always add new sheets, toys, lamps (incentives) later if you need
them.
good luck!
Just keep the same routine and stop freaking out mama! Lol. She'll be fine. Eventually, all kids have to move into a big kid bed. She might get up, but just guide her back to her bed and tell her it's time to go to sleep now. If she does this, it will likely only be a few days if you are consistent with your routine.
Stick to normal routine. Do not change a thing.
I just put DD to bed the way we normally did. If she's potty trained, then have her try to potty before tuck in, but I think she'll adjust. The novelty of getting out wore off pretty quickly and it wasn't like she was always IN her crib, either. (We changed ours because she'd climb out....)
I know she's in bed already but just wanted to say, keep her routine and bedtime the same. I'm guessing if she's old enough to be potty training she could have gotten out of the crib if she'd cared to, just act as if this is the most normal thing in the world and it will be ; )
I hope you kept the same routine. By changing the routine she would have to get used to two changes. By keeping the same routine she has just one change to adapt to.
I agree with Marda - one change at a time. Just do the normal bedtime routine. You don't want her doing anything differently, so you shouldn't do anything differently.
She probably will be tempted to get up and test out her new freedom. You'll just have to be consistent in putting her back to bed. It may take a couple of nights, but it won't be long and you'll be glad you did it.
Stick to the normal routine. Don't make bedtime later. Overtired = trouble sleeping for little kids.
You've done it all! I think she'll be great! Sweet dreams!
When we made the switch from crib to bed, we kept to our normal routine as much as possible. My son's room is small. When the crib was replaced with his much larger bed, we also had to take the big rocking chair out of the room. We had always done bedtime stories in the rocking chair. My son's bed is against the wall, so we got a couple of big pillows to lean against the wall and read stories together at bedtime. I put the cushions on the floor when we finished storytime to cushion a fall if he managed to wiggle out of bed where the bedrail wasn't. We used a bedrail on the side not facing the wall. We took that down when he was 3 1/2. It broke from him pushing on it when he got out of bed, and we decided not to replace it. We introduced the idea of getting a new bed to our son through a few picture books. We used the Sesame Street Elmo book titled Big Enough for a Bed, Your Own Big Bed by Rita M. Bergstein, and (later) My Own Big Bed by Anna Grossnickle Hines. My son hated the Elmo book because Elmos mother doesn't have a head in the pictures she is in. We soon stopped reading it. We liked the book by Rita M. Bergstein because it presents the idea of getting a big bed as a simple part of growing up. It uses animal babies along with a little boy going through stages of development. First the baby is born, the parents carry the baby, the baby learns to walk. All things happen as the child grows. It shows that each baby outgrows their original sleeping place, as does the child who gets a new bed. My son loved this book. We didn't use the last book until he told us he was afraid of something. The last book is great for helping the child overcome fears of sleeping in a new bed. The little girl in the story goes through possible problems and on her own comes up with a solution for each problem. We introduced it to our son, only after he said that he was scared of the shadows in his room. We also let our son pick out his own set of sheets and blankets for his new bed. We also got him a new friend to go with his big boy bed. We knew that he wanted a big stuffed turtle and decided to get that for him to go with his new big boy bed. His turtle is his best buddy now. He still has his old elephant that he had when he slept in his crib as well. They all take care of each other at night. My son never tried to get out of his bed. We kept waiting for the day he would come out on his own. We have never had a problem with him refusing to stay in bed. Instead, we had to bribe him to come and get us when he wakes up. I understand how hard it can be when you can't use one hand well. You are making the right decision to transition now. I injured my index finger on my right hand before we made the transition to the bed. I hope your hand heels soon! Good luck and enjoy this transition!
