My son is almost 2 1/2 and we bought him a bed a couple of months ago. It has the Disney Cars motif as I thought that would get my son excited. We put it next to his crib so he could get comfortable with the idea as we tried this several months ago. Previously we converted his crib to a toddler bed but it was way too early as he was not ready so we converted it back to a crib. This is why my husband and I decided to buy a new bed and keep the crib up at the same time. Needless to say my son only wants to sleep in the "baby bed" his crib. Any advice on how to make the transition a little smoother?
My son is 3.5-- we converted the crib to a 3 sided toddler bed quite some time ago and I see no reason to switch him out until his feet no longer fit! However, you bought him a big boy bed. If you have some reason that you really want him in it, the crib needs to just disappear so it's no longer an option.
My second daughter was like that. But we found that transitioning first to a toddler bed helped. We made sure she realized it was the same crib mattress being used in the toddler bed, used the same bedding, etc. She just didn't like change, so when she saw how little was actually changing, she was OK with it. She didn't make it to a regular size bed until she was 3.
I would let him stay in the crib until he wants out. Cause once he is out of that crib there is no guarentee that he will stay in the bed. good luck!
After my son turned 3, we also put a big boy bed in the room along with his crib. He thought the bed was cool (we also got cars sheets and quilt to entice him) but had no interest in actually sleeping in it as long as his familiar, cozy crib was an option. So we removed the crib. No more choices for a 3-year-old. After 2-3 rough nights, all was well. And by rough nights, I mean that we had to snuggle with him until he fell asleep, and if he woke up in the middle of the night, he came and got in bed with us.
One caveat - I read an article by Dr. Rosemond that said there is no hurry to get them out of cribs, and I agreed with it. He suggested that 3-3 1/2 was a good age. That's why we waited until Will was 3. I would say let him stay in the crib until he's at least 3...especially if he's sleeping well in it. Our son is such a good sleeper, and we didn't want to spoil that. Not just 'cause it's nice for us but because sleep is SO important to their health and development!
Make a big deal out of the big boy bed and have him "nap" there. Start using it during the day so it's not so new and frightening at night. Also, you could do a "sleep over" night on the weekend. You could watch a family movie (like Cars), make popcorn and then let him sleep in his big boy bed as a "treat". Keep trying it out until he's ready to say good bye to the crib.
My DH dismantled our crib when the kids were able to climb out of it. He saw it as a hazard. I saw it as the end of our "good sleeping". You could keep the crib mattress on the floor if your DH says enough is enough. (Make him the bad guy.) Then he could still sleep on his comfy mattress, just without the bars and height/falling risk. We put step pedal gates on the kids bedroom and a screwed into the wall gate at the top of the stairs to prevent escapees from hurting themselves.
Good luck!
it really doesn't matter if he's happy. We didn't learn this trick until my 3rd child, wish we would've known. Put the crib mattress on the floor,take the crib completely out of the room. After a few weeks put the big mattress on the floor too. Then take the crib mattress away and let him continue to sleep on the mattress on the floor until he is ready for the Cars bed.
well...my son turned 3 in december and still wants to sleep in his crib.
we have had a big boy bed in the room for over a year now.
he likes playing on it but when it comes to sleeping in it...he wants in the crib.
i don't really have any advice, just know you are not alone ;-)
What we did was right after our son turned 2 we just took his crib out of his room while he was visiting the grandparents. We put a twin bed in there because his room had a built in for it and put a bed rail on the open side. When he got home we made a very very big deal about what a big boy he was and how he has a big boy bed now. He transitioned very well. I was so surprised!! We needed the crib for our new baby due March 9th. So we put the crib in the new babies room and he hasnt seen it since. We just wanted to make sure he was over the crib so he wouldnt think the baby stole his crib. Also, we keep a child gate at his door now since he can get out of bed. We dont want him wandering around the house. So even if he gets out of bed he can only roam around his own room. We do have to tell him several times a night to get back on bed before he goes to sleep but he usually does within 20 minutes or so. I think it just never bothered him because "out of sight out of mind". Good luck!
My son turned 2 in November and is still in his crib, with no sign of wanting to be anywhere else. I know that you hear that you need to transition to a bed around 2 1/2, but for my family, it doesn't make much sense. My son likes his crib, doesn't try to climb out, sleeps and naps very well in it, and I don't see any reason to change something that is working to fit someone else's schedule. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't worry about transitioning right now if your son isn't interested.
no rush. He likes his crib and that's fine.
My son, LOVED his crib... and he was about 3 when he then wanted, on his own, to sleep in a bed.
So that was fine.
And yes, as the previous respondent said... even if they are in a bed, they won't necessarily STAY in it during the night. So that is another "phase". LOL
But common.
Pick your battles. They won't be in a crib forever.
And they will one day "want" to be in their bed.
At least that is the way we do it.
And it was not a battle then.
All the best,
Susan
