Advice on Switching from Crib to Toddler Bed

We are in the same situation. 2 year old boy and 4 month old little girl. We bought a toddler air mattress (has a "bumper" all around the bed.) We placed it on the floor next to his crib. He loves it and is adjusting to a new bed in the same room. We can lay on the air mattress with him and read at night. It was about $65 including the sheet on amazon.com & is a great transitional piece. Next we will move the bed into a new room so his sister can have the crib in his old room. So far it's worked like a charm!

We had no problem with either of our first two. We just let them know that it's time for a big boy bed and were excited about it, so they got excited about it too.

W. Nichols-Dewey, CD(DONA)
www.birthfirstdoula.com

We actually started this switch Sat. with my 2 year old twins. The biggest thing I would say is to be strict. They share a room so they want to get out of their beds and play. I just keep going in and firmly tell them to stay in bed and repeatedly put them back. Yesterday at nap they were still talking and be silly, but at least they stayed in there beds, unlike the days before. It is a long process, but eventually they figure it out and it becomes old news. (I hope!)

My son was almost 2 when we switched him to the toddler bed. We did it during the day time so that he could play and pracice getting in and out. The first couple of nites he got out around 5-10 times. Everytime he got out I marched him back to bed saying some phrase like "its time for bed lets go nite nite". After those first couple of nites he stayed in his bed and sleeps all nite and during his naps. Just stay consistent and all will work itself out. Btw, my son loves Cars too. Should have seen Christmas morning... 70% was Cars!

Be firm. He'll be good for a few days and then try to throw crazy tantrums to alter the sleeping arrangement.

re-think nap time. maybe quiet time with books. or a pillow and blanket in front of the TV.

Whatever happens, don't give in. He'll push and push, but stay firm and in a month or so you'll be glad you stuck to your plan.

My advice? Get him a nice twin bed and soem cool Cars bedding. I skipped the toddler beds b/c they are a waste of money and don't last long at all. They are also VERY uncomfortabel to reach down so far (as you mentioned with the crib), and much too small to cuddle with them in and read books, etc. You will find yourself getting a twin in a short time and regretting the toddler bed.

I moved my almost 2 year old son to a twin after he started climbing out of his crib. We talked it up and made a big deal of him being a big boy and the transition was smooth.

A month later my second son was born. I kept him in the crib and then switched it to the toddler bed (it converted into it). We hated it and so did he, b/c it was so small, so we chucked the crib and got him a twin also when he was 2 and climbing out of the crib.

Just my two cents. Also, two toddlers fit in a twin fine for sleepovers, naps, etc. and works well as a guest bed for company. :)

We transitioned our 2y.o's crib to a toddler bed on Christmas eve. We just did it. We got her a pillow (like a big girl) and a matching bed set to her room decor. She had no problem with it!

Just started the change this past weekend. We got the book -The Bernstein Bear's New Baby and read it to our son every day for about two weeks (it's all about how the brother bear gets a big bed so he fits in it right and there is room for a new baby). We also put his new bed in his room for a week and called it his big boy bed and started calling the crib the baby bed. Finally we took the plunge and did it. The first several nights and naps we had some major crying (for under 10 minutes) which we hadn't had before. We did a little babying (spending some extra time at night time and the like, easing him into the new sleeping arrangement) and we offered him the opportunity to sleep in the "baby" bed if he wanted. Things seem to be going well...no crying last night or for today's nap. He never took us up on our offer to sleep in the baby bed. We also gave him two little books and a stuffed animal to keep in his bed with him. This has seemed to discourage him getting out of the bed. So far so good.
The next two things on our list are potty training and sharing a room when the new baby comes next month. Yikes! Good luck to you!

Congratulations! Just be sure to make the switch well before baby comes and do not make references to baby needing the crib and such. You do not want you two year old to feel "replaced." Do make the move a big deal so he feels quite special. Also, we have always closed the bedroom door, most 2 yr olds. cannot open it up and just checked kids frequently. That is what they are used to now and that is what they prefer. Good Luck!