Big Boy Bed! - Tinley Park,IL

I suggest sitting next to his bed and just before he actually falls asleep leave the room. Don't wait until he is sleeping because then he will get used you staying in there. Each night move further away from his bed as he settles down and starts to fall asleep. Eventually you will be out in the hallway and he will be able to go to sleep without you in the room. Then you will be free. It will take some time but hang in there.

Tonight I am transitioning my 20 month old twins to toddler beds because one of them learned how to crawl (or fall, more accurately) out of her crib. I decided against the gate at the door because I was afraid the two of them could work together to knock it over or crawl over it, so I put a child-proof door lock on the knob. Surprisingly, it's been easier than I thought. After about 45 minutes of playing, crying, trying to get out, playing again...they are finally quiet! Not sure if they're sleeping or WHERE they are sleeping (my video monitor is acting up now, of all times!), but they are quiet. To me, that's a victory!

Maybe try a toddler bed instead of converting the crib. If his bed looks completely different, he might have an easier time with the transition. Who knows, maybe he thinks you "ruined" his crib by taking off the side?

Anyway, just wanted to say "good luck" and hang in there. I love this website because it just reminds me that other moms are going thru the exact same things that I'm going thru at this very moment! We will survive. As you said, he can't stay awake forever! (Although it sure does seem that way!)

Hang in there, Mom!

JB, Rather than putting a gate on his door or closing the door, you could try having all lights off beyond his room, he won't likely venture too far into the dark - even if he knows how to turn the lights on, unless he's more brave than my kids were.

You didn't mention his age, assuming he's two or older, you might just have to wait it out - he will get used to it, you can also try picking him up and placing him into the bed just like when it was a crib..... my youngest didn't totally 'get it' that she could climb INTO the toddler bed for some reason, only out of it! We had to keep placing her into the toddler bed when we tucked her in, but she learned soon enough, and she loved her 'big girl bed' although was still very attached to her crib, until she learned we gave it to a friend of ours who just had a baby.... at first she was horrified to know her crib was gone, but when she saw that tiny new baby in her crib at our friends' house she was very proud :-) good luck to you, hope some of that is helpful and you all get sleep soon!

We just put our 2 1/2 yo son in August in a full size bed. We tried the same thing right around his 2nd bday, in March, with the crib. He hated it and screamed. So then we waited a few months and did the all or nothing transition and it seems to work. He did not like the fact that his crib was broken. That is what he kept saying to us when we tried the day bed thing. Go right to an actual bed with rails.

I am REALLY dreading this day! My son is 20 months and loves to jump in his crib, but he can't get out of it yet, thank God! A friend of mine had the same problem. What about just leaving the rail on for now? My friend just left the side down so her daughter didn't have as far to climb down, but she still had some rail so she didn't fall out of the crib. Was it just a fluke that he climbed out, or has he been able to repeat it? My son got out one time about 3 months ago and fell on his face. He hasn't been able to get out again. Make sure he doesn't have anything he can use as a step to get over the gate and put a child safety lock on the handle of his door so he can't get out of his room. Good luck and I really feel for you!