Need to Move 18Mo Son from My Bed to His Own

Updated on February 05, 2007
B. asks from Madison, MS
6 answers

Everybody told me I was making a mistake, but I didn't want to hear it. I have let my son sleep in bed between my husband and me. When he was first born, I used a co-sleeper, but as soon as he was big enough for a crib, I just moved him into bed with me because it was easier (and I'll admit it, I love having him snuggle up with me).
Here's my dilemna, he's really too big for him crib, he's a climber. I have a full-size bed in his room (that he and I sleep in occassionally when my husband is sick or anything). He crawls out of this bed when he wants, flips the light switch, pulls on the armoire. He's a pretty good sleeper (usually only wakes up once during the night and my voice or a hug will quieten him. One other thing to add to top of this, I travel for work every other week for a night or two. During this time, he sleeps with his dad or grandma.
So, please advise me on how to transition my son to his own bed, while still keeping him safe and happy. I don't have to travel again until January so now is a great time to do this (except for the holiday craziness, oh well!).

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So What Happened?

Well we are only a few days into it, but it's going well. I've started a nighttime routine, where we put away our toys, read 2 books and then he gets in his crib. He cries, it breaks my heart, but I leave him in his crib. When he wakes up in the middle of the night, I'm still putting him in the bed with me, but we are in his room (not my room). So I'm not quite there yet, but I've started. Thanks for all your advice!

More Answers

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T.

answers from Chattanooga on

Here are a couple of ideas:
1. Put him in his crib with a crib tent on it. It zips open from the outside. He shouldn't be able to get it open. You will know he is safe. He might cry for the first night or two but stick it out. Tell him he is going camping in his new tent and make a game of it. He needs to sleep in his own bed in his own room.

2. No more sleeping with you, Dad, or Grandma. If he knows this is an option, he will fuss until he gets what he wants. Consistency is key!!

3. Put rails on the full size bed to make it harder for him to get out. Every time he gets up, escort him back to bed without saying a word. It may take awhile but he will get the idea.

4. Make sure his dresser and any other big pieces of furniture are securely attached to the wall so they can't fall over on him.

Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.J.

answers from Knoxville on

I agree with everyone else. I would try the bed rails on the full size bed or buy a toddler bed with rails. Put a baby gate at his door so he won't wonder. And turn on the monitors so you can hear him if he gets up.
You can start out sleeping with him in that bed and then the 2nd night lay with him until he falls asleep and do that for a few nights. I hope that works for you.
My 5 month old sleeps with me and i am soon going to start to transition him to his bed before it is to late. I love having him with me though. So i know how you feel.
Good luck

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P.L.

answers from Huntsville on

Gosh... Im unfortunately in the SAME boat!!! I wanted to make sure my husband got sleep so I would go out onto the couch w/ the baby and he and I would fall asleep out there.

Now... here we are 2 1/2 years later and the baby is still sleeping in bed w/ my husband and I. Although we did move up to a King Bed!! I knew that it was a mistake but I too loved having him in bed w/ me. And Im sure that at times our sex life has suffured but Im blessed w/ a very understanding husband. So he and I have found other ways to be intimate.

I wish you luck.

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D.N.

answers from Biloxi on

B.~
It's only a room away. I know it's hard, I had to do it to, but if you don't do it now, he will ALWAYS come to you. It's easier said than done, I know. When my daughter was about 11 months old, she climbed out of her baby bed, well that day we went and bought a toddler bed. It was hard at first, because the toddler bed was lower to the ground and she didn't have the security of the "bars" of the crib around her. I would sleep on the floor in her room beside her, until she got used to sleeping in her bed by herself. Though the feeling is uneasy, I mean your baby is growing up, you must also think of yourself and your husband. If you don't do it now you will NEVER have privacy, your son will ALWAYS, no matter how old feel that he can just come in and climb in to bed with mom and dad. Though Lauren is now 9, she will ask me to come sleep WITH HER in HER bed, of course I give in every now and then...................But Me and my husband still have our privacy and don't worry about her coming into bed with us.

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M.E.

answers from Jackson on

I agree with the other ladies, and wanted to add a few tips of my own: when my son was 17 months we moved him to a toddler bed(it was actually a convertible crib), because we needed the crib for his 2-month-old sister. We had to take out all lamps in his room so he wouldn't turn them on and knock them over, secure the furniture, and for a few weeks I had to put a door handle cover on the inside of his door so he wouldn't wander around the house while we were sleeping. We also put a light switch cover on the light plate so he couldn't turn it on. Walmart or Taget has great child safty isles where you can find all this stuff. It will be hard to be firm, but stick with it and he will learn that you mean business!

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A.R.

answers from Hattiesburg on

Have you tried bed tents? My nephew is 2 and too big for a crib. My sister has invested in a mesh tent that goes over his bed and zips. This has been a very effective way to keep him in his bed. When she travels she lets him sleep in a portable crib. They make tents for those as well. (Yes, it is a little snug in the portable, but he doesn't seem to care.) You might have to invest in a toddler bed or twin size, but the tents are very effective. And PS, I let my little boy sleep with us when he was small and now by 6 mo old does. I agree, it is nice having them close by. ;) A.

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