Time for a Big Boy Bed... - Wyoming,MI

I would let him help pick out the bed and the sheets. You could have "extra's" for nights he is good. Say a fun pillow or little blanket or stuffed animal to sleep with. He can earn those in his new big boy bed. As far as the light - unscrew the bulb and be done with it until the habit is gone. You can bring in a lamp for you to use and put it up on a dresser or something else for the time being. You could also let him earn a sticker chart for his good nights - say put 5 stickers up on the chart and then he can go to the store to pick out a toy.

We're in a similar situation, just with a little bit older girls (4 and 1 1/2 years old. Our 4 year old is getting too big for her toddler bed and they share a room, so we're having to figure out what to do as well. We have a Graco Toddler Bed. I love Graco anything, so that is what I would recommend. I like that it is a hard plastic rather than wood so I don't have to worry about it getting beat up - yes, that happens with girls, too. :o)

Anyway, I would love to recommend a book to you. It's called "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp. It is the best parenting book that my husband and I have read.

Good luck with all of your challenges! And, cute story, too!
J.

For your space limitations, a toddler bed is the way to go. You can use your crib mattress and all the same bedding. If you go with new bedding, i.e. character bedding, you will probably spend more on that than a basic toddler bed frame itself.
And for turning on the light, try one of these: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&p...
Unless you keep a ladder in there, it should work:)

It is a challenge when they start finding their own independence isn't it - I sympathize with you! I have a 4 1/2 yr old boy and 11 month old girl. I just ran into a friend that said she had trouble with her little man getting out of bed, etc., so she gave him stickers each night that he stayed in bed and didn't get out. Once he filled the sticker board, he got to go get a small toy at the store. I'm not sure how many stickers that was, but I think she started out small and then it became habit for him to stay in bed.
Where to find a bed...have you checked craigslist.com? It is a nationwide site where people sell things locally. It's awesome. I know I've seen toddler beds on there before.

>light switch

We have a fan/light in our bedroom. You can pull the string to turn off the light on the ceiling.

They make "light switch guards" (google it), but you'd have to unscrew it to flip the switch. http://www.amazon.com/National-Mfg-280842-Switch-Lock/dp/...
http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Guard-White/sim/B000ZVX2JK/2...

I would let your son go with you when you go looking for a big boy bed for him. If he picks it out he may be more into staying in it at night and sleeping threw the night. Try going to Toys R Us and looking they have some cute beds for toddlers or Kids Stuff in Omaha also. My son picked out a car bed and he loved it. He began to sleep all night and wanted to go to bed when it was time. The Light switch thing they don't make gaurds any more but duct tape works because its alittle stronger of tape. I hope I have helped alittle and good luck. K.

Try Wal-Mart...we got our daughter a toddler bed there. (I think the weight limit is 35 lbs.)

K. R.

Well I think the best bed for him would be toddler bed. I am not sure how your son sleeps at night, ie a mover and a shaker or if he sleeps in one area. The toddler bed will be the best, they are not expensive to start off with, you can use the crib mat, and if he is a mover he won't fall but a foot off the ground, and it is safer for him to get in and out. I understand how you feel, I have my 2 yr old daughter and 3 yr old son in the same room and he will turn the lights on in the middle of the night. What you might also try to do is have the 2yr go to bed first before the 1 yr. I had to do that with my two and it helped. I also had to sit with him for the first few weeks to get him to understand that this was his new bed. It will take a while but before you know it, he will be in a twin and little brother will be using the toddler bed. There is also switch covers sold at like Wal-mart, Toys R Us that you can use to child proof the switch.
Good luck

WE have a 2-1/2 year old daughter and we keep a little night light in her room, and if she tries to turn on the big light- we just unscrew it a bit til it will not come on, (while she goes to the bathroom) or just take out the bulb. As for a bed- we bought her the Little Toddler Dora bed set at Wal-Mart for $99, it included a little drawer sorter, and table & chairs. It's okay- i guess. It's pretty sturdy!
and it's low to the ground, so if they fall out- it won't hurt too bad. it also has guard rails at the top. I know they make BOY ones too. Not sure what theme though??
Hope this helps

I don't really have advice for the bed, we went straight to the twin with a gate, but as for the light, just unscrew the lightbulb. If he can't see, maybe he won't unplug the baby monitor...