Transition to a Toddler Bed - Beloit,WI

C.,
I had the same trouble when my daughter was transitioning into a toddler bed. Personally, I would take the crib apart and take it out of the room. He won't see it and it might not be as big of a distration. He's probably not sleeping as well in his new bed, but will get used to it. Switching back and forth might be worse for his sleep. Also, if you take the bed away now, when baby boy 2 comes along, your son won't even remeber that the crib was "his." We have three kids under the age of 4 and have done this twice already. Its not easy, but stick with it. Be firm and he will learn to like his new bed. The idea of him picking out his sheets...that worked for us bith times! We took our child to the store and let them pick out the sheets he/she wanted. It made it really special for them to sleep on them. (If your son likes a particular character/theme, look ahead at the store you want to take him to and make sure they have something YOU like :o) Good luck!

To be honest, I waited til my kids were 3 before I put them in a bed. I was scared because everyone I ran across who put toddlers in beds seemed to run into troubles keeping them there. My kids are 20mos apart so we purchased a duplicate convertible crib. I understand not everyone can afford this luxury so I have 2 suggestions.

#1
Purchase a bassinet or cradle for the new baby. You'll have about 3-6mos before the baby NEEDS a crib. This will allow your son time to understand that his bed is for sleeping. Have him take naps in his bed on the weekend and sleep in his crib at night. But eventully add 1 night of big boy bed sleeping each week. As he grows closer to 3, he'll understand rules and consequences better so you can use a sticker chart to tick off each night he stays in bed.

#2
Keep things as they are, making the bed the only sleeping arrangement but explain the new baby needs it. Right now he's confused. From his perspective, why have a crib if no one sleeps in it? My daughter asked this when we replaced her outgrown carseat but kept it. So I purchased a large doll from the thrift store and called it "Baby". Baby used the old high chair during meals, slept in the new crib, and sat in the old carseat during drives. Both of us found it very silly but it made the point clear... she was no longer gonna use those things again. And when my son was born she wasn't the least bit jealous about him using her old stuff because it already belonged to someone else!

Hope this helps. Good luck! And congrats on the new little one :) ~Pam

Have you tried letting him pick out some sheets and bedding that he thinks is really great? My daughter was not thrilled with the idea of a "big girl bed" until I took her to the store and let her pick out some princess sheets, etc. Then every night we'd talk about how she was sleeping with Cinderella in the "Princess Bed" and that was it. You mentioned putting his mattress from his crib into his toddler bed. I would try that. He's use to the feel and smell of it and it can't hurt. Gook luck!

S. W

I would take the crib out for now and replace the mattress you have in the toddler bed with the crib mattress. It may be an easier transition for him. And as long as he sees his old crib he will think he can go back to it. Get him something new and special for him for graduating into the toddler bed doesn't have to be something big just something that is special for him to sleep with that will give him positive reenforment for using his new bed.