Mom Seeking the Best Book On....

HI A.,
I just wanted to give you a different perspective on the toddler bed. When my daughter was exactly your son's age, we took down the crib and transitioned it to the "toddler bed"--it was one of those cribs that changes into a toddler bed and then into a regular bed. She got up numerous times during the night when she slept in the toddler bed. We barely got any sleep. Finally we took down the toddler bed, changed it into the big bed and put it against the wall with a bed rail on the side. She slept much better in that. For some reason she just didn't like sleeping in the toddler bed--I think she thought of it more as a play space which made her stay up. My son did the same thing when he went through it. You may have to try some things with your son to see what his preference is. Good luck! --A.

I don't know how helpful you will find this advice because there's really nothing to it, but I am a mother of four, three of whom I successfully made this transition with by doing nothing special at all. I read no books, talked to no pediatricians; simply bought them a regular twin bed and put them into it when they were 18 months old. Every one of them was totally fine with it. We put bed rails on the sides so there was a transitional feeling somewhat like the crib. It was no problem at all. My fourth is 16 months old and I'm about to do the same with him; already have the bed.

It sounds like you and your husband have been consistent with other transitions, which is good, and lays the basis for being successful with future transitions like this one. Your son will know what to expect from you in the future because of the patterns that you have established.

Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll do fine. Good luck! Jenny

P.S. I never had a problem with change of routines or with them climbing out of the bed inappropriately, either.

Hi,
I am actually about to transition my daughter to a big girl bed soon too. We are expecting a baby in May and I have no intention of buying a second crib. When I asked my pediatrician about it he said to set up the bed and just make it fun at first, ask her if she wants to nap in it instead of the crib and then slowley ask her about wanting to be in it for the night. A friend of mine recently transitioned her daughter and she told me that she put a baby gate on her daughters door to prevent her from wandering around at night.

I don't know of a book, but it sounds like you are doing all the right things to lead to success in this area. You're thinking about it, about what your son may experience, etc. My daughter transitioned beautifully to a bed and I believe it was because we talked about it a lot before hand. We talked about how the rules would be the same in a big-girl bed (no getting out of bed, etc). We talked up all the fun parts (like the fun decorative pillows shaped like castles that we got for her) and told her that if she followed all the rules she could get even more fun pillows.