Tips/tricks for Transitioning to "Big Bed"/potty Training?

Definitely big boy bed first then once they are settled in that they can then move on to potty training. I have no idea how to deal with the twin thing. It will definitely more difficult to keep them in bed when they are both able to instigate each other to get out of bed together and get into stuff around the room. I just suggest that what ever you do you continue to put them back into their beds over and over again and again it will take time for them to learn that you mean business and you aren't going to allow them to get out of their beds. I would stand outside the bedroom door until they stopped. Which takes about a week if you are consistent and don't ever give in.

We recently transitioned our DD (born 3/06) to a toddler bed. Her room had previously always been pitch dark. I purchased a 'tyke light' at babies r us and she now has the ability to turn her night light on/off. The first night took about 90 minutes, then 45, then 15. She's doing great and has only fallen out of bed once so far. It's been about a month since we moved her. Good luck!

I don't have any advice, but I just had to reply. I'm just sitting here now crossing my fingers since this is the first night my girl-girl twins are sleeping in toddler beds. They are 20 months old and one of them fell out of her crib last weekend. She's been continuing to lean over the rail all week so we decided to make the change today. I couldn't stand one more night (or one more minute!) of listening to her SCREAM and try to get out.

Anyway, we went right from the crib to the small toddler beds. I removed almost every toy from their room but left a few quiet toys in case they wake up before I do. (As if I'm going to get any sleep tonight!) I'm watching them on the monitor to make sure they are OK. So far, they've shared beds, switched beds, rolled around on their Dora couch, played with their dolls, ransacked the closet...and, oh yeah, banged on the door and cried three times. I don't want to jinx it, but it's actually better than I expected. (knock on wood)

Obviously at 20 months my girls are not yet potty trained. I also moved my oldest girl to a toddler bed at 18 months of age. For me, it was nice during potty training that she was able to get out of bed by herself in case she needed to go to the bathroom.

I didn't separate the twins now because I don't have another bedroom for that. But even if I did, I'd keep them together. They seem to calm each other down more than they do rev each other up. Are you separating the twins no matter what? If you're just doing it because you think your twins will be more disruptive to each other when they have more freedom, they might surprise you. But if you've already decided to separate, I vote for separating and changing beds at the same time. It might be harder to make 2 transitions rather than just one.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

My son was born June 2006 as well. We converted his crib to a toddler bed (removed front rail & put on side rail) a few days b/4 his 2 yr. birthday. I advocate a toddler bed b/4 going to a twin bed. My son moves around a lot in his sleep & would definitely fall out of a twin bed! He loves his toddler bed. I started potty training him at 19mo, and at 27mo. he is daytime trained. My suggestion would be not to start potty training at the same time as converting the bed. Pick which is of the higher priority now, and do that first. It took over a mo. for my son to stop waking at night & getting out of bed to come into our room (just for us to walk him back to his room). I took the slow & steady approach to potty training (7 months), other people train in 3 days (I don't see how!). If you think you can train them quickly & they're ready, train them first. If they are climbing out of their cribs, convert the bed first for sure. Good luck!

My son, born 3/06, in August went from a crib to a full size bed with a rail on one side and the other side pushed against the wall. It has been wonderful..he feels so big. Our daughter, now 5, was transitioned with the crib "day bed", but when we tried with our son he freaked out. That was in April, so we tried the complete transition in August and it has been great. With him it needed to be all or nothing. Try the day bed thing, but do not waste money on a toddler bed. Or look for one at a garage sale or someplace like craig's list or ebay. My neighbor thought they were a waste of money and so did my husband and I. Good Luck...also things like beds and potty training will come when it is time. My daughter was trained, daytime, by 18mos., and my now 2 1/2 yo son has no interest. When it is time it will happen.

For going to the big bed--I just took the mattress and boxspring and put it on the floor near a corner. I surrounded him with pillows on the floor and on the bed. needless to say he did not sleep in his bed for quite some time-he would play until he passed out on the floor and then we would put him in his bed. Eventually he got it on his own--Actually he will be 3 at the end of the month and has not fallen out of bed in a long time. (He did it quite often in the beginning because I was not thinking and put his bed away from the wall.)

For potty training--I am not sure if this is the best way but this is what I did. My son was 2 1/2 and asked to wear underwear and I never went back. It took a week and 4 days until he had a day with no accidents. It was one of the most miserable times ever. I did not leave the house. He will be 3 in a short while and he has accidents once in a great while. I made him clean up his messes-- (clean the floor and do his laundry--I figured I was taking out fun time and maybe it would help--I think it did)

Hope this helps