Converting to Toddler Bed

Hi G., I took my tots out of the crib at around 17 months old, and I placed the crib mattress on the floor, and put their stuffed animals all around, and then at 2 put them in a twin bed. J.

We recently put our two year old in his own toddler bed and in his own room. I have a six month old too and my husband and I were worn out through the long nights in our room.

I took my two year old to the store and HE picked out a new crib sheet (nothing special, but he picked one with frogs on it) and I got all excited and chatted it up. We brought it home and he watched/helped with the whole wash and dry process and we made the bed with it. I got all excited about the "big boy bed" in the "big boy room" with the "big boy sheet". I had my husband come home from work and be excited too. We then did the regular go to bed routine and had him go to bed in his room NO DRAMA, he went willingly. Other than the regular wake ups at night I think there is no turning back. My son loves to show everyone his new sheet.
You might want to try the sheet thing too.
Good Luck!

Hi G.!

I was in the same boat as you. We moved my almost 3 year old son to his new room and toddler bed since we had another one on the way (3 years + 2 months apart). We talked it up - how great his new toddler bed was and how he was going to be such a big boy sleeping in it. We did this for almost a month, and when the time came, he couldn't wait to get in it.

We did have some issues with him falling asleep at first. We gave him a penny each night he went to bed. He was allowed to call for us one time before falling asleep for another hug/drink of water, etc. When he called us and we came up, he would put his penny in his piggy bank, we would get him what he wanted, spend 1 more minute with him and that was it. If he then stayed in his bed all night without calling for us, he either got a prize in the morning (e.g. cheap little tiny dinosaur - by the end of a couple of weeks he had the equivalent of one of those dino-toobs or a glow in the dark sticker we put on his wall by his bed, or something like that). It didn't take long, and he loved being a big boy.

Be sure to make the transition at least a month before your new arrival! And good luck!

Oh, and by the way, #2 was super easy because he wanted to be like his big brother. :-)

C.

with my daughter her crib got recalled when she was 18 months so i just decided to get a toddler bed. it took about 1 week for her to not get out and come out of the room. now shes 26 months and very rarely leaves her bed when put in it. just be prepared to take him back to bed multiple times for a while.