Need Ideas for a "Big Boy" Room

I agree with the other moms, let him have his aquarium. Also keep the toys in the payroom and just books in the bedroom.

I painted my little guy's room white and used a border in the middle of the wall, about 1/3 way up, and then took one of his trucks and drove it through black paint and then drove it on the wall under the border. THen I took the same paint and painted the window sill and took white and yellow and pained street lines and a stop line. Mine had his little cars in his room. He also had one of those cityscape rugs from Lowe's, Home Depot.

One of my favorite decorating ideas we used was to hang up my husband's collection of baseball caps all around the top border of the walls of my son's room. I've also hung old license plates on the walls, "tough" movie posters (like Indiana Jones posters), and a poster of US Navy ship designations. Just basic tough boy stuff. We have lots of camoflauge too. Finally, I hung a jet plane-shaped kite from his ceiling and attached the streamers in a pattern to the ceiling too to give it the look of an airshow (with the smoke that they write things with in the sky).

I agree - let him keep the aquarium and get a new one for the baby. After all he is giving up his entire room and all of his comforts that he knows. I'd also buy him a new big boy music something but let him transition himself. My son who is only 19 months - he has the same one and it's the last thing he plays with and the first thing he plays with in the morning.
How about bringing your son to the store and letting him pick out something special for his new room.

Hi K.,
FIrst of all I think a durable music box that spins or has movement would work. My boys love music boxes and we have one in which you turn the character to wind it up so it is really easy. But there are alos those cool celestial light that ligt up the ceiling but don't know if they come with music.

We also have a play room but all the books are in thier room for precisly that reason. It is nice before nap and bed time to have the books their and not have to go into another room for them.

Hope this heps,
Suzy & her men (Malcolm 2 & Stanley 4.5)

I'm not sure but I think I've seen some lamps that have a little light show and music come out of it. Also, any traditional music box might be fun for him to wind it up and see the action. I know Hallmark was selling (I think they still are) a really cute Charlie Brown one. They also make stuffed animals with music boxes in them and that's an option too. After all that though, I don't know if you need to get rid of the aquarium. I mean, if you think he's fine with it and doesn't mind leaving it behind, then go on and get him something "more mature" but if you think he's going to get upset, just let him take it with the the big boy room. Maybe you can strap it onto his headboard or get those 3M hooks that are removable from the wall and hang it on there.

As far as the toys, I would probably keep the majority of them in his playroom, but I have to say that I think if he's going to climb out of bed, he's going to do it regardless of the toys in there. Yes, they might be more of a temptation, but overall I kinda think it doesn't matter what's in there, getting out of bed is more fun!

My daughter had the Ocean Wonders Aquarium in her crib and we had the same dilemma when putting her in a big girl bed. We had luck using another Fisher Price item. It is the Ocean Wonders Take Along Projector Soother. You can find it at Toys R Us and Babies R Us. It plays music and projects pictures onto the ceiling. My daughter is going to be 4 and she still loves it! It can sit on a nightstand or bureau. I recommend it!

For question # 2 I agree keep the toys out of his room. You want to encourage playing elsewhere. I had an acquaintance who had many problems with kids and bed time because they always played in their room. Since you have the toys elsewhere already I would keep it that way.

For question #1 My son has the same aquarium and he too loves it. I am not sure if there is another device that could replace it. For music, you can get a CD player that is for a kid and he can listen to music. But you might want to see if you can attach it somwhere in his room for him also. I know it is a a younger kid item, but he might be very attached and you might have trouble getting him down with out it. Do not be afraid to keep it with him. (get a new one for the new kid).

We have a little table and chair set that is cars for our little guy and a couch that folds out into a small bed. We got it a wallmart.
Not sure how creative you are, but you can also paint a car on his wall?

Good luck!

It sounds like you already have just about everything you need for your "big boy room", we had some of the same questions when we transitioned my son. I would recommend NOT putting the lamp next to the bed. we put ours on the book shelf positioned on the wall across from the end of the bed. That way it's high enough for 2 year olds to not get to, but puts off plenty of light for stories at night. We also put only books and stuffed animals in his room and kept all of the toys in our designated play area and if he gets up from naps we find him sitting on the floor with all of his books around him and I love catching him doing that. Or he piles all of his stuffed animals in bed with him and they all nap together. Much better than the distraction of the other toys.

Hope that helps even a little. :)

Great decorating ideas posted already; love the one about old license plates! Maybe you could take a look around your garage and see what else you might turn into something neat. We used a couple of ice hockey sticks as curtain rods. Our son is too young to appreciate them -- yet -- but our friends think they're really cool ;-)