Transition from cribs to beds?

On 22 Oct 2003 10:25:57 -0400, Jim Wehner
wrote:


Last night, my wife commented on how we probably can just dismantle the
cribs and expect our twins to immediately adapt to beds.

How have others done this with limited space in the house? We can't have
2 cribs & twins beds in their room at the same time.

We waited until at least one of our kids kept asking for a bed. By
the time she got the bed, she was so excited about it that there was
no problem whatsoever in making the transition. Our other kid didn't
show the same level of excitement, but he also went straight from crib
to bed with no problem.

We skipped the toddler beds and went directly to twin sized beds. We
bought a rail to prevent them from rolling out and falling onto the
floor.
--
-Seth Jackson, proud father of Derek and Mariel(10/1/99). Pictures at:
http://hitmeister.home.mindspring.co...lypictures.htm

Music links: www.mp3.com/SethJackson
www.mp3.com/loudspeaker
www.SethJackson.net

Jim Wehner wrote:

Last night, my wife commented on how we probably can just dismantle the
cribs and expect our twins to immediately adapt to beds.

How have others done this with limited space in the house? We can't have
2 cribs & twins beds in their room at the same time.

Mine had convertible cribs that I converted to toddler beds at 19
months. They didn't have a problem with it but they also didn't spend
all of their sleeping time in their cribs either. They napped in the
cribs and slept the first few hours of the night in them. They rest of
the time they were on mattresses on the floor in our room next to our
mattress.

Maybe just start with the twin mattresses on the floor?

--
Brigitte aa #2145
edd #3 February 15, 2004
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/joshuaandkaterina/

"Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare."
~ Harriet Martineau

Jim Wehner wrote:

Last night, my wife commented on how we probably can just dismantle the
cribs and expect our twins to immediately adapt to beds.

How have others done this with limited space in the house? We can't have
2 cribs & twins beds in their room at the same time.

Mine had convertible cribs that I converted to toddler beds at 19
months. They didn't have a problem with it but they also didn't spend
all of their sleeping time in their cribs either. They napped in the
cribs and slept the first few hours of the night in them. They rest of
the time they were on mattresses on the floor in our room next to our
mattress.

Maybe just start with the twin mattresses on the floor?

--
Brigitte aa #2145
edd #3 February 15, 2004
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/joshuaandkaterina/

"Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare."
~ Harriet Martineau

Jim,

I've always thought that if you have the crib *and* a bed for them, of course
they will have a hard time transitioning. We went cold turkey (space was also
an issue), so really they had no choice. The first week with beds was rough, I
won't lie to you! All that freedom made for nightmare bedtimes when all they
did was run around the room and jump from one mattress to another. But really
after that one week, they were pretty good. Now they get up in those beds and
don't move all night

Good luck,

Ellen
--------
Erin 6/26/95
Bradley & Alex 10/5/00

Jim,

I've always thought that if you have the crib *and* a bed for them, of course
they will have a hard time transitioning. We went cold turkey (space was also
an issue), so really they had no choice. The first week with beds was rough, I
won't lie to you! All that freedom made for nightmare bedtimes when all they
did was run around the room and jump from one mattress to another. But really
after that one week, they were pretty good. Now they get up in those beds and
don't move all night

Good luck,

Ellen
--------
Erin 6/26/95
Bradley & Alex 10/5/00

Thanks for all the input. :-)
Jim

Thanks for all the input. :-)
Jim

We very reluctantly did the transition at 2y 10m to save my back after back
surgery, and it was totally smooth from the kid pov (no stress to them).
They were present as we set up the toddler beds and *so* excited. Then all
H*** broke loose of course as they would no longer stay in bed. But they
were *happy*. It was *my* life that took a nasty turn for the worse with
bedtime turned into a nightmare and having to strap down everything -- not
to mention some terrifying broken glass and an ER visit ....

Since yours are so young, I would def. get a bed rail. Also, one safer mode
of "transition" might be to use their crib mattress on the floor for a while
til they are a bit used to not having bars to hold them in.

You don't mention of course whether you are planning on doing this soon, or
are just curious about the eventual process. And perhaps there is a new
baby coming or a safety concern with leaving them in the current setup. So
this may not be relevant ---- but with Holly, we are again waiting as long
as possible (probably end of Feb, which will be 2y 11m). I don't see any
rush unless they are climbing out or you need a crib? It may destroy nap
time and it may disrupt night-time -- why take the risk?

--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)

"Jim Wehner" wrote in message
...
Thanks for all the input. :-)
Jim

We very reluctantly did the transition at 2y 10m to save my back after back
surgery, and it was totally smooth from the kid pov (no stress to them).
They were present as we set up the toddler beds and *so* excited. Then all
H*** broke loose of course as they would no longer stay in bed. But they
were *happy*. It was *my* life that took a nasty turn for the worse with
bedtime turned into a nightmare and having to strap down everything -- not
to mention some terrifying broken glass and an ER visit ....

Since yours are so young, I would def. get a bed rail. Also, one safer mode
of "transition" might be to use their crib mattress on the floor for a while
til they are a bit used to not having bars to hold them in.

You don't mention of course whether you are planning on doing this soon, or
are just curious about the eventual process. And perhaps there is a new
baby coming or a safety concern with leaving them in the current setup. So
this may not be relevant ---- but with Holly, we are again waiting as long
as possible (probably end of Feb, which will be 2y 11m). I don't see any
rush unless they are climbing out or you need a crib? It may destroy nap
time and it may disrupt night-time -- why take the risk?

--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)

"Jim Wehner" wrote in message
...
Thanks for all the input. :-)
Jim

multimom4 wrote:

You don't mention of course whether you are planning on doing this soon, or
are just curious about the eventual process.


....just curious after my wife's comment on the subject. Both are fine in
their cribs for now & not climbing out. I guess she's just worrying
prematurely.

Thanks.

Jim