Baby Squared

Cooper is still in a crib at 2.5 years old, and has shown no interest in climbing in or out. I don't know what that says about him, but I am not complaining. This crib converts into a toddler bed, and eventually can be the head and footboard to a full size mattress, so I am hoping to get a lot of use out of it over time. I like that I know he is in his crib in his room at night, but it makes traveling hard. He is too long for the pack n play now, at over 3 feet tall. My neighbor's 3 year old twin girls are still in cribs. I don't know what the plan is but I expect they will transition to beds over the summer. If a child can and will climb out, I think it is time for a bed. Just from a safety standpoint. If they are like my child or the twins next door, and they stay put, I don't think you need to be in a rush. And Happy Mom's day to you too!

Happy Mother's Day to you!!

My kids are younger than yours, of course, but I'm pretty firmly in the "wait as long as humanly possible" camp, especially when it comes to twins who share a room.  My friend LauraC <a href="howdoyoudoit.wordpress.com/.../">wrote a post about it</a> a few months ago, and that's what I always refer back to.

I think one of the big questions for me would be whether they have the ability to both understand and FOLLOW a rule about staying in your own bed.  As I say, my kids are younger, so I can't speak to what a 2.5 year old is capable of. But that's my criteria.

i would go for twin beds.  our doctor said that when they can climb out, you should work on the transitioning.  i worried about the middle of the night falling and who-knows-what happening.  my son took a little time to transition so we had the crib and the bed in the room (not sure you can swing that with two of everything!).  as far as getting up and coming into your room, you could put a gate up across their doorway.  we never really had to stress to my son to stay in bed yet he still waits for us to come get him in the morning.  all kids are different.  

Firstly, your girls are SO cute!

Second, our girls are still in their cribs.  Last week Ziva climbed out of hers a few times, but has not been able to climb back in.  I went through and more thoroughly baby proofed their room and called it good for now.  She doesn't do it every day, and seems to have realized that if she climbs out she can't get back in, and she's the kind of kid who LOVES her sleep.  One time last week she climbed out right after we put her to bed, and she was crying 5 minutes later because she was super tired and wanted to go ni-ni.  She hasn't really tried it since.  

We have the kind of cribs where the front rail comes off and transforms it into a toddler bed, so I'm sure we'll do that here pretty soon.  I'm not looking forward to it though because I'm pretty sure life will get more crazy.  

One point that I've heard other mom's say is that they switched to toddler or big girl beds when their little ones started needing to get up at night to pee.  So if you're also potty training that might be reason enough to make the switch.

Another idea I've heard, just take the cribs out and leave the crib mattresses on the floor.  That way you don't have to worry about falling and you don't have to buy anything extra right away.

They are seriously so friggin' cute.

I have no words of wisdom on the transition. I know I'm planning to keep my monkey in his crib for as long as humanly possible (he's one month younger than C&E). We also have a queen sized bed in his room that we thought we might need for mom/dad crashing when he was a baby...which we've never really used. I think we might go into that bed, what with it being big enough that he can flop around without falling. Don't know if there's any logic to having both girls in one big bed...maybe the other moms of multiples will shoot that down, but I thought I'd put it out there.

We moved Evie to a twin bed when she was almost 2.5 because she seemed too big for the crib.  Also, we knew we wanted to start potty training, and I had heard that it was a good idea to switch to the bed first, wait a few months and then do potty training (so that you aren't trying to do both at the same time).  It worked out well for her - it took her a month or so to realize that she could get up without our permission, but then again, she was never a crib climber - and she didn't have a sister in the room.

We kept a gate closed at the top of the stairs once she started sleeping in a bed - at least until we were sure she wouldn't wander around at night.  She still won't go downstairs without us and the gate has been gone for over a year.

I second the idea of the mattress on the floor - Evie slept on a mattress on the floor for almost two years before we got her an actual bed.

At 18 months my daughter fell out of her crib and broke her arm. She was definitely not ready for a big bed, so we ended up buying a crib tent. (available on Amazon) That has been the right solution for us, but she will only 2 next month.

Just want to let you know there is a pretty major safety hazard (thank goodness she didn't break her neck - that was the first thing the doctor checked) so, you definitly want to make some kind of change. Our pediatrician also suggested the mattress on the floor.

I moved my daughter into a low cot (it was actually a military cot) at age 2, when she started climbing out of her crib. We put a sheepskin rug on the floor and when she fell out of bed she wouldn't even wake up, and we'd find her there in the morning sleeping peacefully.

My one has been climbing out of bed for a good 2 months (28 mos). He is a pro in climbing in and out. The other guy could care less, he is totally content. It is a real pain in the a$$ when he does it at bedtime and I come in and find him in his brother's bed playing silly buggers. It is nice though that he now gets out of bed in the morning and crawls in with me (shutting his bedroom door behind him!) giving us some special time together. I'm not in a huge hurry to move them into regular beds because I know that keeping them in bed at night and nap time will be a nightmare.

Our kids were both in beds by 2, but they were very adept at getting in and out so we figured it was better for safety reasons.  They actually loved their beds so much that they still took naps just fine, plus the added bonus of being able to snuggle during story time!  I think it depends on the child, but the crib tent is another option.  I found the toddler bed a waste of money and we only did it for the first child.  We did have rails on the beds when they were little though!

Oh gosh, I hope that's not true about naps going away after the transition.

We're moving Little Man next week.  Baby #2 arrives in 2 months and we the crib (I'm not a baby in mom & dad's room kind of girl).

I am keeping my boys in cribs as long as they are not climbing out.  I am not worried about it. They never even try to climb out that I have seen. Eric is definitely tall enough to climb out if he wanted to. They love their cribs. They will wake up from naps and I will come in to get them. They will fall back down on their tummies and pretend to go back to sleep. Then cry when I take them out!  They just like hanging  out in the cribs.

I think a change would traumatize them at this point.  I have also heard from other MOMS that with multiples, toddler beds are much worse because while one kid might just lie there and relax or look at books. Two kids rile each other up and do things like pull curtains down that one kid would not likely be able to do alone or even attempt to do alone. So be warned!  

For now just childproof their bedroom completely so you won't worry about them hurting themselves if they do happen to climb out at night. Then either put a lock or one of those doorknob childproof things on the door so they can't get out or a baby gate across the doorway.  That way they stay in their safe room and they can't hurt themselves while you and hubby sleep. That will ease your worries.  

Our cribs turn into toddler beds so we will convert them when the time comes probably as close to 3 or at 3 as we can get. Then when they outgrow those in a year or two, we will switch to twin beds, maybe twins beds that can be bunk beds too for when they are older.

Good luck and hopefully sweet dreams for everyone!

Happy Mother's Day, Jane!

Happy Mother's Day to you too Jane!

We put our twins, in big girl beds for their 2nd birthday, we prepared them by talking about it and picking showing them there new bed spreads with cute little butterflies and frogs on them... They were climbing out by the age of 1 1/2, we were finding them both in one crib, started to be too repetitive for us so we decided for their 2nd birthday to make the transition.  We skipped the toddler beds since we thought it would be waste of money. We purchased their twin mattresses at Costco and they have never slept better!  We obviously put up side rails and took all safety precautions.  I had a few sleepless nights at first after reading the pamphlets that came with the safety rails but they slept sound and it was the best thing we did for them.  Julia & Jenna are now 3yrs 4months old and sometimes they'll slide out of bed before us and sit on their bedroom floor and play quietly until me and my husband are up.  You just may be surprised, it may be a nice change "it may be time for you".  Good luck Jane!  

This is so apropos!!  I just converted Michael's bed from crib to toddler bed.  I got tired of lifting him in and out, he's getting heavy!  

The first night he fell out.  But he's been doing okay since then (it hasn't been a full week yet).  I was thinking of getting a rail, but for now I've just put a big comforter (adult size) next to his bed, so if he falls out he won't hurt himself.  I thought all hell would break loose, but it hasn't.  He gets into bed and stays there at night.  The one time he woke up crying, he was standing holding onto the railing just like he did when it was a crib.  I'm usually up before him, so that's not an issue.  

He has also been refusing to sleep in his pack n play when we go to my mom's house, so he's been on a regular bed then.  We put pillows around him and do frequent checks that he's not on the edge.  So I guess he's ready.

Also Happy Mothers Day to you x2!

I'm sure it is a different challenge for twins, but I'll relate my experience.  I transitioned each of my girls at 21 months to the crib mattress on the floor even though they were not climbing out of the crib.  My reasons were related to the impending arrival of the next child.  It just gets too difficult for me to lift the kids into the crib after a certain point and with the first one, we were concerned about the displacement factor.

We covered any toys in the room w/sheets and said that they were going night-night's or taking a "rest" too.  I started w/a nap when I knew they were tired and just consistently and patiently put them back on their mattress.  The first day took some time (20-30 min.), but it got easier and w/in 3-4 days they were all set to go.  I did notice that it was tougher during the "training" period to have my older daughter in the room, so she "napped/rested" elsewhere.  Bedtime was not an issue because it was dark.

The girls do get up at 6 or so and play in their room for a little while then come wake us up.  It's earlier than I would like, but we knew that would happen when we made the choice to transition.  

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

This was a great big long debate in our household.  I tried to hang on to that crib as long as I possibly could, b/c I had heard horror stories from my friends about terrible transitions to the 'big kid' beds.  

Charlie (my oldest..born in June of '06) took a header out of his crib during his "nap" one day.  He was bending out to try to throw a blanket on the ground and his weight carried him over the side.  This all happened when I was almost 9 mo pregnant with our second.  So he was almost two.  It was an accident that first time but that gave him the idea.  A couple of nights he just came walking out while my hubby and I were watching tv.  Scary!  

We were nervous to transition him b/c at that point we had just had the baby (and they share a room) and he was having lots of night terrors and trouble falling asleep.  Finally, one day we just took the plunge and it was WONDERFUL.  No more sleep trouble...he learned the boundaries quickly and didn't get out of bed to play or come find it.  It has been a true success story for us!  He was a little past 2 when we did it - even though I had planned to keep him in until 3 or later!  

I can't comment on the naps end of things b/c Charlie was NEVER a good napper.  And when I went back to work after my 2nd baby maternity leave we just gave up on even trying to get him to nap (was it really worth the hour of tears and fighting...not so much).  Now he just has quiet rest time in the afternoon.  Good luck!

I agree once they can crawl out, they should move to a bed.  I would skip toddler beds and go right to a twin bed with a side rail. Also, I gated off my boys' room to remind them they are supposed to stay in there. I  like the idea of putting the toys to bed too. I think if you go over the rules with them like other people suggested, it will be fine.

I have two words - Crib Tents. I know that most people don't go through what we did with our daughter because not only did we lose the crib at 2.25 (she could climb out) but we also moved; but dear god, I will not be moving my twins out until it is Absolutely Necessary.  Naps - gone for good at 2.25 and we never saw them again. Bedtime - UP TO 4 HOURS. Yes, 4 hours of crying and screaming at the door, the gate, wherever. She also doesn't cry herself to sleep, but ramps up instead, lucky us. I promise I am not exaggerating. It was pure torture - for us and even more heart breaking, for her.  I wouldn't relive that for anything and I felt so terrible for her the entire time it went on (more than 6 months). We tried everything during this time, nothing worked. She wasn't ready even though she could climb out and possibly hurt herself.  She eventually stopped and now goes to bed like a champ but Oh My God.  My twin girls share a room and will be in their cribs til they are teens. Seriously though, I have asked a lot of twin parents and they all suggested crib tents for as long as possible. I hope it all works for you. And again, I think the extreme reaction on my daughter's part is very rare and I don't think my babies will go through that - they are already really good at going to bed on their own, but I think, the longer in cribs the better.  Good Luck.

Our experience was that we were really reluctant to our son from the crib but finally did at a bit over 2.5 and amazingly he sleeps much better in the big boy bed (full sized mattress on the floor with bed rails on it) and has only once gotten out by himself. he usually calls us to get him just lie he did in the crib. The one thing that helped when we wanted to delay moving him from the crib was the sleep sack for toddlers--he really couldn't climb in that thing.

my son leapt out of the crib at 12 1/2 months old.  The mattress was at the lowest level.  We put him on a mattress on the floor first, for a couple months ,and then in a platform twin bed.   Perfect. He's 2 now.

Now if only we could get him to sleep through the night ...

My daughter started climbing out of bed at 18 months. And by climbing I mean throwing herself over the rails. My solution was this awesome bed from IKEA. It grows with them and is SO cute. Ive had so many compliments on it.

www.ikea.com/.../S39827962

Shes 5 now and it still looks perfect.

Jane, the girls just get more beautiful every day.  Thanks for the post and thanks to Liz for the link.  

One of my 19-month olds started climbing out of her crib while we were on a two-week vacation.  Aargh, it was awful!  She was getting no sleep at all and waking her sister constantly.  But once we were home we started using a crib tent and two weeks in, it's worked like a charm.  I got both of my crib tents on ebay.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Yeah, crib mattresses on the floor is a good option.  When you get twin beds eventually, save the crib mattresses - my twins are still playing, relaxing, reading and jumping on their crib mattresses in the playroom 1.5 years after they moved to big beds.  In fact, they're playing on them as I write this.

My sister but her oldest in a big boy bed when he was just 2, new baby needed the crib.  To stop him from roaming the house they put a baby gate in his doorway

Happy belated mother's day.

I was just in Florida for a weekend with M&R, and for the first time ever, the slept out of cribs. My dad took the mattresses off the hotel beds and put them on the floor, and M&R slept there for both naps and nighttime. They did great, and they loved it. So another vote for that option from me.

We also have two in a room (small californian bungalow) and the www.ikea.com/.../S39858939 works great. The beds compact and I think the kids can stay in until they are 6 or so.  Ours are now 3.5 and fits easily lengthwise.  Later, I figure we can then switch to a partial bunkbeds or something.  

We got the natural wood kind so there would less 'fumes'.  I think the painted kind use the crappy Ikea glued wood.  We switched at around 2.5 and didn't really have problems- but we also don't have stairs.  

Hi, Jane--

We got Harper her toddler bed free on Craiglist, and although they tend to be ugly and, well, plastic (ours is plastic and metal), they are readily available for free or cheap in the Boston area.  While you might cringe at the Little Tykes plastic princess bed, E & C might love it...

When she climbs out of bed, we just bring her back and tuck her back in.  Consistency works wonders in this case.  She's gone from asking to sleep in mom and dad's bed to asking one of us to sit next to her for a couple of minutes.

Hi Jane,

One of my almost 5 year old twins is in Deannie's class - she just raves about you!!!  Right at this very moment my husband is sitting in our 26 month old triplet girls' room while they attempt to sleep on floor mattresses for the first time.  We had a head bump one early morning and then the crib tents went on....I HATE them!

We transitioned our twin boys at 23 months and it was great.  They didn't require much, although we did spend some quality floor time while they quieted down.  

I'm not envisioning such a peaceful transition for the girls but they are almost potty trained and I am sick and tired of changing crib sheets with that darn crib tent on.  I may kick myself in a week and for now, the cribs are unassembled in my room for a quick turnaround.

The boys did keep napping with a little help from me and actually still take naps at 4.5.  We did need to start splitting them for naps sometime around 3 - one would go in our room or the guest room - way too much fun to have your best friend when it is light outside.

Good luck and I'll let you know how this goes.  We are a sleeping house and I intend to keep it going for my own sanity :-)

my niece is 2 and she is in a toddler bed now she seems to like it better then a crb but a transition we did is keep the crib in the room and the toddler bed on the other side then we took the crib out..she dose like to get out of bed but if you put up a gate it  should be fine