We bought Natalie's big girl bed (a twin) last weekend. She helped us "pick it out", "helped" with putting it up, etc. Prior to getting it, we've been talking about big girl beds, too. her friend has already moved to a big bed, and she talks about his. We've been reading books on her bed, laying on it when she gets up in the morning, etc.

I was going to start her in it for naps starting this Friday, so I would have a good 5 day stretch of naps before a sitter would be here for a nap. She asked yesterday if she could nap in it at naptime. I didn't want to tell her no, so I encouraged it. We got her stuffed toys, her blanket, all the familiar, etc. She got settled in, and then I realized that she thought this was all for fun...like we were pretending to be "sleeping" and it was just a game. Once she realized it was really nap time, she wanted to sleep in her crib. I did go back to it (which may have been a mistake) but she caught me off guard in the first place even wanting to sleep in there. I preferred to wait, but didn't want to tell her no for fear that it would send her mixed signals. Turns out I probably sent her mixed signals anyway.

Anyway, she WILL be sleeping in that bed starting Friday. I have a strong feeling that as long as the crib is in her room, it will take her a while to "want" to sleep in the big bed, or at least a while to make her understand that this is going to be her bed now.

Do you think it's a bad idea to go cold turkey and tear down the crib? My plan was to gradually transition, but I just don't think it will work that way. We've mostly been cold turkey on any transitions and she's always been good with them. What do you think? It seems like a BIG change to sleep in the big bed all night right from the start, but what other choice would I have if she won't nap there?

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 08:25 pm:

We did it cold turkey.I took my DD out one day and my DH took the crib down.We had talked about the big girl bed for several weeks before we actually did it.When she saw her big girl bed set up, she was pretty excited She had a new pillow on her bed with a guardrail.The 1st night was not bad at all.I think she was too scared to get out.After the 3rd night she got brave and decided that she needed everything under the sun.It takes awhile but they do get used to it.Most times she napped there and sometimes I gave in and let her nap where she wanted to. She had no choice at night though she had to be in her own bed.I found when there was alot of changes going on at once potty/soothie/bed I let her win a few battles to gain some control in her life.Natalie seems to adjust well to change so I really think you're going to be o.k. Lots of talk on being a "Big Girl" really seems to motivate them.

By Kate on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 08:37 pm:

We planned to keep the crib as long as necessary, and both wanted the crib the first night, UNTIL we began to walk out the door. THEN they wanted the bed and we put them in the bed and they were fine and we took down the crib the next day. We never transitioned with naps. With my second daughter, always the clingier one, she was hesitant, until I put the guard rails up (one on each side). All of a sudden her eyes lit up and she said 'You made it into a crib!!!' And I went with that...'Yes, indeed! This is a big girl crib!'

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 08:43 pm:

Kate-That is too funny about the" big girl crib" It actually made Katie feel better having the guardrail on.It made my DH and I feel better also.They look so tiny in a big bed and we were so worried about her falling out of it.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 09:17 pm:

That is a funny story Kate! Natalie also has bed rails (2), so I'm hoping that makes her feel more enclosed like her crib. Sherri-We're talking about being a big girl for her big girl bed all the time, so I hope some of it is sinking in!

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 09:32 pm:

Deanna,When we moved to the new house Katie was scared in her room.I bought one of those lace material canopys that go over and around her bed.I bought hers at Wal-mart,they come in white/pink/and purple.They are under $20,what a huge difference at bedtime for her.She says she feels safer with it.I never got into magic wands/dust to make her feel safer.We've never lied to her, we just reinforced that she was safe and nothing was going to hurt her.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 12:34 am:

I just did it cold turkey, with both my kids! One day they had a crib, and the next day they didn't. Neither one was traumatized. I just pretty much got tired of changing crib sheets and then Emily looked like she was contemplating climbing out, so that was it.

By Andi on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 01:01 am:

We had Taylor in the room with us while we took down the crib and talked about how she is going to sleep in her Big Girl Bed.
Once the crib was gone the only choice she had was the bed. There was never a problem with transition she did great.
I would do it cold turkey and just transfer all her bedding and stuffed animals to her new bed.

Good luck and keep us posted.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 07:52 am:

Andi - I think that's what we're going to do. I'm going to email you about it!

By Hlgmom on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 02:52 pm:

I would go cold turkey as well- you are giving her too many options otherwise!
good luck! Let us know how it goes!

By Missbookworm on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 09:04 pm:

I agree with going cold turkey! I did that with my daughter at 15 months after we moved across the country and it was after a few nights of "adjusting" just fine! Good Luck

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 09:45 pm:

I got displaced out of the crib, when I was 15 months old, because that was when my sister was born! I don't ever remember anything about that crib, except seeing it as I got older. I don't ever remember being IN the crib, just that it was there and my sisters took their turns in it!

By Dana on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 07:00 am:

I kept the crib in the room for a while. But DD loved the new bed. I had it placed in such a way that she was walled in by other objects. It was in the corner of the room w/ those two walls, the long open side was covered by the crib up against it and the bottom short side was covered by the chest of drawers. So she had an opening down at the foot of the bed to climb in and felt totally safe when sleeping.

There was a transition, but not one that I can recall. Mostly I just recall all the dresser drawers being opened EVERY DAY at nap time with ALL the clothes pulled out EVERY DAY! LOL.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 09:44 am:

We had Sarah's bed, in a corner, and a Fisher-Price siderail, to keep her from falling out. We used that a LONG time, because she liked it. With Emily, they were in a small room together and her toddler bed, was the horizontal part of a T. With the toddler bed up against Sarah's bed, I didn't think we needed the siderail, until I saw her sleeping, with her legs hanging down, and her upper body still on the bed. So, we got the siderail out for her, too. It just made her feel more secure.