image source: Picture Book
In our efforts to prepare Chase for his new brother, we've been slowly transitioning him to new ways of doing things. For example, I encourage him to use his little legs to walk more instead of me always picking him up. This is helpful not only because, as my stomach grows carrying him long distances poses a real challenge – but also, I don't want him to experience an abrupt change (that he could perceive as rejection) when suddenly there is a new little baby who must be carried around. We don't ever want Chase to resent the new baby for taking his things or place. His daycare teachers had long been encouraging me to let him walk more (as he walks/runs all day at school), but of course there's something so endearing about your sweet little baby holding his arms up and gazing at you with sparkling brown eyes, and I usually cave in to the pressure. Working on that!
Another part of the transition was getting Chase a toddler bed. Since his little brother will have the crib, we wanted him to get used to sleeping in his "big boy bed." So I figured this month I'd start by letting him nap in the bed on the weekends, while giving him the security of his crib at night. If that goes well, we would eventually let him sleep there nights as well. Ideally, we'd like him to feel excited at the prospect of getting something new, rather than pressured to "grow up" just before the baby comes.
So as I'd indicated a couple weeks back, I found a (seemingly) perfect toddler bed online. As always, I did my "research" which, per internet shopping, entails comparison-price shopping and then thoroughly reading reviews. I was excited about the bed because, not only did it seem to have all the features I was looking for, it matches our existing nursery furniture perfectly. After the bed was assembled I eagerly dressed it up with Chase's new toddler comforter set, then stepped back to admire my newest treasure…
… And was dismayed to notice that the guard rails were super low! Per the instructions, I used Chase's crib mattress (which is standard thickness) for the toddler bed but, once the mattress was in place, it became the same height as the rails! So either we'll have to order a thinner mattress, or add our own supplemental rails. Bummer!
I really wish the product description had indicated that a thinner crib mattress is necessary, in order for the rails to offer sufficient protection from falling out. Essentially, the sample picture was deceiving, as that clearly isn't a standard crib mattress shown (see below).
Totally deceiving factory picture of bed
Derek just looked at it and shook his head and said, "Well, this is what happens when you order things from online – we should have gone to a store where we could have looked at it." Well, we didn't, buster! And besides, I usually have pretty good luck with my online shopping! lol
Nevertheless, we decided to give the bed a trial run this afternoon. I'd intended to wait a few more weeks but, incidentally, I washed his crib sheets and mattress pad this morning, and they weren't dry by his nap time. So we figured today is as good a day as any! This morning we took Chase out for spring clothes shopping – so he was good and tired by the time we got home. He fell asleep just a few minutes from the house.
Perfect, I thought! I can slip him right in his new bed…. and he'll be too tired to get into any mischief (like tugging at his new curtains or getting out of bed). But his eyes flew open immediately when he felt a foreign surface beneath him… and he looked around with interest as I laid him down. So I explained that he was going to be taking a nap in his big boy bed today, and that mommy expected him to be a good boy and stay in bed. I tucked him into the bed and kissed him, before quietly exiting the room. His eyes followed me curiously and, when I turned around to say goodbye from the doorway, he smiled sweetly and snuggled deeper under the covers.
tucked him in and left the room. He was asleep within minutes.
What a cutie! I am on a similar journey with Isaiah. I am working on demonstrating how awesome it is to be a big boy and how great its going to be to have a little brother. Being a big boy includes having your own big boy bed, potty use, cleaning up after yourself, learning how to dress himself, watching football with daddy and of course, big boy toys (tricycle, etc.)… so far he is buying the propaganda lol.
Yeah I can cosign with Nabs statements… I think Chase will want to get out of his Big Boy bed no matter if you transition him now, or later down the line because he has this newfound FREEDOM.. and wants to explore EVERYTHING because he doesn’t have his crib bars detaining him.
It took a few weeks for Braylon to understand that he had to get in his Big Boy bed and STAY in it… I transitioned him when he turned 2… and even now he has moments where he wants to crawl up in mommy’s bed and he’s almost 4, but trust me it’ll get easier.
There will be times where you’ll have to play that “put chase back in his own bed” all night game, and it’ll be hard when you’re tired, etc.. but he’ll get it down pat in no time.
How funny, wish you had video. These pics are sooo funny. Janae was in love with her crib, and while she transitioned to the bed with no problem, she would get up in the middle of the night. She was not afraid of the dark. She would sit in the living room and talk. It was to the point that we would put her in her crib to keep her from wondering. Eventually we just stuck her in the bed with her sister, which they thought was fun and it worked. They still share a room, and even though they have bunk beds, they enjoy sleeping together…sometimes! Good luck! I clearly don’t have any sound advice, lol. Remember Jariana was sliding into our bed until the morning I went into labor with Janae and she was 3 1/2.
Chase is adorable! My son is 20 months old and we just moved into a new home, I didn’t want the crib so I bought a big boy bed however this is a twin size bed that I purchased bed rails separately for and a step stool because the mattress I purchased makes it a little too high for him to climb in. But the transition at first was rough! Not only was he in a new home but now a new room & bed! I started out like you, I would put him in the bed at naptimes and he did great except at first when he woke up from the nap he screamed but now he tells me nap time and walks to his room. Then at night after baths I started getting him dressed and lotioned up for bed in his room instead of mine like I used to do. I would read him a story and make sure his elmo night light was on then I would leave the room he used to fuss but now when I go check on him he is snuggled under the covers peacefully and he truly enjoys the bed now and I am sooo happy! I hope this helps!
we transitioned garvey over a few months before his little sister came, so he was almost 2, and probably a little more mature than chase is right now.
before he had been transitioned over he had started climbing/jumping out of his crib, which was exhilerating for him and frightening for us.
for us, the transition into toddler bed was really easy and the timing was perfect because we had just moved into a new place, and when shahid built garv’s old crib, he simply built it into a toddler bed (it was a transitional crib, like chase’s old crib), so it was like a doubly-new experience for garv: “new house, new big boy bed.”
he never fell out of it (as i feared he would–mind u, the guardrails/mattress were actually the right size, tho), but more importantly, he kinda “knew” to not be all wild and topsy turvy in bed anymore.
he def did some sneaking out of bed during naptime during the first week, but after being firmly chastized and returned to bed, he eventually knew better.
afterwards, though, the biggest challenge became keeping him OUT of the baby’s crib when she was in there. (mind u, this isnt when she was a tiny arm baby, and more susceptible to injuries.) but yeah, many disciplinary measures took place in order to emphasize that this routine was forbidden….dude, he was like spiderman, scaling walls and whatever apparatus he needed in order to climb into and out of that crib.
he absolutely LOVED being in a “big boy” bed from day 1, though. it’s like they can sense the new responsibility that comes with the new found freedom. good luck!!
How cute!! Where did you find the matching transportation border? My nephew has the bedset and I would be number one aunt it I could get the border.