a question on switching my toddler girl from her crib to a toddler bed?

Question

I have a girl who is almost 3, she is still sleeping in her crib but my brother is having a girl soon so i am going to give him my daughter's crib and get her a toddler bed. the thing is my daughter moves around so much and is so active, that i am afraid when i put her down to sleep she wont stay in her bed and its going to be a struggle for me to get her to stay in her bed and go to sleep. What should i do to get her to stay in her bed? She is fearless and if she happens to get up in the middle of the night she will take off. not like outside or anything but around the house. Any suggestions or comments would be great!

Answer 1

This is amazing! I JUST switched my 2 year old to a toddler bed last night. I was worrying about the same thing. He was a bit apprehensive at first, probably because it had no bars keeping him in or something. He got out of bed a few times, but we kept putting him back in and telling him that it was bed time. Finally (2 hours later and after a vist from dad to finally tell him no getting up) he fell asleep. He was at the bottom of the bed, so i turned him around so he was at the top (guard rails only at the top) and couldnt fall off the bed. I think the big thing that we are going to have to keep doing is letting him know that once he is in bed, he has to stay in bed. His vocabulary isnt as good yet, so I know the only thing that will work is talking to him and keep putting him back to bed. he will catch on pretty quick. And last night, even though it was his first night, he made it through the night with no major problems and got up this morning ok.

I would suggest though getting a baby gate and blocking the doorway to her room if you are worried she may be a wanderer, ot block off the areas you do not want her in (kitchen, bathroom etc) Door handle covers are great for bathrooms and basement doors and latches are good for the cabinets. Also, have the bed be something she really likes- my son LOVES cars, so he got a Cars bed with all of the accesories including a cars wall cling. He thought his car bed was great! (you can get a 5 piece room set from walmart in different characters for $100 that comes with a table, 2 chairs, toy bin and toddler bed!!)

Make sure she has things in her room that will keep her occupied if she were to wake up such as something she really enjoys.

It will take a while, but keep reminding her that she is a big girl now and big girls get big girl beds! No more baby bed for her because big girls dont use baby beds! (ok well i used boy...lol)

good luck!

Answer 2

Start using the toddler bed for naps. Or rock her to be and put her in the toddler bed when she falls asleep. Any sneaky way you can get her used to it. I started by setting up the toddler bed as soon as my second was born. We started reading books on it and snuggling before bed. Then I started putting him to sleep there for his naps and eventually at night. The first week I left his door open, and the next I closed it. He's nearly 2 so he can't quite open the door yet, I'd use a safety cover for the inside knob on her room. Move her dresser into her closet and shut it. Make sure there is nothing she can use to hurt herself or climb out a window with. Put a monitor in and some of her favorite books and toys. Now when my guy wakes up he plays with his toys until I come and get him. Now he doesn't come in 30 times a night and actually goes to sleep without a fuss. I just make sure I leave him a bottle of apple juice within reach for the morning. Then he's much more content.

Answer 3

My girl moved from her crib to a twin bed at the age of 2..to get her interested in the new bed, i let her pick out the bedding. She loved being able to sleep in the "big bed" covered in Dora. A 3 year old can climb out of a crib to, so there was really nothing holding her back there.

Answer 4

i have 2 girls myself one is 5 and one is 3 before i just put them into a new bed i took the side off the cot and put up one of the child safe sides they just slide under the mattress or if it is not possible to take the side off the crib then make it into a game encourage ur daughter that she is a big girl now and ask her if she can be a great big cousin and let her baby cousin sleep in her bed cos she is too little to have a big bed of her own even offer a reward and show her where her bed is going to be set up and that there really is a new baby comming along.

Answer 5

I started my son now 20 months when he was 17 Mths. I had my second child in August and needed to have the crib for her. So, i bought a toddler bed. Set it up. Put his favorite character as the bedding. Put all his toys in different bins. Night light out of reach. Books on the burear with his little tools. Gate at the door.
When I put him in the bed it did take me an hour to get him used to it. But that was it. An hour. I said, This is your big boy bed now. You need to sleep with Nemo and keep him warm. I tucked him in, and he has been in it since. Now when we put him to bed he runs in it. LOL and waves to me night night. ; )

Answer 6

You'll have to be very firm with her--no nonsense when she gets out of bed. Be consistent about putting her back in until she realizes she's not allowed to get up. In the meantime, if you're worried, make sure her room is really well childproofed, even moving toys into her closet or somewhere inaccessible. Then either put a gate across her doorway or put a childproof doorknob cover on the inside of her doorknob so she can't open it and get out. Good luck with the transition!

Answer 7

My son is very active also...i had the same fears as you about him roaming the house....a gate would do no good, as he would just climb over it. My dad made one of those double doors for him ( I could close and lock the bottom, but leave the top open). It was truly the best thing ever. I childproofed his room, and put a big comforter on the floor by the bed in case he fell out of bed. He would get out of bed very often, but eventually he would go to sleep. He came to realize that even if he got out of bed, he was not coming out of the room. It sounds kinda crazy to lock your child in their room, but active "climbers" need it for their own safety.

Answer 8

I would recommend a baby gate at the doorway, a baby monitor in her room (out of her reach) and a bedrail (or 2) so that she doesn't fall out of bed. Another idea might be to have a nightlight in her room as well as a few books or quiet toys. That way if she wakes early she can read or play quietly in her room until you come and get her.