18 mo and baby on the way...big boy bed time?

[calsmom]

Hi -
My little boy is just 18 mo...and I'm due in mid-October with baby boy #2.  Based on things I've read and heard from friends, I should think about making the transition from crib to big boy bed soon.  Other than the new baby, I don't really feel like I have a reason to move him quite yet.  He's not climbing out of his crib...and he's sleeping well in it.  BUT...I know that I want him comfortable in a bed by time the new baby comes b/c I don't plan on having the new baby in a bassinet for too much longer than 6 weeks.  In any case, I have a few questions that I'm not sure how to deal with...

1.)  Right now, I close all the doors to my son's room when he is sleeping.  His room is attached to a bathroom, so there are three doors in total...they are all closed at night and during naps.  If I put him in a bed and he can get out, he can obviously open all of these doors and get into the hallway and the bathroom.  So...I guess I have to put up gates, right?  But then, the doors would be open.  Any suggestions on how to deal with this?  I think I'm more concerned with his safety with the bathroom right there, but also don't want him to be disturbed by noises in our very open floor plan house if the doors are open for use of gates.  Does this make sense?

2.)  How do you keep the kid in his bed?  Obviously he cannot get out of the crib (yet), but with the bed, I know he will try to escape!  I'm quite sure he will quickly turn it in to a game!  Is this just something that takes time? 

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated...

Thanks!!!

[Samuel's mum]

Sam transferred to a big boy bed at around this age but our situation was a bit different and I'm not sure I'd recommend it in your case. For us, Sam wasn't sleeping well in his cot and hadn't for ages. He preferred napping on mattresses and we decided to remove his cot and completely child-proof his room with a mattress on the floor for sleeping. We had a gate on the door, furniture straps on the one piece of furniture and hinge protectors.

I'd personally say 18 months is quite young in a usual situation. There are some safety issues and I'm really not sure you can keep him in bed at this age. I would try and borrow a crib from someone else for baby or buy a low cost one and move him to a big boy bed when he's ready. If the baby is the only reason then I would hold off moving him.

I know this sounds weird because we moved Sam so early but in a way his whole room became his 'crib' and you can't keep him in bed if he wants to get out.

[Ami ~ 3 girls' mom]

Personally, I would keep him in a crib until it's not working anymore.  He will go through somewhat of an upheaval with a sibling coming and some like the security of a crib as opposed to an open room.  It will be easier for you as well not to worry about him at his naptime; that may be your only down time of the day.

[Lucysmom]

I agree with others.  I would keep him in his crib if he is still happy in there.  A friend of mine moved her ds into a bed so that dc#2 could have the crib and it is still a nightmare getting him to go to sleep several months later.  He used to be a great sleeper but no more.  She really regrets her decision.

[calsmom]

Wow...I guess I'm surprised.  At what age do you think it's appropriate, then?  My thought was that I really didn't want two kids in cribs. 

[katriona]

ditto to stacy -- my one's staying for as long as possible. our next purchase is a crib tent if we can't lower the thing any more!

[Layla]

I love putting kaleb in his "jail"

Lol Stacy - thats what DH calls it as well. I have 2 in cots (i didn't really have a choice though cause Isabella was only 13.5months when #2 was born).

Still, although I am sure she can climb out, she hasn't done so yet. I'm going to get one of those "tents" to keep her in longer if the big girls bed is not going to work (when she starts climbing out).

[Samuel's mum]

I'd say a crib ends for most when it's obviously no longer safe i.e. they are climbing out and might hurt themselves and a crib tent doesn't work.
Or when they say, "mummy can I have a bed now?"

[calsmom]

Thanks for the feedback...I'm so glad I've gotten a different perspective.  It will be interesting to see how the next couple months pan out.  I think for now, though, I'll hold off on the transition.  He's really been into climbing things lately...I should enjoy what I've got while I've got it.  Plus...I think I'm definitely too tired to deal with no naps and restless nights.

On a side note, a friend recommended that while keeping him in his crib for now...also putting the bed in his room so he could get used to it.  This might be the best option as we get a little closer to the baby's arrival. 


 

[twosweetiepies]

I had the same issue.  My son was 19 1/2 months when our little girl was born, and I didnt' want to go out and buy another crib that we'd just use for a few months. So, a few months (maybe 2) before my daughter was born, we transitioned my son into a pack n play.  He had taken some naps in it before, and we have used it when we travel.  I started with his daytime naps, and put the pack n play in his room with the crib still there. at night, we stuck to the crib.  We did this for a few days, and then put him in the pack n play at night, and it went so smoothly, we were amazed.  he never asked to be put in the crib, and we didn't offer the option anyway.  After a few days of this going so well, we took the crib apart and put it in the new baby's room.  I;m not sure if it helped, but we didn't reassemble it til it came close to the due date. 
So, it;s worked out well for us. Granted the pack n play isn't as roomy as a crib, and my son doesn't have much wiggle room, it's never been an issue, except the grandma feels sorry for him-he is totally content in there and plays in there when he wakes in the morning.
one thing, is the cushion/padding is so thin, it's not as comfy, so i found a nice plush pack n play sheet cover by eddie bauer, and he seems happy. He's been in there for about 5 months now!

[Fife_Mum]

At 18 months I would go for a mattress on the floor if you do want to transition, and like others have said, do it gradually giving the choice to DS (and you!) for naps initially. We moved DS to a mattress at around 22 months due to living abroad and not wanting to buy a new cot since we were only staying for 7 months. DD was only small and had the travel cot (with a thicker mattress insert than standard).
Now DD is moving (has moved  ) to a big girls bed. She is around 22 months too.  She has always been a great sleeper at night and is adapting well at night-time but we have had 3 attempts and 3 failures at nap time (mainly due to her big brother's influence).

Honestly though, unless you are really confident, I think 10 weeks or so is far too short a time for you all to adapt. Mainly because when I was expecting DD, DS was 18 months and had a major regression in his sleeping (he knew something was changing but didn't really understand). Having him contained in a cot was a life-saver the many times I was up during the night feeding a newborn and comforting him at the same time!

When you do make the move, are there any kinds of child locks that you can get for the bathroom door (or even install a simple sliding lock at adult height).

One more thing - the bed is a really useful addition to his room so you can sit on it for stories/cuddles while also holding the baby. Sorry I rambled - good luck with the whole baby brother transition.

[dkjokisch]

I agree with all of the pps that said leave him in the crib.  We borrowed a crib so we didn't have to transition dd to a big bed just yet.  Provided they are not climbing out, many peds now recommend leaving them in the crib until between 3 and 4yrs.

Personally, with a new baby in the house, I LOVE that she is contained until I can get to her after naps and in the AM.  There is no chasing her back to bed, which it great at naptime as I can completely focus on nap-training #2.