How to move a SPIRITED lo to a toddler bed?

[Grace's Mom]

We are not ready just yet, but once I get prego with baby #2 we want to slowly transition Grace to a toddler bed because 1. we can't afford another crib 2. We don't want another crib 

My worry is, she is highly spirited and I fear her not going to sleep...getting up and just playing. 

Anyone been through this previously with a spirited, independent, etc. etc. child?  If so, do you have any advice or words of wisdom so I can start prepairing mentally now. 

Thanks.

Melissa

[momofclaire]

You could try her in a toddler bed for naps for a while during your pregnancy (crossing my fingers for you) and let her get used to that. You might even put both beds in her room and let her choose for a while so she feels like it is her making the decision and not something you are forcing on her.

[daybyday]

Well...I hope for you it is different, but for me it was a real struggle. My best advice is keep only what she NEEDS in her room, and make sure you have a baby gate for her doorway. In essence, making her room "one LARGE crib".
My DS is as spirited as they come and no babygate kept him in his room. He has been in a toddler bed since he was 14 months, (due to climbing out of the crib and the fact that we "needed" it...but we had pushed it keeping him in that long).
And our avg now is 5 returns to bed before he succumbs to the sandman....

Good luck...

[Grace's Mom]

Great advice!

When we do have baby number two the crib and toddler bed will both be in the same room anyway so that will work fine ....they will have to share a room as we don't have much space.  The room is super small so all toys will have to come out which I am assuming will help.

We will keep the door closed so no need for a baby gate, thank God    but then again, you just never know.

Melissa

[Deb_in_oz]

just want to let you know that they CAN do it.  We moved into our house in july and had the girls sharing a big bedroom (dh's idea), then a few weeks later we converted her cot to a bed (dh's idea).  if it were not for dh's bravery i had planned to keep liv in her cot until she went to school  . she has not had problems.  we had one naptime where she kept getting out and bringing more and more toys and books to bed and i gavce up after 2 hrs of that. but this has not been repeated since.  at night the girls SOMETIMES talk for a bit but liv stays in bed (last week alex actually got out and climbed into liv's bed with her).

i think waiting until liv was able to really talk about it helped.  she was almost 2 1/2 and we chatted about how she needs to sleep and we play before and after bed but not suring sleepytime. i really thought it would be a struggle and refused to try until dh said to go for it (she had been asking for a bed for ages!)

if things don't work out you could really always use a bassinette for #2 and buy some more time (ages away anyway so might find it is ok)