Things That Go “Thump” In The Night

A few days ago, I was napping peacefully in my bed. I was in a deep sleep, when I was woken by a thump coming from my son’s room. I didn’t think much of it and went back to enjoying my nap. A few minutes later, I heard the door squeak open, then closed, open then closed. “What is going on?!” I thought to myself.

I was then greeted by my, not yet 2 year old son, opening and closing his bedroom door. “Fall” he said as he pointed to his crib!

My first thought was this could not be happening. I was sure it was just an accident and it wouldn’t happen again. I convinced myself of this, and after talking to my son about how dangerous it is to climb out of his crib, forgot it even happened.

Fast forward two days later, and there is a repeat performance. The worst part, its now become a game.

I knew that the time would come to transition him to a toddler bed. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon. I was hoping we would make the transition slowly and when we were all ready.  I will fully admit, I am NOT ready. For some reason, this is the step that brings my baby into toddlerhood in my eyes. Call me crazy, but I want to keep him little forever!

So, after a few days of pondering this next stage in our lives, my husband and I are now ready to tackle moving our son to a toddler bed. I have been doing some research and have come across a few tips to make the smooth transition from crib to toddler bed:

• Watch for signs that your toddler is ready to move to a toddler bed.  If he is climbing out of his bed, he is probably ready for the next step.
• Shop for a bed that is suitable for your child.  Pick a theme that he will enjoy to help make the change more enjoyable.  Be creative and create a comfortable environment for your child, with not only the right bed, but the right accessories.
• Don’t move to the toddler bed immediately.  Take your time introducing it to your child.  You can start with naps, and story time, and eventually move to bed time.  He needs to feel comfortable in his surrounding, pushing it on him can lead to a difficult transition.
• Make the transition special.  Let your child be involved in the process so he understands what is happening.
• Most of all, don’t be anxious about the transition.  Your child will pick up on any stressors, making the process more difficult then needed.

So, this New Year, I will be heading out to shop for a new bed!  Wish me luck.

Any advice for myself and other parents going through this stage?