I can't decide

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: Whether to buy a second crib or get Wil a toddler/twin bed. I think it was Jen that said kids should stay in their crib until 3, but I'm having a hard time imagining the expense of buying a second crib and then eventually a "big boy" bed for Wil shortly after. I've also read that if you're going to make any major change for an older sibling, do it BEFORE the new baby arrives. So this is why I ask. I am too paranoid about buying a used crib for safety reasons, so that's not really an option to save $. What do you think?

If Wil were showing signs that he was ready for a regular bed, then I would be okay doing it regardless of his age, but I don't think he is. I guess it's me that's really not ready...Wil is still such a baby to me and I don't want to make him grow up faster just because I have another one on the way, kwim?

Oh man, I'm really confused about all this stuff!

Edited to say: No offense to anyone, but you guys know I'm not a co-sleeper, so that's not an option either. I do have a bassinette, so I guess that will work for several months, but Wil will still be under two when the baby arrives. Decisions, decisions.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I think I would definitely put him in a toddler bed before the new baby comes, but wait until about 3 months before she/he is due to give Wil a bit more time. I think by then he'll definitely be big enough for a big boy bed. Good luck!

3_call_me_mama replied: I'd do teh toddler bed too or big kid bed whichever you decide. Kathleen is a few weeks younger than will adn she is going into a toddler bed in the next month or so simply because her crib is on teh lowest setting and she is too tall for it and it is a danger for her to be trying to climb out. Personally I have never heard of keepiing a child in a crib longer than 2 years (at teh most) until Jen mentioned it. NOT saying it's not true or doesn't happen I've jsut never heard of it. I would sugggest liek Sara said, make teh move a few if not several months ahead of the new baby's arrival. Physically take his crib apart and put it away until a month or so before teh baby arrives, that way he has a chance to sort of forget that it was his (in case you are worried about him being upset at teh baby for having his crib, but i think he might be a little young fo rthat but ya never know)
And then get a toddler bed and some new toddler sheets in a print that he likes and that you can live with (maybe he has a favorite character or something). And kind of redo his room a bit to make it more big boy fitting and make him apart of it. THEN get teh nursery ready and he should be just fine. Also, if you practice with him staying in bed. or in one place when youleave the room you should be fine as far as keepin ghimin bed. It might take some getting used to but I personally feel it is better to do it BEFORE teh baby comes so that you arent' going through sleepless nights with a new baby adn then once the baby starts sleeping the night, sleepless nights witha toddler who's constantly gettni gout of bed. Just my 2 cents though

CAMSMOM1 replied: Here are a couple of options:

1.) you could move him into a big boy bed. You need to buy him a big boy bed soon, so it's something you will have to purchase in the near future. Try getting him the bed, and see what happens. If he's not ready, then he's not ready. But at least you'll have a bed ready for him when he is.

2.) Have you thought of putting the baby in a pack & play? He/she could sleep in it for a couple of months...after he is done in the bassinet, and by that time Wil
will be ready for a big boy bed. KWIM? So...to claify, have the baby in a bassinet, and then in a Pack & Play until Wil is ready to make the switch. I think this is the best option in my opionion.

3.) If you decide to buy a crib for the baby, get a 3 in 1 crib. The kind that switches to a toddler bed and then into a twin bed. I got mine for 150 dollars at Walmart, it's a nice crib and you won't have to worry about getting a 2nd bed for baby #2.

I think that the Pack & Play will be the best option, IMO. You don't want to force Wil into something he isn't ready to.

Ann

luvmykids replied: If it helps any, the twins were out of their cribs by less than 2. We did it because they were getting out of their cribs anyway but we did have trouble teaching them to stay in bed. We skipped the toddler beds all together and put them in twin size beds w/safety rails and firm mattresses.

kimberley replied: well we co-sleep but Jade has slept in her own twin bed on and off since before she turned 2yo. we just put a bed rail in. i wouldn't get another crib if it were me. the bassinet will work for a long while and you'd be surprised how much Wil will grow up in that time. good luck with your decision.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I would try him in a bed. It took Katy a couple of days to get over the fact that she could play and not go straight to sleep but Matt knows that bedtime is for bed so he would go to sleep. He could very easily surprise you and like the new "big boy bed"

Freckled Momma replied: I agree with Ann...you can get the pack n play deal with the bassinet option or get a convertible crib... both good suggestions.

Myself, I moved mine to a big kid bed before having my second and third. Alex & Wes are 14 months apart, Wes & Rachel are 17 months apart. But we also did the co-sleeping some, as well. We were never really strick with any bedtime rituals or places and my kids have all adjusted fine with sleeping on their own and in their own rooms/beds when we made the decision to do that. And Nicholas started sleeping through the night in his own bed at 6 weeks old.

MyLuvBugs replied: Well, we've been thinking about that lately too. However, if you think about when Will was a newborn, how long did he sleep in the basinet you have? Lorelei slept in hers for 2 months, so that gives a little bit more time.

And 3 is too long in my opinion to sleep in a crib. We'd planned on having Lorelei out of hers by 2 anyway, so we've just moved that time table up a couple months.

If you're worried about him falling out or getting scared, you can get the bed rails to keep him in, and get a night light. He's getting to be a big boy, and needs to make the transition soon enough. So, just ease him into it. Maybe get him a big boy bed, and see if he wants to sleep in it or not. Let him play on it, and get used to it.

It will be ok. They have to grow up sometime.

Cece00 replied: Both of my kids went into a real bed before age 2. We used safety rails. I've never had a problem, a child fall out of bed, or anything.

moped replied:
I would let Wil be a baby as long as you can - but you KNOW me - LOLOL

ediep replied:
I agree with Jen on this. If Will isn't ready for a toddler bed or a big bed then I would get another crib. My thinking is if he isn't ready and you put him in a big bed anyway, you may end up with him having sleep ssues.

My neighbor put her son in a big bed a few months before her 2nd arrived and he started havng night terrors and he would get up during the night and play in his room.

you could always get a 3 in 1 crib and use it for will, that way it will convert to the toddler bed and then a headboard on a big bed and give the new crib to the baby.

good luck with whatever you choose

BTW- Jason is 3 and he is still in a crib. His big bed is ordered but its not here yet.

PrairieMom replied: The Boy was out of the crib and in a Toddler bed when he was 18 months old. I originally set the toddler bed up in his room just so it would be there, and he could get used to the whole idea, but he was so excited about it that he slept in it the first night and never looked back. We do have a baby gate across his bedroom door so he can see out, but is safe in there. I also made sure that everything is safe in there for him. I was worried about the transition too, but he made it really easy on me. I can't imagin haveing a 3 yearold in a crib.

ediep replied:
just wondering why you would say that? Is 3 to OLD for a crib? Its safe, he doesn't climb out, he sleeps well,

I personally, don't like the idea of a gate at the bedroom door

moped replied:
I think that a child should stay in a crib as long as possible - regardless of the age. Jack is showing NO signs at all of leaving - he actually likes bedtimes and naptimes. 3 is perfectly acceptable for sleeping in a crib IMO!!!!!

MamaJAM replied: We moved our girls to toddler beds when they turned 2....before that they were in cribs.
We actually bought a new crib while preg with DS#1 (the old one perished in a flood)....we splurged on a rather expensive one too - that converted into a toddler bed then into a junior-sized bed (didn't realize at the time that "junior" is not a "twin" ). Anyway - 4 months after DS#1 was born we found out DS#2 was on his way - and would arrive right around DS#1's first birthday. I couldn't even imagine putting a 1 year old in a toddler bed....so we knew we wanted a second crib. My parents were kind and paid for a matching crib for DS#2....we figured the beds would grow with the boys (and they'll be sharing a room pretty much their whole lives too - so matching was nice).

Having both boys in cribs worked well for us for about 15 months - I was so greatful to have a crib for each of them.

MommyToAshley replied:
I agree. Ashley was in her crib until the week before her third birthday. Her toddler bed now is actually her crib that converted to a toddler bed so the move was less traumatic. We're not going to get her another toddler bed, we are just going to wait until she's ready for a bigger bed.

I agree with the suggestion of getting another crib that can convert to a toddler bed.

3_call_me_mama replied: If you do opt for a crib that transforms to a toddler bed, just make sure you check it out thouroughly in the store. We bought a very pricey one that converted to a toddler bed and then a day bed adn then a full size bed. Only to find out when Cameron was going to go into the toddle rbed that the toddle rbed was actually quite high of the floor. Apparently the lowest crib setting isn't that low and that's the toddler bed position and it's still higher off hte floor than a regular twin bed. (so I wouldnt' use it adn we got low to the ground bunk beds (and removed the ladder) SO if you go with a convertible jsut make sure it'll be low enough for ehat you want.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Oh gosh, I hope I didn't start an argument here. Thanks for everyone's honest opinions.

One person mentioned a Pac n Play which reminded me that we actually had Wil sleep in his when we were in the middle of a move around 4 months old. He did fine in it. I think we did it for about a month or so. So this may be an option for the new baby in addition to the lovely bassinette I have.

My sister has three girls and I know her youngest who just turned 2 last November is still in her crib. But she also doesn't have any more babies on the way! I think the older two transitioned to twin mattresses on the floor at an earlier age. Or at least when they each turned 2. I don't think she moved the mattresses on bed frames until they were closer to three. By that time they were both so excited to have "big girl" beds, so I think the transition was fine...they had no railings and not much in the their rooms to get into.

So I guess everyone does it differently. I suppose I know my child best, so I'll wait it out some more and see what Wil does. He is has always been a greet sleeper and napper, so I would hate to change that. The night terror thing really scares me! So maybe we'll try a mattress on the floor and see if Wil is at all interested. We tried it when he was 11 months old because we thought he was trying to get out of his crib. Didn't work. But maybe now he'll get it. If he isn't, we can always store the mattress in the basement until he is ready.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Tough call Rae. Seeing as how our two boys are so close in age, I don't think Logan is ready for a big boy bed yet. But he might be by the time July rolls around. You will make the best decision for you, Wil and your new addition are obviously the most important thing and I can't see you screwing it up. LOL.

luvmykids replied:
IMO, the only thing about a 3 yo in a crib is all the heavy lifting!

We did the gate thing too ... they freaked out of the door was closed so this was the alternative to keeping them from wandering if they woke up at night.

mom2tripp replied: Tripp and Wil are close in age and I can't imagine Tripp being in a big boy bed yet, JMHO! His crib that we bought him goes from crib, to a toddler bed, to a full size bed so you could buy Wil something like that and then let the baby use his old crib! It's a tough call but one that you can make just using your gut feeling. GOOD LUCK!

1moremakes4 replied: We moved Taylor to a toddler bed when she was 1 1/2 because we were moving anyway. It was easier than setting up the crib again.
I think the decision depends on each child. If yours is climbing out of the crib, you don't need to keep him in it until he's 3. Taylor never was a climber and she did really well staying in the toddler bed. We only had one floor, so we didn't use a gate either. She could come into our room if she needed us.

PhiMuMommy replied: alex was climbing out of his crib by 1 yr and half. so he got a big boy bed thereafter.. lol.. so i am no help. but toddler beds are close to the ground specially the ones shaped like a car.. so they are safe..