Emma turned two back in September and I've been talking up a "big girl bed" for a while. But she's been loyal to her crib, and we didn't push the move. I have a friend whose oldest son slept in his crib for nearly 8 years. His pediatrician said to let the youngster take his time. A crib can be very comforting. And, as long as your child is sleeping safely, what's the rush?
When my son, Luke, was about 18 months old, we had to start the transition to his "big boy bed." For one, sister Emma was due when Luke was 20 months old and she was going to need the crib. I wanted to get Luke out of it before Emma was born, so he didn't resent the baby "stealing" his crib. Secondly, Luke was a climber. Most mornings, we would enter his room to find him perched, like a monkey, on top of his crib railing, not knowing what to do next. He was great at climbing up, but not too good at climbing down. I invested on a mosquito netting-like tent that I tied to the top of his crib to keep him inside. In a matter of minutes, he learned to wedge himself between the crib railings and the tent. In a few days, he could unzip the zipper from the inside (now, that's dexterity!) Finally, we moved the mattress to the floor. A few months later, he moved to a full-size bed with safety railings.
Emma was never a climber. She would just cry or yell out to us to get her each morning. Then, big brother Luke got involved and taught her how to climb. Usually, she scales up and down no problem.
But, occasionally, we would hear a big thump and then a scream when she belly flopped onto the floor.
Fortunately, she never broke any bones. But that's when I started suggesting the move to a big girl bed.
Emma resisted the move until this past weekend, when she and Luke watched "Monsters, Inc." for the first time. The little girl, Boo, sleeps in a full-size bed. Now, our role-playing Emma, insists she is Boo (Greg, Luke and I take turns being Sulley). I pointed out that Boo sleeps in "big girl bed" as well as going in the potty. We're still working on the potty training (update: Emma LOVES the Princess Potty,) but now at least we don't have to worry about Emma falling off from the top of her crib railing. So, perhaps, I'll sleep comfortably as well.
