More milestones (and a knee in my rib)
The milestones seem to come and go so quickly. There’s the weaning off of bottles. The “disappearance” of the pacifier. Getting rid of dirty diapers … for good! And then there is …
THE TODDLER BED.
For two hours last weekend, I converted my son’s crib, Transformer-style, into a toddler bed. My son was ecstatic. I was relieved. “A big boy bed!”
I dutifully padded the floor around it, just in case of an accidental roll-out. I tucked him in for a nap and he did great. No major injuries, no crying fits. Then came the real test … sleeping through the night. I put him to bed, woke up the next morning and my first thought was “Wow! That worked! How easy is this!”
Not so fast.
There they were. Two little feet nestled next to my head. My son sound asleep next to me. A middle-of-the-night escape.
OK, I thought … so maybe it would take a night or two for him to get used to his bed. Maybe he got scared. Maybe there’s dinosaurs in his closet. But now it’s Friday. And I’m still waking up every morning to a visitor in my bed.
Now, I’ve seen all the nanny shows on TV. I’ve seen parents repeatedly put their kids back into their own beds, where they belong. But what do you do when they sneak out of their bed every night and you don’t know until you have a knee in your rib or an arm draped over your head the next morning?
If you have any ideas, short of deadbolting his door shut, please let me know!
-Erica Smith, Copy Editor
esmith@opubco.com
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Comments
Erica,
First, I commend you on your skills…I thoroughly enjoy your writing. Second, I would just say ‘don’t fret my pet.’ I know, easier said than done. However, Sam has been in his big boy bed since he turned 2 – for over a year. He, too, was excited for the change…but that didn’t come without it’s regular trips in to my bed as well. I think it’s normal. I would venture to say that you are lucky you were able to make the transition so smooth…and that the nightly visits to your bed will probably lessen as time passes. Things could be worse, right? You’re a great mom…everyone can see that. Hunter won’t be coming in to your bed forever!
NOW, got any advice for me on back-talk?
xo Meggan
Erica,
Climbing into Mom’s bed is perfectly normal. My son, William was fine until we took a trip to Disney when he was about 4. Well, that trip sent him sleeping in our bed for the next two years. We tried everything but we would wake in the A.M. and find the little one nestled in. Hunter misses the safety his crib offered hence Mom provides the safety and comfort. And how sweet is that.
I went through the same thing with my kids .although my son has a thing about not wanting t osleep alone in his room so we set up my daughter’s old convertible bed which she likes t ocall it her couch in her room.she has a regular twin bed in her room too.I tell ith my kids they sleep their room during the week and they sleep in grandma’s room on her days off from work.