Thursday, December 4, 2008

Please Advise

As you know, we are moving in 9 days (NINE DAYS, and I will be out of this CAVE FOREVER! ahem, I just had to get that out. . .I feel better!) We have been potty training for a little over 2 weeks (It is going very well, certainly more success than failure at this point.), and I need your advice.

Bryson is 2 years 7 months old and is still in his crib. . .he LOVES his crib. He has never attempted to scale the sides or get out in anyway (now that I think about it. . .he tries to climb INTO it more than he wants to climb out.) He doesn't want to get out of it most mornings and many nap times he will wake up after 3.5 hours and not want to get out. He is 2 going on teenager. What can I say, the boy loves him some sleep! (Not one complaint from here!)

However, we will be moving and I do NOT want to set up his crib again in the new house in his room. He will be giving it to baby girl soon enough. (I won't set it up in her room until he is sleeping soundly in his new big boy bed. . .I do know better than that.)

So here is where I need help. . .Do I

A) let Bryson "help" daddy take down the crib THIS weekend. Get him all excited about a new Big Boy Bed (which will simply be a mattress on the floor with some really cool airplane sheets) and allow him to get used to this BIG change in a familiar place for a week. . .

OR. . .

B) talk up the Big Boy Bed and new room all week and hope for the best the night we move in. . .still allowing him to "help" daddy take down the crib the day we move making EVERYTHING new. Big Boy Bed AND New Room. . .

HELP!

12 comments:

natalie said...

I'm leaning more toward B. When Caleb moved to his new bed, it was due to us moving to a new house so he never slept in a bed until the new house. He now sleeps without rails (but I surround him with pillows)..and knows he gets in trouble if he gets down. In the morning he says "mommy, daddy, I wake up" and will sit on the foot of the bed until we come get him. He has snuck off a few times, but it seems to have stopped now. This has prevented him from roaming the house unsupervised...got the idea from babywise of course :) Both of your plans are good though..go with your gut. You know bryson better than anyone and can probably predict how he'll accept it.

Holly said...

How did Babywise teach you to teach him to stay ON his bed til you came to get him?? We may need to chat on the phone so you can give me the quick and dirty instructions.

truu03 said...

I am leaning toward "B" However, I might find a way to take a favorite crib sheet and make it into a pillow for the new big boy bed- you know, something well loved and familiar. We took Connor's crib mattress and left it on the floor for a reading area. Maybe Bryson gets to keep his crib mattress in his new room with his new big boy bed and the new baby gets the old crib with a new mattress that Bryson helps you pick out (complete with sheets he picks out). Give him some ownership of the shift and get him excited about giving to the new baby. Just a thought.

Anonymous said...

I say B also. :) Good luck w/ the move!

Anonymous said...

My vote is for A. BIG change in a familiar place for a week. And helping daddy is a great idea. They actually both sound great. But I personally think getting him use to his new bed in familiar place will help him adjust a little better.

Debbie (...and tom...) said...

I vote for B as well - we have been successful at talking about the big move for a week or so then actually doing it. Make the change all at once when you move in! Take care! Debbie

Anonymous said...

While I am not a mom...I am leaning towards A. Lots of change for him could equal meltdown later. He's 2 and a half, so potty training, new bed, new house, and new sister could be very overwhelming! I think that him helping daddy take down the crib and put together something in the place you are in now, would be exciting for him. Let him know that the crib will be going towards baby sister and that's his present :) I don't know...like I said, I'm not a mom :) good luck with whatever you decide! xo

Anonymous said...

B-and josh has never gotten off his bed. we keep books on it for him to read when he wakes up and waits on us to come get him. That might help, but if he loves sleep the way you say he does, he may not try to get off!

natalie said...

It may have been in toddler wise or preschool wise--not real sure. I have the collection up until they're preteens (got them all on sale). Anyway it just talks about the trust issue. He did have rails where he didn't "think" he could get out for a while--but then again he was in a bed since 12 months because of Faith. We actually just moved his room 2 months ago because of the new baby--so he's downstairs alone! Thank God for monitors. But he had built up my trust until that point. So when we switched rooms, I was too lazy to put the rails back on..so he had 2 changes at once I guess. He had practiced w/o rails a few times at grandparents house for naps. I agree with the other girl about a lot of changes--I forgot about the potty training change coming right before..can't help you there. We're still in the process!

Seth and Sarah said...

we did "B" with Eli when we moved here to KC...big boy bed and new room...he did fine.

Anonymous said...

I think new house, new bed. He will get it. Tyler has the door on his crib and so he knows that he can get out when he wants to. Occasionally during nap time he will climb out and play a little. I hear him and just tell him to go back to bed and he does. We are doing the racecar bed for Christmas. I think it'll be fine. We flipped the door handle so that we literally lock him in his room. Sounds crazy but I would rather know that he is safe and won't tumble since his room is by the stairs. Bryson will be fine. If he gets out of his big bed a few times, it'll be okay. It's learning for both of you.

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