How stinkin' cute is this!
But before I get to the toddler beds, let me back up and start from the beginning. Around the same time as we were struggling with keeping diapers on the little squad at naptime, Allee started climbing out of her crib. Then Bella. Then the boys. Our house got very interesting, very fast. I lost my security. I need the ability to put my babies to bed and KNOW that they are safe and secure. Once they were able to get out of their crib, I lost that safety net. And I needed it back! Not to mention that the boys were not as graceful at getting out of their cribs; they accumulated a lot of bumps on their heads. So I know I needed a solution; I had to get my security back.
The first thing I tried was moving Allee to her own space (out of the nursery and away from the other 3). What surprised me the most about that first night was that the other 3 were the most upset by their missing sister; they wanted her back! But Allee seemed to like her solidarity. Anyway, the separation worked for a little while, she was able to come downstairs to us once she awoke and all was good. Then Bella climbed out of her crib. So I put Allee back in the nursery with the others and dropped the girl's crib mattress down (by removing the bottom drawer and putting the mattress on the floor). This didn't work at all because my little monkeys use their feet to shimmy up the crib slates. So it didn't matter how far down I put the mattress, they could still get out. UGH. So I started my research to find the solution to my monkeys getting loose.
After much thought, I decided to try placing crib tents on the girls cribs to keep them contained. However, upon researching and consulting I discovered that there has been some potentially hazardous situations with improper use of crib tents. Therefore, I decided not to use them. I did consider using velcro suits to keep them in or even duct tape across the top of their crib (you know how much I love duct tape, lol), but decided that anything I did do was only going to be a temporary solution. They would eventually outsmart me AGAIN. So... what is that old saying? If you can't beat them, join them. That is what I did. I released them. I decided to stop trying to contain them in their cribs and gave into that little bit of freedom. I turned their cribs into toddler beds. And in an attempt to maintain some control (and since the boys moved to the basement, there was suddenly an empty room available), I separated the 2 girls from the 2 boys.
I moved the 2 girls upstairs to the big boys old room. This is the before pic of the space:
And the other side of the room with just the cribs.
These girls LOVED it. Now they are upstairs right next to BG. So I think they feel so BIG now. And of course, I played up that point a lot. I kept telling them that they get to move to their own bedroom and into toddler beds since they are 2 years old now and so BIG. And it just happened that this move took place on the day of their 2nd birthday. Perfect!
And now a pic after I moved in a few things for them to play with.
Once the little girls were no longer sleeping in their cribs, BG decided it was time for her to give up her crib too. She had been perfectly content staying in her crib for almost 3 years now, but all of a sudden she started sleeping in her 'big girl bed'.
And the little girls love to spend time in her room too. I love to see this 'sisterly time'. I hope they grow up always being best friends (or at least good friends... well, I'll even settle for just being friends. hehe).
Once I moved the girls out, I was able to rearrange the boys room. I switched the boys cribs to toddler beds too.
And moved in a few toys for them to play with too.
The boys transition was fairly uneventful. They were content in their newly remodeled bedroom. The only problem we had was keeping them in their beds; they wanted to get up and play. And they weren't shy about it either. They would turn on the lights and have a party. But it only takes a reminder or two and they settle right down and go to sleep.
Now the girls are a very different story. Alex changed the door knobs out to ones that are not able to lock so that they could not lock themselves in (and us unable to quickly get to them). Then I put a child proof cover on the door knob so that they would be unable to open the door from the inside and get out on their own. Remember, I need my security of knowing that they are safely contained once I put them to bed. However, the very first morning after putting the cover on, Allee comes downstairs with the childproof cover taken apart and hands the 2 pieces to Mrs Becky saying "ah oh". Apparently all the struggling that I did to get the childproof cover on was no match for a 2 year old. LOL. So, of course, I turned to my tried and true, trusted duct tape. LOL. I taped the cover together and that has worked thus far.
It has been a couple weeks since we made this transition now and I am very happy. Of course it has been a change, and all change is difficult. But we have adjusted very well so far. For the most part, the little squad all go to sleep once put to bed. At times they need a reminder or two, but overall this transition has been much easier than I had expected. Once they wake up they play in their rooms until we come get them out.
At least for me it seemed like it was more a matter of adjusting my mind set. They have adjusted well to the change. As always, it's me that has to mentally prepare for each change prior to instituting it.
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