I have to give the credit for this week’s Works For Me Wednesday to Hubby. This was all his idea. Can’t claim one iota of it as my own.
A couple weeks ago we moved Lil Blue out of his crib and into a big bed. Nothing unusual there (other than the fact that this was the last time for us to have to make this transition, sniff, sniff), we have moved all four of our munchkins right around 20 months of age. I know some parents prefer to wait longer but we’ve learned with our kids that at this age, they don’t realize that they could easily get to all the toys in the closet and have a grand ol time behind the closed door. Nope. Now, they DO play with any toys left out so we clean up really well before any nap or bedtime.
What was different this time around was that we were trying to fit a third twin bed into a pretty small room (8′x10′ approx). I’d looked into toddler beds but the cheapest I could find was still $60 and this was our last munchkin, that bed would get used for a few months and then be promptly tossed on to the garage sale pile. Plus, I’m cheap. We already had a twin trundle under the bottom bunk so I figured we’d just pull it out and leave it on the floor for Lil Blue to sleep. But the problem with that was Tiger would have to step over Lil Blue every time he wanted in or out of his bed.
In stepped Hubby with his brilliant plan… Turn the trundle bed so that half of the bed was under one end of the bottom bunk with the second half sticking out, perpendicular to the bunk bed. Slap a bed rail up on the open side and Voila, Toddler bed!
It’s just the right size for him. He didn’t need the whole length of the twin by any means. Plus, it leaves a lot more of the room open for playing and wrestling. AND Tiger can get in and out of bed without falling all over Lil Blue.
And I realized, yet again, why I will never let Hubby escape my clutches.
Need tips on keeping toddlers in bed? Well, the Runningamuck way is to sit outside the bedroom door (for the love of pete, bring a book because some nights you are there for the long haul!) and every. single. time. that once sweet, innocent, little chubby-cheeked baby turned sweet, ornery, little chubby-cheeked bugger sticks his/her head out, you jump up, give a quick swat on the diapered fanny and place back in bed. Usually this only takes a few nights for them to learn. Lil Blue however, is trying to give us a real run for our money, you know, since he’s the last one and all, so he’s taking a lot longer to cooperate. Some days he’s great and other days I have to grab my book again and camp outside his door for 30 minutes or so.
Be sure and check out Rocks In My Dryer for more fabulous ideas and tricks of the MommyTrade.
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June 11, 2008 at 5:40 am
Maria
Great idea. Kuddos to your Hubs. I’ll have to keep that in mind when Little Man is ready–which fortunately won’t be for a long time! We just went through this transition with Princess Pigtails in February. Our trick? We just never let her climb in or out of her bed herself (because it is so tall)–she didn’t realize she could get in and out herself until the last week or so. By this time she was already trained to stay in bed and wait for Mama or Daddy to come get her. Here’s to hoping it stays that way!
June 11, 2008 at 8:08 am
runningamuck
Maria, that’s usually what we are able to do to. This is the first time we have a “situation” where the munchkin can get in and out of bed easy. Our oldest, and only girl, was just like yours. It was MONTHS before she realized she could get out of bed on her own! That aspect was what originally sold us on the “early” moves to big beds. Hope it continues to work for your daughter and with your son in the future. I’m sure it will. =0)
June 11, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Jen
What a great idea! I would have never thought to do something like that. Also, I totally agree with your way of training the munchkins to stay in their beds. So what do the older kids think of that? Do they try to escape too?
June 11, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Erin
We haven’t moved our little one yet, but I’m glad for the advice on how to train her stay in bed. I have a feeling she’ll be an ornery one when it comes to that!
June 13, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Keri
YAY!!! I could clap out loud when reading this! I get so annoyed by people who say “he won’t stay in his bed so we put him there once he passes out”. What do you mean “WON’T”?? You are the parent!
I digress…it’s very refreshing to hear that there are still those of us out there who still believe in discipline.
Would you believe my mother in law tried telling me that we are harming our children for teaching them that bedtime means bedtime?? She said if we have a fire our kids will burn to death in their beds because they’ll be too afraid to get up. I laughed out loud when she said that.
June 14, 2008 at 7:17 am
Rhoda
Thanks for stopping by my garden party! Gardening is definitely a work in progress and believe me, my whole yard is not beautiful. Lucky that we can take pics of blooms up close and that’s where the beauty is. Keep on taking care of your hydrangeas & they will do just fine. I have found them to be pretty carefree plants to grow & I want a ton more of them.
Rhoda
June 15, 2008 at 10:06 am
runningamuck
Sorry Rhoda… WordPress is possessed and I don’t know how to move your comment. Sorry!
Jen, the older kids don’t try to get up. Well, occasionally maybe but it’s nipped in the bud quickly too. =0)
Keri, I can’t believe your MIL said that! That’s hilarious. Especially since all the training in the world on what to do in a fire is going to amount to just about zippo at this age – no matter if you train them to stay in bed at bedtime or not. And I agree, it’s fabulous that you and Jen both commented on approving of discipline to stay in bed. I really can’t imagine surviving without it.
Erin, my advice is to make your plans on how to deal with it before you move her. It’s too hard to think on your feet (at least for me anyway), especially at the end of a long day when all you want to do is put your feet up in a quiet home. I set up a pillow or beanbag right outside his door to sit on (tile is way to uncomfortable if you are there any amount of time). I leave the door open a crack so I can see movement and I plop myself down right in front of it. Of course, with book in hand… =0) You can do it girl! It’s a royal pain at the time but the reward is WELL WORTH IT!! Better to go through a week of it than years of late bedtimes and no quiet evenings to yourself and hubby.
February 10, 2009 at 4:43 pm
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