The Great Debate...pt. 2

For the past month or so, we've been debating the best time to switch Pax into his "Big Boy Bed". Really, this just means convering his crib into a toddler bed using a rail kit...but it's been a big deal! Adam has been wanting to switch it; I kept thinking about Pax getting up during his naps or at 2am and running around his room playing. So I wasn't so keen on the idea. Than Adam had a genius idea of using a clock with stickers on the times he could get out of bed...genius, but our little 17-month old isn't quite there yet. And so it went, back and forth...maybe when we move to Ft. Collins....maybe we'll wait until we are expecting another little one...maybe we should do it now....until this past Monday. I decided to check out the rail conversion kit, to see how hard it would be to take of the full crib side and add the rail; looked like a piece of cake. Then I looked at his bed-it's pretty high for a crib, since it's also a toddler bed. Hmmm....maybe we could just try it and see. We could always put it back on in a few days if the little dude wasn't ready for it yet. So, when Adam came home for lunch, we took the crib side down and put the "big boy" rail up. Pax was soooo excited! He loved that he could jump on his bed, without feeling like he was behind bars; we liked how much easier it would be to change his sheets and kiss him goodnight. And it was a bit too high for our little daredevil to want to climb out of it (see, having short legs can be an advantage!), even with a step. So. We tried it for naptime....he did beautifully! Fell out of bed twice that night (the kid seriously sleeps like a washing machine) but actually slept better in it overall that he has been in the crib! Last night, we improvised a bit longer rail (really just a big blanket rolled up and stuffed along the open side) so he wouldn't fall out as easily, and perhaps learn that he can't flop just anywhere in the new bed. We also put a single-sized camping mat along the side of the bed, so if he did fall again it would be cushioned (you should have seen me fly out of bed after the second thump Monday night!). He did fall out of bed last night, but only once. Half as much! At this rate, tonight should be smooth sailing....PLUS he slept half an hour longer this morning than usual! This big boy bed thing could have it's advantages....