The Toddler Bed

Shortly after we found out that we were expecting again, Ryan and I had the conversation about what to do for furniture for the new baby. He was positive that MacKenzie would be ready for a toddler bed by the time that the new baby arrived (she would be almost 20 months old). I wasn't so sure. And everything I read said that she wouldn't be ready until closer to 2 1/2 years. So he caved and we bought a "new to us" crib, changing table, and dresser/cabinet on craigslist for the new baby. And here it is below in the new baby's room. I bought the crib set and then we picked out paint colors to match. Ryan did another excellent job with the trim. And we were able to transfer over the glider rocker from Mac's room to the new baby's room, which worked out well.


So now less than 2 weeks to go and Ryan decides on Sunday that Mac is ready for that toddler bed. So he takes down one side of her crib. He did this right before afternoon nap time. As this was his endeavor, I made sure he knew it was up to him to make sure she stayed in the bed. He wasn't real sure how it all was going to work out. So he put her into her new toddler bed around noon, gave her a kiss, and then shut the door as usual. We could hear on the monitor that there was lots of noise coming from her room. So after about 20 minutes he went upstairs and she was sitting at her little table looking through her books. He put her back into bed, gave her a kiss, and left again. Still lots of noise on the monitor. This time he discovered that she had taken all of her wipes out of wipe warmer...one by one. As well as taking all of her little green diaper bags (for disposing of diapers in public) out of the box...one by one. So he put her back in bed and came downstairs to refold wipes and bags. And still there was lots of noise from her room. After catching her again at her little table, he decided that he would sit in her room, not talking or looking at her, until she fell asleep. He probably sat there for at least a half an hour. So after roughly an hour and half, she was asleep in her toddler bed, which you can see below in her newly painted room. Thanks again to Ryan for all of his work painting those stripes!


So what was going to happen that night? Well, this time he devised a plan of putting up a baby gate in her doorway, and sitting out in the hall where he could peek around the corner to see her, but she couldn't see him. Sure enough, she got out of bed, but the minute he walked into the room, she would run back over to the bed...smart girl. They did this 3 times before she stayed put in the bed. Total time that he spent that night...roughly a half an hour. An improvement!

Then we had Monday night. He employed the same strategy of sitting in the hall and putting up the baby gate, and she actually never got out of bed. She didn't go to sleep for quite a while, but she didn't get out bed. However, roughly 2 hours later, we heard a very loud THUMP from the monitor and a short whine. He went upstairs and sure enough she had rolled over the edge and fallen out of bed. However, it did not phase her. She curled up in a ball on the floor and was back asleep. Ryan picked her up and put her back in bed and tucked some blankets around her. We didn't hear a sound the rest of the night. So night two was somewhat of a success. However, it also started the great debate of getting her a little rail so she doesn't fall out of bed. I say yes, he says no. Ryan is of the opinion that what doesn't kill her will make her stronger. He is all for letting her fall out of bed. I would personally like to avoid scarring until she is at least a little older. We'll see who wins.