I’m a Big Kid Now!
A huge milestone has been reached at our house. Last night was the first night Charlotte slept in her “big girl bed“.
It was not without difficulties and very important lessons learned.
Silly Mommy thought that if Charlotte couldn’t handle staying in the bed, we would just drop her back into her crib. Hell to the No. She has never sounded as emphatically miserable and lividly pissed as when we tried to put her back in her crib for the night after a set amount of “tries” staying in bed. We might have let her scream longer, but being in an apartment building is not without complications and neighborly considerations.
We also flubbed when we decided to start the process on a Sunday night instead of Friday night. Monday morning looming on the horizon as we struggled to get her to fall asleep made things even more stressful.
Another “next time we’ll be better” error was building the in the evening. She was still so excited about the bed when it came time to sleep that for a while, the reason she kept getting out was to come out and show us how cool it was that she was sleeping in the big bed.
So did we do anything right?
That remains to be seen, I suppose. We certainly talked up the transition, which means all the internet advice about dealing with kids who are afraid of the big kid bed was moot (so far). Likewise, as much as we’re doing this for ourselves (to free up the nursery for someone else), we think she’s ready. She sleeps well on cots at daycare, she understands routines, and she’s in the process of being potty trained (something else that she’s decided she’s ready for well in advance of me being ready for her being ready). It just doesn’t make sense to send the message “don’t pee in your pants, unless of course you’re trapped in your crib. Then pee away. It’s not gross or anything.”
There were some pretty awesome moments last night. Hearing her mad dash across the floor to get back into bed when she heard us walking up was hilarious. Sitting on the edge of her bed and leaning over her while she snuggled down into her covers and kissing her good night will never get old.
The general consensus of the internet, day care professionals, and friends who have “been there”, is just to keep at it. After a few nights of walking her back to bed over and over and over again, it should take.
Here’s hoping.
Tags: ikea furniture, milestones, sleep deprivation, toddler bed, two year olds