just the blog of us: Do toddler beds really work?

Sooooo. This has already been a tough week in the sentimental-holding-on-to-the-last-baby-stages sense. Henry is just a mere 20months young and he had to make a couple big transitions this week that I normally place on a baby who is closer to two years old. But I had no choice here.

First the highchair broke. It is actually a miracle it withstood three kids and three moves. We even took it camping! But i placed it on the curb yesterday for bulk trash pick up and it was stolen in just a couple of hours. Never even made it to the garbage truck. Which makes me feel better that possibly someone is getting some sort of usage from it. So highchair out. Booster seat in.

Then it was the crib. This one has been looming for several weeks. Even though we have three kids, we have only one "climber"...#3. Nick never tried to climb out of his crib and we never gave Stella the chance. She threw her leg up on the rail but we put an end to that with a new twin bed. Both were in twin beds at 24mo (Stella at 23mo). But here we are with Henry at 20mo able to Houdini himself out of the crib in just seconds. I realize that this behavior is more "normal" and you are saying to me "welcome to my world". But we were caught off guard and without a plan.

Last week I stumbled upon a toddler bed at a consignment sale and bought it in hopes that it would provide a safer sleeping option and buy us some time until we are ready to buy more beds and rearrange furniture. I was thinking $45 = quick fix. I was also exhausted after two weeks or more of nobody sleeping in any bed! See how sleep deprivation can cloud your judgement?

But he hates the bed.
"do you want to sleep in your new bed?"
"no."

So we tried the toddler bed a few times. He fell asleep on the carpet after crying himself to sleep. I even put him in the bed before he woke up to trick him that he slept there (and that his mommy is not a heartless b* who locks her kids in their rooms ignoring their desperate cries and pounds on the door for rescue). No luck.

I gave up. Back to the crib. But now I had to rock him to sleep. And when he woke up in the middle of the night and climbed on the rail I would just sprint across the house to save him from falling. Every night. Every nap.

Yesterday after spending an hour putting him to bed only to nap for 45 min. I took extreme measures. In a huff I disassembled the crib. The crib just can't stay if he is climbing out. Then I reassembled the toddler bed (that shawn just took apart on Sunday). Still he wouldn't even climb up on the little bed. Totally despised it. I am desperate at this point.

Last night in this desperation I moved the little bed between nick and stella's beds in their room. Seemed like a good idea. He loves to mimic them...right?

And you know what...He actually climbed into it! Climbed on his little pillow. Snuggled in quietly between his big bro and sis. Just like the big kids. But when it came to bedtime the big kids were too giddy and my plan was sabotaged. I was overthrown and gave up.

Enter daddy.

I was told that I have been the common denominator in the bedtime defiance. Maybe so. Because Shawn took him and his bed back to his room. Sat next to him. And eventually walked out leaving a snoring baby behind.

Seriously?!

I think it was a fluke. As I know no one who has successfully used a toddler bed.

Stinker!