Transition time... Straight to toddler bed instead of crib??

[cinderella08]

My daughter just turned 1 today and I found out we are expecting - due September 1st - I'm 5wks along. We bedshare and have since she was 6wks old (up until 6wks she slept in the bassinet). We are also moving in February. I'm not ready to transition her, BUT she's a very, very, very light sleeper and morning sickness is in full force and predominate at night and I'm waking her 4-5 times a night, and it's taking 30-40 minutes to put her back down which just isn't working I had planned on beginning the transition when she turned one anyways, even though I'll miss her terribly. There's also no way we could bedshare with both since Ava sleeps horizontally and we only have a queen size bed and it's already tight with the three of us! She'll be 14 months when we move, and the suggestion was given to me to go ahead and convert her crib to the toddler bed and try to transition her that way. I'm unsure of a 14 month old in a "big girl bed" when she's never slept in a crib a day in her life.... Does anyone have any experience skipping a crib and going straight for a toddler bed?

[Aimee1224]

We took my son's crib matteress out of his crib (he attempted to fling himself out) and put it on the floor at about 14 months. That way I could put it in a corner of our room since he was used to co-sleeping, then move it to his room for naps, whatever. This was a good transition for us. However, because I couldn't nurse and sit on the crib matteress we moved to a "big boy" bed when he was aobut 18 months old. He has only rolled out twice since September, and he is a CRAZY sleeper. In hindsight, I wish I had bought a full-size so I could eventually squeeze a couple kiddies together. Oh well!

[JessieBird]

We're going to do the same as pp soon - crib mattress on the floor beside us. We don't have a bed frame so there will only be about 10" difference. This is the perfect transtion to me. We'll probably buy a new crib mattress (or maybe a single) so that I can leave the original in the crib. I've used the crib maybe 10 times max in a year but I'll convert it to a toddler bed just so he knows that it is there if/when wants it. That way the toddler bed is a familiar piece of furniture for when we (or he) decide that it's time he sleep in his own bed in his own room (though I have no idea when or why that will happen, we'll just see how it goes.)

[JessieBird]

I forgot to add - if you can, get yourself a new king size bed. I know the store prices are outrageous but I managed to get a floor model for a fraction of the orginial price and it was soooo worth it. DS also sleeps horizontally and it is perfectly fine in a king. Like you, I'd like for him to have his own bed by the time #2 comes along but I have no doubt that even if each kiddo has their own bed, they will all be climbing in with mummy and daddy for years to come and a king just makes life so much more comfortable.

[lotus.blossom]

I think its a good idea! We tried to use a crib with my ds around that age and it was just torture. So we took the crib out of the equation and put the mattress in the corner of his room. He'd sleep the the first part of the night and then come padding into our room later on. Then when we moved to a new house the people before us left a double bed so we moved it into his room and he has loved it! I mean its great because I slept there with him during the transition of nightweaning and he's now 3.5 and has never had an issue with staying in bed. In my limited experience, I think that kids who are forced to stay in a crib create a lot of problems when they finally have their freedom. Think supernanny.....having to put them back in bed over and over and over.

(although there are some children who like their cribs. no judgement on that, of course)

[cinderella08]

Thanks guys!! Right now, financially, we just can't afford a king bed, but do plan on getting one in the future! I believe what we'll do, is go ahead and keep her in bed with us until we move, and then go ahead and give the todder bed a try in Feb/March when we move. If there's a HUGE revolt, I'll try maybe a crib mattress in our room and see how that goes.

Thanks!