Ok...so there are a few things that we still use with the twins and DH thinks it is time to let go. I think he may be right on some but wanted your opinions. -We never took off the bumpers, our kids have always been moving sleepers and we were not afraid of the suffocation thing--DH wnet to help me change the crib sheets the other day and he said that they are 18 months old and they dont need those on there(he has actually been trying to get them off forever) I like them on there because the kids like to talk to the sea animals on the bumpers and it also gives them a little more privacy--they share a room -When did you turn their cribs into beds??? -We use Floppys to cover high chairs and shopping carts. DH hates them b/c they are such a hassle. I just cant stand highchairs and shopping carts--the thought of all the sticky funk on those things is turning my stomach as I am thinking about it now? -When should they start using big kid cups instead of sippies???? -Music during sleeptime or white noise -Milk sippy before bed? These things are some habit and some comfort. Any other things you may have had a hard time moving away from????
The twins bumpers were off when they could stand. Cody never had one. Keep them in cribs as long as possible. The boys were close to 3 when they came out. We did use tents though. I never used anything in the highchairs or the carts with the twins, but with Cody I do use one in the carts. You can practice big cups anytime, but we used sippy cups at home till about age 3.5. All my boys have music on while they sleep. No milk sippy before bed since they went off the bottle at 1 year. Every family is different. Do what suits yours.
QUOTE(infinity62202 @ Sep 25 2008, 03:13 PM) [snapback]997487[/snapback] Ok...so there are a few things that we still use with the twins and DH thinks it is time to let go. I think he may be right on some but wanted your opinions. -We never took off the bumpers, our kids have always been moving sleepers and we were not afraid of the suffocation thing--DH wnet to help me change the crib sheets the other day and he said that they are 18 months old and they dont need those on there(he has actually been trying to get them off forever) I like them on there because the kids like to talk to the sea animals on the bumpers and it also gives them a little more privacy--they share a room -When did you turn their cribs into beds??? -We use Floppys to cover high chairs and shopping carts. DH hates them b/c they are such a hassle. I just cant stand highchairs and shopping carts--the thought of all the sticky funk on those things is turning my stomach as I am thinking about it now? -When should they start using big kid cups instead of sippies???? -Music during sleeptime or white noise -Milk sippy before bed? These things are some habit and some comfort. Any other things you may have had a hard time moving away from???? Oh my goodness, I wouldn't worry about any of these things, honestly. Your munchkins are still little! We still use bumpers in our cribs. They both sleep up against the rails, and I think they're more comfortable. My older DD moved from crib to twin bed (mattress and box spring on floor, with side rails) right at age 2. I only moved her that early because her little friend had jumped out of the crib a couple months before, and broke her arm, which made me nervous. I'll keep these guys in their cribs as long as I can. I do still have high chair/shopping cart covers in my car, and I usually try to use them. Sometimes I won't if I have a million things to carry and it's just too big a hassle -- but then, I am obsessively wiping down seats with baby wipes, LOL. Nadia started practicing with a regular cup at preschool, when she was 2.5. By age 3, she was drinking well from it. But we *still* use a straw cup at home, because it's just easier. None of mine have regular sippies (the little ones also drink from straw cups). The little ones still have white noise all night, and will for some time. Nadia has a lullaby CD that plays through once. I can't remember how old she was when we stopped playing it all night....either way, I don't think this is a "baby" thing that must be discontinued -- I still like white noise for myself when I sleep (to drown out DH's snoring!). I can't remember when we stopped doing milk before bed for Nadia. It wasn't before age 2, for sure. Maybe right around then. My little ones still get bottles before bed (yeah, yeah, we're working on it) -- but, I see nothing wrong with milk before bed as long as you brush their teeth afterward. No worries, momma!
Bumpers: We still have ours on. Mine haven't used them to climb, they like to lay against them, and I also agree that it gives some privacy (plus I can peek in over the bumper and a lot of times they don't see me...privacy for my stealthy night time checks) Toddler beds: Mine are still in cribs and I have no desire nor intent to move them for a while. They seem fine with it and it'll be something I probably consider closer to 2.5 or 3. Highchair/buggy cover: Used one with the buggy but haven't in a while. NOw that mine can reach and touch all kinds of stuff, I find it kind of futile. When should they start using big kid cups instead of sippies???? Mine will drink a sip from a cup if I hold it but haven't really tried. I do have "trainer cups" but probably won't even give that a try until closer to 2. What's so wrong with sippies? Music during sleeptime or white noise Mine listen to their crib music toy (the aquarium one) as they go to sleep but we quit using white noise when they were about 8 months old. I didn't want them to get too used it and not be able to sleep without it...if that makes sense.
QUOTE(infinity62202 @ Sep 25 2008, 07:13 PM) [snapback]997487[/snapback] Ok...so there are a few things that we still use with the twins and DH thinks it is time to let go. I think he may be right on some but wanted your opinions. -We never took off the bumpers, our kids have always been moving sleepers and we were not afraid of the suffocation thing--DH wnet to help me change the crib sheets the other day and he said that they are 18 months old and they dont need those on there(he has actually been trying to get them off forever) I like them on there because the kids like to talk to the sea animals on the bumpers and it also gives them a little more privacy--they share a room I actually cut a long section off the bumper and stitched it up and only put it on the back of the crib against the wall, so we didn't ever take the bumper off. Otherwise, I would have taken it off when they could stand so they didn't use it as a step to climb out of the crib. -When did you turn their cribs into beds??? At about 22 months - we were having serious sleep battles, so on DH's idea we talked up the "big kid" bed with the twins, and went ahead and converted the cribs. It helped A LOT with the going to bed battles!! -We use Floppys to cover high chairs and shopping carts. DH hates them b/c they are such a hassle. I just cant stand highchairs and shopping carts--the thought of all the sticky funk on those things is turning my stomach as I am thinking about it now? At about a year and a half - it just got to be too much of a PITA to haul those cumbersome floppy seats around. -When should they start using big kid cups instead of sippies???? At 27 months we are still using sippies - probably will for a long time. -Music during sleeptime or white noise Still put on the same lullaby CD every night. (the Parent's one from Target - I LOVE IT!!) They ask me to turn it on as part of thier bedtime routine -Milk sippy before bed? We never did the milk sippie before bed - once they gave up that last bottle before bed (about 14 months) we were done with milk before bed. These things are some habit and some comfort. Any other things you may have had a hard time moving away from????
I wouldn't worry one way or the other about any of this stuff. We took bumpers off at about 6 months because they kept poking limbs out under the bumpers and got stuck. They thrash all over the place, but they seem perfectly happy without the bumpers. And it makes it soooooo much easier to change the crib sheets. If they still work for you, I wouldn't worry about it. We're a long way from moving to beds! The boys never ride in shopping carts (dh does big grocery runs alone on weekends, and we take the stroller for small runs). As for high chairs, we use covers when we come across particularly nasty high chairs, but otherwise we don't worry about it. General rule - no covers at sit-down restaurants where they tend to actually wipe down high chairs between customers - yes covers at food courts where they might not get wiped down for weeks. We've always used straw sippies and probably will continue to for quite awhile. They've always had music at bedtime - one cd each night, and when it's done, hopefully they're asleep for the night! We've never had a milk sippy or bottle before bed, so I can't help there. If it's a good comfort thing, then who cares? I think the only concern may be tooth decay, so the sippy first and toothbrushing last (or even just wash it down with some water) is probably a good idea. Sometimes I like to have a drink of milk before bed, too!
1 - I never used bumpers. But if they don't mind them and aren't tearing them up then I don't see why they would need to go. 2 - I moved mine into beds at just over 2 (maybe 26 months). So far so good! I know a lot of people that don't take them out of cribs until MUCH later (3-4). I think that if they are happy and not climbing out (which is dangerous) then they should be fine. 3 - I hate the floppys and have never used them. 4 - I have a 4yo that still drinks out of sippies. :blush: I just can't stand the mess. At the table though, all kids drink out of cups. So I would start introducing them and let them practice. Be prepared for messes. Mine love to dump them. A lot more fun than actually drinking out of them. Actually, I will just put a drink or 2 in it (never full) and the do better than way. 5 - I've never used music or white noise. 6 - All my boys get a (chocolate - eek!) milk sippy before bed. I love it because they sit in my lap and cuddle. It's the only time all day I get that.
Here is how we dealt with it: Bumpers - Never had them but I think the privacy concern is a little overrated. They are 18 months old and probably not all that into privacy just yet. Like you though, I wouldn't want to take away their sea animal friends. Big Kid Beds - We tried at 26 months and finally went back to cribs with crib tents at about 29 months. No matter how consistent we were, the girls just couldn't handle the temptation of playing/fighting with their best friend at bedtime. We went to big kid beds permanently at a little over 3 years old. They were mature enough to handle the transition a little better at that age. Our 18 month old singleton is still in a crib and probably will stay there for some time. Floppys - If you have them then why not use them? We didn't have them for the twins but I did always have a baggie of Lysol wipes that I would clean the cart with before putting the kids in. This went on until almost 4 years old. Maybe the wipes would be a good compromise with DH? Big Kid Cups - I still don't trust my twins with big kid cups. They use straw with lids. I got a little antsy at about 2 years old because I had read that they should be learning to drink out a big cup but the mess was too much for me. I finally realized as well that they would have no trouble drinking out of a real cup if I just waited until they were ready anyway - everyone does it. Bedtime music/noise - We did the 15 minute Cd until about 2.5 years old. It turned itself off when it was done. With Dax, he still has white noise but that is more to drown out his still-awake sisters than as a sleep-aid. Milk before bed - They lost interest on this one their own before they turned 2.
- Bumpers: never had them - When did you turn their cribs into beds: my oldest at age 1 year 11 month. Working on my twin girl, not my boy; I would say age 2 1/2 is pretty average. My oldest was fast. - Never used them. If they get sick, they get sick, nothing will stop them ... that's my belief. I wash hands regulary, wipes, sanitizer ... but I don't want to lug around more stuff. -When should they start using big kid cups instead of sippies: start at 18 months or so. By age 2 most can do pretty well. My older was fast, I've been lazy with the twins, but working on it. -Music during sleeptime or white noise: stopped that a long time ago ... bed and sleep, bye, bye. -Milk sippy before bed: stopped a little bit before 18 months; doc told me to stop before 18 months anyway. Just offer drink for dinner but not before bed. No need anymore, just keep them well hydrated during the day.
