Help! Toddler bed transition!

So, dd climbed out of her crib tonight...3x. So I know its not a fluke. I guess we will put up the toddler beds tomorrow, but I have questions...

The twins share a room-transition them both or just 1 at a time?

Both of my kids kinda lag in the communication area-dd is in ST, she cant follow simple instructions or say many words (maybe 10-15?) or identify objects, ect. I know she wont be able to understand "stay in bed".

Just super baby proof the room, shut the door, and leave them at it?

Any other tips/advice?!

 

we transitioned our girls at 18 months. they also share a room and we transitioned both of them at the same time. at first, it was a huge novelty & they would often run around for anywhere from 30 - 60 minutes, and sometimes more, before finally falling asleep (usually on the floor by the door). eventually, they figured out they could climb back into their beds & fall asleep there. now, it's very rare for them to get out of bed at all - unless we put them down in their individual beds, then one of them will crawl into bed with the other. they really like sleeping together.

we just babyproofed the heck out of the room & left them to it. unless there's a really scary loud noise or world war III erupts in their room, we don't go back in once they're down for the night. GL!

 

My twins don't share a room but my DD started climbing out at 19 months, so we transitioned her. Like Rachel, we babyproofed the heck out of the room, made a big deal about her bed (her crib converted to a toddler daybed), she actually stayed upstairs with DH while converted the bed. Initially she would sleep on the bed, then sleep on the floor and then realized she had freedom and would play. After a month to six weeks of discovering her freedom, she began to sleep in her bed like a champ. I would have to go in her room and lay quietly on the floor to show her to stay in bed.
Good luck with the transition!

 

I know that Nancy linked to a thread in the 2-4 forum yesterday, but I just have to do it again:

http://www.twinstuff.com/forum/index.php?/topic/158493-a-possible-solution-for-climbing-out-of-the-crib/

I am in no way ready for toddler beds with my 2, so if they climb out of their cribs, I'm going to be looking into moving the mattresses on to the floor, removing the bottom of the crib. I thought I'd throw this out there in case it sounded like a better option than moving to toddler beds!

 

You could look into getting a crib tent if you don't want to move her yet.

Personally, given that they're fairly young and you said they don't have the best language skills, I'd move only your daughter. No reason to have them both running around encouraging each other to play not sleep!
I would babyproof the room enough that you don't have to worry about her getting up at night/early morning while you sleep. I would also sit in the room, without talking to/touching her or giving any obvious attention, while she falls asleep for the first week or two. Then if she gets out of bed you put her straight back in, again without talking to her. Even if she doesn't have the best recieved language she should make the connection that there's no point in getting out of bed because it won't get her anywhere.

Good luck!

 

I read in parenting magazine recently that you shouldn't transition until they "ask" for a big bed otherwise they will do exactly what others are saying above (running around, playing, etc etc). My DD does try to get out of bed, and she has two times, but I have told her both of those times that she NEEDS to stay in bed...so far it's worked (fingers crossed). I plan to keep my little ones in their cribs as long as possible.

I also know someone that took their twin cribs and took down one side rail on each, pushed them together so that her girls can sleep together in one big crib. She was having these issues too, and that's why she decided to do this and it's worked. Cool idea! Good luck.

 

that would be assuming that you think the running around & playing is a bad thing - honestly, it's never particularly bothered me. ardon: they always fell asleep eventually & if they had fun before hand, good on 'em.