Waiting to switch to big beds until 3yrs

I've been meaning to post this but didn't want to "jinx" things. Just a success story to share with you. I often read posts about how "rough" an experience it is for many to switch their twins from cribs to beds. Most seem to try around 2yrs or so. This seems to be the time that works well with singletons. But with a built in "slumber party friend"...it seems to be a different scenerio for many twins. Constant getting out of bed, the end of napping,etc, etc!!

Our boys figured out how to jump out of their cribs at 18mons. Per the advice of many here, we immediately bought crib tents. LIFESAVER!! There they remained until 3yrs. Plenty of room for them to sleep in their cribs (and they are tall boys). And most importantly, a good nights rest for all. After storytime, we put them in their cribs and closed the door. That's where they stayed until morning or the end of nap. (P.S. They have had seperate rooms since infants)

Well, I will tell you, I did get SO much crap from other people (family, friends and sometimes strangers). How could I "torture" my kids in keeping them in a crib so long. I kept trying to block it out, knowing what my boys were like and what would serve our family best. I am SO glad I did.

The boy's sleep habits were so established at age 3yrs and had a different level of maturity than at age 2. We do the same routine as when they were in cribs. Not ONCE has the door opened after being put in bed. Most of the time, I still go in their room in the morning. It really was the easiest transition we have had yet. Plus at age 3.5yrs, they still take a daily nap. Just wanted to share. Especially if you're feeling pressure from others to switch sooner. Go with your gut...it's an individual thing.

 

Thank you for this post! I fully intend to keep mine tented and in cribs as long as I can get away with it. They're just so active and into everything that I don't believe they'll be ready before 3. However, I also expect that I'll get a lot of grief about it. It's nice to be able to say I "know someone" who did this with her twins and it worked great!

 

That's awesome! We had the exact same experience when we switched our boys. (They were 3 months shy of turning 3.) It was such an easy transition for us!

 

Same here, the transition was painless!

 

I'm also planning to wait until mine are 3. I just read something yesterday by a child psychologist that said children under 3 aren't mature enough to understand the "imaginary boundries" of a big bed before 3. That they still need the physical boundries of a crib.

 

I keep telling everyone that we will be keeping our two little guys in their cribs for as long as possible. They currently don't need crib tents, but they definitely jump around in their cribs a lot!

I think the transition to beds will be around three-years old as well (when we will need a crib for the newest member (who will be in a co-sleeper for the first while)).

I didn't even think it was weird to wait that long... I guess as I tell more people, though, I'll start to get those weird looks :huh:

 

I plan on doing the same thing. My mom will occasionally comment on how they could probably handle it, but I know my kids and there is no way that it would go well at this point.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your experiance and shame on the people that bothered you about this. I too am planning on keeping the gilrs in their cribs till 3yo. Currently there they are still not climbing out of their cribs but I will deal with that if the time comes.

 

We are planning to wait until around three as well. Mine definitely aren't ready at this point, I don't think! No one in my family is giving me a hard time about it -- actually my mom is always telling me that she slept in a crib until she was about 6. She was one of 7 kids and they didn't have a lot of room, LOL! I have NO interest in trying to make the switch anytime soon, and honestly I don't see what the advantage would be to do it earlier rather than later anyway? The girls seem happy where they are for now.

Congrats on a smooth transition and thanks for the encouragement!

 

It was the same for us. I tried switching at 2 years old and it was a disaster. While a singleton may be able to handle it, it's a little different when you have two energetic toddlers in the same room. We did it again at 3 years old and it was much, much easier.

 

Thank you for posting this. We plan on waiting until three as well. My boys love their cribs!

Kimberly

 

We waited until just about 3 years old as well. It was an extremely easy transition for us! Ours still nap as well. And they share a room, as they always have.

 

Well we're nearing three, and really no one has given me a hard time about it, I'm just reaching the realization that it's probably nearing time to make the switch. So I guess by September I'll have them in beds.

Thanks for your post, it's somewhat reassuring, even though I know my girls don't handle change as easy as others (for instance, the pacifier thing ended up being a month of bad bedtimes). So I'm still dreading it. But know I can't keep them in cribs forever (well...maybe... )

 

Thanks for sharing your story Debbi. I also have always planned to do the switch around the age of 3. But lately I keep getting the "pressure" from family and friends... which is making me double think! But now I will defnitely continue to stand my ground.

 

Good to hear. I've been thinking about transitioning, not because they have problems with their cribs, but because my back is KILLING me, and I think getting Elliot in and out of his crib is part of the problem (he has a cheap Cosco crib, and it is way too tall - he needs the side all the way up so he doesn't climb out, and I actually stand on a step-stool to put him in his crib . . . it actually just now occured to me that maybe I can cut 6" off the legs with a saw, and then he can stay in his crib for another 8 months or so . . .)

-Rachel

 

I wish I would've listed to everyone on here that said "Wait untile three!". I didn't. We did it at just about 2.5. We've lost naps, and bedtime is at least 2 hrs later than normal, because I can't get them settled down.. Then I end up laying in the floor between their beds, until they fall asleep - otherwise they'd be up until midnight.. Then I fall asleep and wake up hours later S-O-R-E. This has been my biggest disaster of a transition to date, and we're still trying to work the kinks out.

I'm not saying they would've transitioned any better at 3, but it definately couldn't have been any worse!!!

 

I waited until 3 for my DS when I found out I was pregnant with the twins and needed his crib. It was a very easy transition. He moved into another room with a queen size bed. He's done so great with it. I will get my girls big girl beds for their 3rd birthday and redo their room.

 

Good for you!!!! I wanted to wait until they were 3 too, but Aiden broke his crib at 25 months, and I really didn't want to buy another crib. Yup, twins in twin beds at 2 yo is not fun. hehe

 

Thanks for this post! We are planning on waiting until 3 also.
I get the sense there is a general pressure in society to push our kids to independence. I get a lot of grief from some people because I still have my boys' car seats rear facing, even though the local car seat inspection people have told me multiple times it's best to keep them rear facing as long as possible. Oh well, what can you do. I'm glad I'm not the only one who wants to wait on the big boy beds!

Michelle

 

We did it at 2 and it was baaaaaad!! And because I gave the cribs away to a couple of friends, who were having their firsts around that time, we had to keep them in their big boy beds. We do have toddler beds, so it is a smaller imaginary boundary I guess... still Alex comes down on a good day maybe 3 times, on a bad day up to 15, 20 even 25 times.
I have tried everything under the moon... boys together, boys apart, singing to sooth him, ignoring him, the "Supernanny" trick with telling him first that he has to go to bed, then just say "bedtime", then don't say anything anymore... nothing helps that guy just wakes up so often. And he has a silly light switch just right next to him (who on earth puts light switches down there???? And why!!!???), so he switches the light on and then of course he is awake.
It has been better some days, for the past 3 or 4 months... and it is a good thing, because I am not doing 55 steps and 55 steps down with my huge belly anymore!!
This next kid will stay in the crib until he/she is 5!!! Just kidding, but honestly, sooo many things that I am going to do different this second time around!
Millie

 

Oh my gosh! We are attempting to put our twins in beds at 2.6. Nightmare!!!! They won't stay in their beds. They are running rampid. We put them in beds because my boy has been climbing out for awhile. I think I am switching back... I cannot take the frustration the yelling, screaming, time-out, take your stuff is not working, neither is ignoring them..it is getting worse. Thanks for all your posts. I just found this site and I am looking forward to reading more about everyones advice.

Thanks!

 

I am glad it was an easy transition for you. FWIW, we made the switch to toddler beds at 22 or 23 months and we had no problems. My girls actually sleep and nap better now than they did before the change. Every child is different.

 

Thanks for posting this- my girls are just 1 month shy of 3 and are still in cribs with crib tents- I have taken a lot of grief over the years for 1. cribs (I live in a pretty alternative community ) 2. crib tents and 3. cribs & crib tents at almost 3 years old. I have to admit that I am ready, but only now when my girls seem ready too....DH (who has to actually turn the cribs into beds) is really trying to avoid the transition, I told him I'd do it when he's out of town for a week. I think he'll stress me out more than the kids. :huh: I bought new sheets and big girl pillows for the occasion and a big bowl of cheap treat toys for rewards. Glad to know it went so well for everyone at this age. Hopefully me too!

 

I couldn't agree more with waiting until they are 3 to make the switch! It looks like the crib tents don't fit the convertible cribs (crib to toddler bed) if one side rail is higher than the other.

Anyone else have these?

 

...."yesterday by a child psychologist that said children under 3 aren't mature enough to understand the "imaginary boundries"

Love this quote and agree 100%. We put our girls into twin beds just after they turned 2 and it was a nightmare!!! I didn't blame the girls or my parenting, I knew that maturity was the issue. We had other sleep issues or I would have put them back in their cribs. I applaud you for knowing what was right for your family and making the transition a smooth one for everyone. Way to go. :yahoo: