It may be hard to believe, but these darling little people are causing me difficulties. So I am requesting advice from of all of you who may have gone through this before, and anyone else who may have an amazing idea to share.
Problem: the girls are too big to share a crib much longer.
Option A: two cribs. I don't know how this might go, the girls have always shared a crib and I'm not sure what would happen if they couldn't be next to each other.
Option B: a regular bed. In trying out this option, I threw the two crib mattresses on the floor and put the girls down for a nap. (About half an hour ago.) Thus far, complete failure. How do I keep them in a bed that doesn't have sides? This is where I can really use some help. What advice do you have on making the crib to bed transition?
Update: two hours after laying the girls in bed, still no napping. Very ornery girls, but no napping. Too many things they can play with, even with the door closed so they are stuck in their room.
Update 2: about three hours after laying them down they finally went to sleep. The amazing part was they were actually on their mattresses. I opened the door so they could get out when they woke up. Ruby was very happy after her nap, she liked being able to get up and go on her own. Cora was really, really ornery when she woke up. She doesn't take change so well. Now, is there any way to keep them in their beds so I don't have to wait three hours for them to fall asleep? Anyone?
On a completely unrelated, but somewhat humorous note, the other day Ruby managed to get her diaper off, with her clothes still on. I found the diaper around one ankle. Her pants, socks, and shoes were soaked. Nasty? Yes. I'm just grateful she was outside when she did this so it was not all over my floor. Since I'm asking for advice, is there any way to get pee smell out of non-washable shoes? The socks and pants I just threw in the washer, but I don't know what to do about the shoes. I'm tempted to throw them out, they were hand-me-downs and are rather worn, but they're about the only ones I have that are the right size for Ruby right now. I'd appreciate any suggestions on this topic, too.
Thanks for all your help!
9 comments:
Lil would advise using baby gates to create a gigantic crib. (Note: Lil has never had children.)
Jenn would advise that you retrace your steps and teach your children to fall asleep in your arms (she has done it with two), then transition (still sleeping) to the bed. It has worked wondrously with 4 children (if you count Michael sleeping in our room until he was two and a half as a success). She also suggests putting bed rails around a queen sized mattress and letting them continue sleeping together. Keeping them in the bed is not an issue once they are asleep. Getting them to go to sleep there is (sadly enough) your problem, not mine.
Seriously, we both feel that a few days of attempts may meet with success of its own. We pity you those few days. We'll come visit once they are over (and, says Lil, mess up everything...).
Have you tried Febreeze or the Arm and Hammer pet odor remover on the shoes? That does a decent to good job, depending on how terrible the scent is.
What size of shoe is Ruby wearing, anyway? I might have some. We'll talk when I see you.
Jenn
I am like unto Lil. I have no children. I cannot offer advice. Maybe you can offer me some advice on a finding a hubby. Is that completely turning your advice post into a selfish request of my own. You bet. Am I ashamed. Yes. Lie. I am not. I need a hubby so I can have children so I can offer people advice in the future.
Hi Meg, if it was me, I would leave them in their cribs for awhile longer. Try two cribs right next to each other. I bet that it won't take 3 days and they would learn to sleep in them. If you want them to keep sleeping together, try a larger mattress with a cage around it like Jenn suggested. We moved Kayla out of her crib a month or two before she was two (b/c we needed it for Alicia). We put her in a twin bed with a side rail. I let her take a nap on it for a few days and then tried putting her in it at night. She had no problem (she was easy!). She has only gotten out of bed one time without permission. She still doesn't get out of bed when she wakes up without hollering at me first (I don't know how she learned that!). Then I moved the crib out of her room and from then on, told her the crib belonged to the baby.
~Kristy
P.S. Are you sure the shoes aren't washable? I wash a lot of shoes! Try soaking them in vinegar water. That's what I have used on our couch cushions!
Meg,
I would stick to the big girl bed, and I would make it a big deal. Hipe up how wonderful the "big girl bed" is, and offer them insentives to go to bed. Everytime they get up, remind them it's time for bed or naps, and lay them back down. Tedious, obnoxious, frustrating...yeah, but in the end, they will make the transition. That's my thoughts.
Well Shalon was easy... However occasionally she does get out of bed and I'm not sure how she will react when we put Cutler in the crib in her room. Which will happen in the not too distant future because he's quickly outgrowing the bassinet. As far as beds go I think I'd put them in like a double or a queen. There will be some adjustment time but you might as well get them adjusted now instead of prolonging it. Also I think you could throw Ruby's shoes in the washer. They don't light up or anything, I'm sure they'll be fine. I've washed tennis shoes before.
1st of all, LOL about the diaper. Doesn't it amaze you the things they can do?
2nd, I'm TOTALLY for moving them to a queen size bed & letting them stay together.(You can get rails for the sides to keep them from falling off.)But also keep doing what you did. Put them in their room on the bed & let them cry or play or whatever til they eventually give in. They will get it. Yazee did. She slept on the floor for a while but quickly decided that it was much better to sleep on something comfy. Besides, why spend the money on another crib when you will have to get a bed soon anyway? That's just my opinion & since that's what you asked for...
Good Luck!
well it looks like you have gotten some pretty good advice already. The whole two babies make this transition harder i think. the queen/full bed with rails would probably be the best way. Although i am not much to talk... Kassidy still doesn't sleep in her own bed, she says it's because she doesn't want to sleep alone (she sleeps on the couch near my bedroom). Her older sisters kind of push her out on a lot of things. We just set up the bunk beds down stairs with a mattress/trundle thing too so we'll see if she sleeps better with the girls like that. Lindzi sleeps in her crib and she is actually a pretty good sleeper.... i plan on leaving her in her crib for as long as possible. Unfortunatly, you dont really have that luxury with two though. So i wish you lots of patience and luck!
Mindy,
Leave Utah. It worked for me. It also worked for my older sister. I'm trying to convince Lil to move up here so we can find out if it will work for her, too.* :-) That's about the best advice I've got for finding a husband.
*That might not be the real reason I'm trying to convince Lil to move here. The real reason may be much more selfish. But that's irrelevant.
Good luck! That's my "advice"! Just kidding. I think any kind of change is hard during the transition, but it all eventually works out. Steven had to move out of his crib at 1 1/2 because we had a new baby. At first, it was hard to get him to sleep in his new bed because he was so excited that he could get out and play instead of sleep! However, we continued to "put him down" for his nap, and he eventually learned. I figure, if they play for a while before they finally fall asleep, it's that much longer for you that they're in their rooms! :)
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