Transitioning to the toddler bed

As I mentioned a few days ago, Avery jumped out of her crib this weekend.  I knew this time was coming soon, but I was hoping that her fall scared her enough that I could hold off transitioning her until later this summer. Well, no such luck. Yesterday during her naptime, she jumped out again. I decided it was time to turn her crib into a toddler bed.

Since we are having another baby in November, we are planning on using her crib, and putting her in my daybed. However, it's still a little high for her, and I really want to paint it white to give it a more updated look, along with the matching dresser. When we originally bought the crib, we knew that it converted to a toddler bed and full size bed, but we didn't buy the conversion kits at the time. We figured we'd cross that bridge when we came to it.

I called the furniture store to find out how long it would take to get the conversion kit (better late than never) and they said it would take 4 weeks or so. Um no. That wasn't going to happen. I went Target and bought a bed rail, and figured we could make it work. I let Travis know that we were going to be working on this last night, and I don't think he was thrilled about it. However, I was excited, and I had a feeling Avery was ready.

We worked in her room last night, and took the front rail off of her crib, and replaced it with the bed rail. We also had to raise up the feet in the front with wood blocks, because when the front came off, it was tipping forward. Luckily, I was able to camouflage it with the (wrinkled) bed skirt. After we had it set up, Avery spent about 45 minutes going in and out of her bed, and when she'd get into it, she'd lay down and say "night night." It was so cute, and made me more confident that this was going to work.

I did some reading about making the transition easier, and I read that it helps to have a doll bed in the room, and to have Avery put her doll to bed before she goes to bed. Luckily, I have a large American Doll collection for Molly, so I was excited to get Molly's bed out, and use it for Avery's doll (not American doll yet...I'll wait a little longer for that.) 

Avery was amazing! When I got the bed out, I told her "it's time for night night for Clochette, we have to tuck her in!"  I let Avery put Clochette in and out of her doll bed over and over again, and even got her a special blanket (one of Avery's old swaddles.) Avery definitely understood, and this gave me even more confidence! 

When it was finally actually time for bed around 7:45, we gave her a bath, and did her normal bedtime routine. Travis read her a story, and the tucked Clochette into her bed. She seemed happy to go to bed in her new big girl bed. After he came downstairs shortly after 8, I turned the monitor on so that I could listen. Avery did make a little noise, but that's normal for her. By 8:30, I didn't hear a peep. I wanted to check on her, but I waited until 9 so that I was pretty sure she was asleep. Sure enough, she was in her bed sound asleep and I don't think she even attempted to get out.

I just put her down for her first nap and she's talking and making noise, but I am confident she'll sleep soon. She normally takes a little more time playing before she takes a nap.

I think we had a few things going for us that have made this so successful (so far at least...) 

1. Avery has always been a great sleeper for the majority of her life. She actually likes going to bed, and when she's really tired, she will actually lead us to the stairs for 'night night.' She very rarely wakes in the middle of the night, and even if she does, she goes back to sleep on her own. Literally, the last time I was in her room in the middle of the night was in December when she threw up in her crib. So, I think this obviously makes the transition easier.
2. Since I knew this was coming soon, I have made a real effort to show her different beds, and pictures of beds in books, and ask her what they are, and what they are for (night night.) I always have her point to beds, and then when we are in her room, she'll point to her bed. I think the doll bed was somewhat helpful, but more just adorable.
3. I think that the fact that she spends time in her room a few times a week for independent play has also played a factor. She's not afraid of her room, and it was already child-proofed. There have been times during her playtime that she's actually tried to take a nap either on the floor or in her princess tent. She loves spending time in her room, but I'm thinking that the novelty of "independence" that some kids experience during this transition wasn't a factor for her, since she is allowed to play there during the day. 

Overall, I'm very excited that this transition has been so easy, and I love watching my little girl grow up!