Levi's Big Kid Bed

About 2 months ago Levi started climbing out of his crib like some sort of baby ninja.  The first time he did it I had put him in his crib for a few minutes so I could get something done.  When I went to get him he was reading books on his bedroom floor.  I was stunned! He did it again a few weeks later.  He slowly started to do it more and more.  We wanted to drop his mattress to the floor but it didn't work with our crib but we were able to turn his crib around since the back side was higher and then push the crib into a corner leaving only one side to climb out.  This bought us another week of time before he figured out he could climb out the side.  Soon he was climbing out almost every time we put him in his crib and sleeping on the floor.  One night when we checked on him we couldn't open the door because he was sleeping in front of it. 

 

Napping on the floor.

 

We were so not used to this.  Joshua climbed out ONE TIME, fell and never tried again.  He slept in a crib until he was 3.  Kayla started climbing out right before her 3rd b-day with my permission (I hurt my back and couldn't lift her out).  She too slept in her crib until age 3.  We were not ready to switch this little guy to a bed at age 2. 

My last resort was a sleep sack and he hated it.  He screamed and cried when I would put it on.  It worked but it was torture for him.  I couldn't continue to put him in it. 

I took everything out of his room.  He literally had a dresser and crib in his room and nothing else.  There was no incentive to climb out yet he was still doing it. 

It was becoming very clear that Levi flat out hated his crib.  He cried when I would lay him down, he was taking short naps and waking up miserable!  I honestly think he hated his crib because he knew he was the only one in the house with a crib.  He wanted a bed just like Joshua and Kayla has. 

With much dread, we finally decided to take his side off his crib.  We thought for sure it would take weeks to get him to stay in bed but we were wrong.  Switching him to a big kid bed was the best decision and every night I am amazed at how well the transition has been.  He loves his new bed!  Putting him down for naps and night is a breeze.  He happily climbs in his bed, lays down and stays put.  He is taking much longer naps, waking up happy, and stays in his bed contently until we go get him.   

Along with a big boy bed he also got a clock like J and K have (it turns green when they are allowed to get up).  I thought for sure that when it turned green he would be yelling for us to come get him but he doesn't.  He stays so quietly in his bed.  When I go into his room he tells me in the most excited voice, "Green!!!"  After I get him up in the mornings and from nap we go and check J and K's clocks and each time he gets so excited to see their clocks are green too!  His reaction is great!  It is like he is seeing it for the first time every morning!

First night in his new bed. That face says it all.  He was so excited.  For about a week after taking his side off he would point to his bed and tell me, "Daddy make."  Translation: "Daddy made this new bed for me."

I can't help but check on him every night before I go to bed.  Nothing cuter than sleeping babies. 

 

 

 

My baby is growing up!