QUESTION: My 32 month old daughter is going to have her big girl bed next week, would you mind giving me some advice on how to make this transition? We just picked together her bedding and new curtains. Very exciting times!
Her evening time routine is that we eat, have a bath, have a hug, put her down in her crib, give her a 10 seconds head massage as she likes it, then leave the room and close the door. It is very easy and would love for it to stay that way
ANSWER: Don't be surprised if she gets out of bed, but some kids just never do! If she hasn't seen the bed yet, show her pictures and talk about how great it is being a big girl! If she has friends with beds, tell her about how lucky they are to have a bed. You want to build it up to be a big deal! Of course make it exciting about getting the big girl bed but don't change a thing of what you do already. Don't show any worry or anxiety about what you "think may happen" because she'll pick up on it. Don't mention not getting out of it unless she does. Like I said, some children never think of getting out at all! Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones!
If you get tempted to lie down in bed with her, then she'll expect it. There is nothing wrong with lying down but if it's something that you don't want to do, then just don't start it. All you have to do is something one time and kids then always expect it!
If her door is closed every night now, then you don't have to worry about her wandering around the house! Since she's used to that, just keep doing that. If she was a child who came out of her room, then you could just put a gate on the door. It doesn't sound like you'll have that with her being used to a closed door already.
Just think about the sitting down with her in bed part because like I said she may expect it. If you'd like to sit in her bed and read a bedtime story you can do that, but honestly I wouldn't change what's working now! You may just want to kneel by her bed to do the head rub. That is all up to you! Some parents love the cuddle time in bed but then many regret that they ever started it. Things like that are a personal choice!
Good luck!
Her evening time routine is that we eat, have a bath, have a hug, put her down in her crib, give her a 10 seconds head massage as she likes it, then leave the room and close the door. It is very easy and would love for it to stay that way
ANSWER: Don't be surprised if she gets out of bed, but some kids just never do! If she hasn't seen the bed yet, show her pictures and talk about how great it is being a big girl! If she has friends with beds, tell her about how lucky they are to have a bed. You want to build it up to be a big deal! Of course make it exciting about getting the big girl bed but don't change a thing of what you do already. Don't show any worry or anxiety about what you "think may happen" because she'll pick up on it. Don't mention not getting out of it unless she does. Like I said, some children never think of getting out at all! Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones!
If you get tempted to lie down in bed with her, then she'll expect it. There is nothing wrong with lying down but if it's something that you don't want to do, then just don't start it. All you have to do is something one time and kids then always expect it!
If her door is closed every night now, then you don't have to worry about her wandering around the house! Since she's used to that, just keep doing that. If she was a child who came out of her room, then you could just put a gate on the door. It doesn't sound like you'll have that with her being used to a closed door already.
Just think about the sitting down with her in bed part because like I said she may expect it. If you'd like to sit in her bed and read a bedtime story you can do that, but honestly I wouldn't change what's working now! You may just want to kneel by her bed to do the head rub. That is all up to you! Some parents love the cuddle time in bed but then many regret that they ever started it. Things like that are a personal choice!
Good luck!
