This post has been a long time coming. Technically we transitioned Liam to his big boy bed back in March. I have to admit that both Nic and I dreaded this milestone after hearing worst case scenarios from just about every parent we talked to! We knew though that once we made the transition there was no going back so we had to just dive all in.
We finished his big boy room the day before I hit 6 weeks pregnant and planned to reveal his new room to him, give him a week to adapt to an entirely new room with all of his toys in it, and then have him make the transition the next weekend. But nausea took over a day later and I just didn't have the energy for several weeks to be handling that kind of a change when I already knew that he slept so well in his crib.
His last nap in his crib ...
When we finally did transition him it was a Friday night. We chose not to do it at nap time because we figured with it being light outside he'd want to get up out of his bed several times and it turned out to be the right choice for him. We kept his bed time routine the same ... pajamas, brush teeth, and read a couple of stories. In order to also help ease Liam into the transition of having a new baby sister in the fall, Nic has been reading to him at night in case I have to be nursing at that time.
When Nic pulled Liam into his lap on his new bed he thought it was fun to read there! I watched these sweet moments unfold as the two of them read for the first time together in his new bed ...
Then came the hard part, realizing he was staying in there without us. We turned off his lantern so the room went dark and began to lay him down and he immediately started to whimper. We both laid on either side of him, I sang to him, and we both held his hands and comforted him until he settled back down. I slowly began to let go of his hand, gave him another kiss goodnight, and eased my way out of the room. Nic stayed for a bit longer and then did the same and that was that. He never got up, never came out, and slept all the way through the night! Besides him waking up much earlier (a whole 2 hours, 6:30, than he did in his crib) we thought we had it made! Easiest transition ever! Well, not so much. Over the last few months he has good and bad days/nights. Sometimes the moment we leave, he immediately gets up and tries to come out (repeat that process about 4 times before he'll finally go to sleep). Sometimes he wakes up in the night and wanders into our room thinking it is time to get up for the day. Some days he wakes up as early as 6:30 and other days sleeps until 7:30. No matter how consistent we've been every day is a bit different. For a while he cut his nap shorter (about an hour and half) but now it is closer to two and half or three again. Which often means he isn't ready to go to sleep when it is night time. We're working on adjusting this schedule.
We've since learned that he is still not afraid to sleep in the dark! He doesn't like being covered up by his bedding (sheets and duvet) and instead still prefers his baby blankets ... one covering him up "snug as a bug in a rug" and the other two up by his cheeks. He even gathers them all up and carries them out of his room in a big arm full every morning. haha It is the cutest thing ever!
Needless to say, next to sleep training at two months old it has been our biggest transition with Liam yet and I know it won't be our last. We are really thankful that for the most part, those early sleep training days have made him a really good sleeper. If he ever gets up in the night, he is just confused about the time and immediately goes back to sleep after being laid down. Next big transition ... potty training! Bleh! Just as intimidating for us but hopefully goes just as well.
p.s. You can watch the little video I made of Liam's last nap in his crib and first night in his big boy bed HERE!
When Nic pulled Liam into his lap on his new bed he thought it was fun to read there! I watched these sweet moments unfold as the two of them read for the first time together in his new bed ...
Then came the hard part, realizing he was staying in there without us. We turned off his lantern so the room went dark and began to lay him down and he immediately started to whimper. We both laid on either side of him, I sang to him, and we both held his hands and comforted him until he settled back down. I slowly began to let go of his hand, gave him another kiss goodnight, and eased my way out of the room. Nic stayed for a bit longer and then did the same and that was that. He never got up, never came out, and slept all the way through the night! Besides him waking up much earlier (a whole 2 hours, 6:30, than he did in his crib) we thought we had it made! Easiest transition ever! Well, not so much. Over the last few months he has good and bad days/nights. Sometimes the moment we leave, he immediately gets up and tries to come out (repeat that process about 4 times before he'll finally go to sleep). Sometimes he wakes up in the night and wanders into our room thinking it is time to get up for the day. Some days he wakes up as early as 6:30 and other days sleeps until 7:30. No matter how consistent we've been every day is a bit different. For a while he cut his nap shorter (about an hour and half) but now it is closer to two and half or three again. Which often means he isn't ready to go to sleep when it is night time. We're working on adjusting this schedule.
We've since learned that he is still not afraid to sleep in the dark! He doesn't like being covered up by his bedding (sheets and duvet) and instead still prefers his baby blankets ... one covering him up "snug as a bug in a rug" and the other two up by his cheeks. He even gathers them all up and carries them out of his room in a big arm full every morning. haha It is the cutest thing ever!
p.s. You can watch the little video I made of Liam's last nap in his crib and first night in his big boy bed HERE!
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