Moving House.. chance to go to a big bed?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

We had always planned that once DD2 was big enough to be out of the bassinet we would move DD1 into a big bed, she is quite small but i want to go straight to a single bed as i personally don't see the point in buying a cot sized bed & mattress only to have to buy a bigger bed and mattress down prob a year later.

We have now bought a house and will be doing some painting and renovations and then moving in a couple of months, probably around April.. DD1 will then be about 18mths and we are thinking we will go to the new house and STRAIGHT INTO A BIG BED... make the transition part of the move?

Does that sound like a good idea? We are going to do up her room and make it look pretty, am thinking maybe we can setup the bed but if she's still too small to get in and out or isn't comfy with it (highly doubt it though she LOVES our bed and can get out of it) we can just put the mattress on the floor.

Has anyone else tried this or what age did your lil one go into a big kids bed?

[Laranna]

If you think she will go for it, then do it! I guess just talk about it lots to her and make her part of the bed shopping.

DS went into a big bed at 18 and a half months and he loves it!

[briggsy's girl]

hun, i've heard lots of friends say that making a big move AND changing beds can be very traumatic for kidlets. even if that move is just from one room to another, if you take them from their bed to another environment, it can be very scary for them. personally, i would have the bed in her new room at the new house, but still have her cot there for back up in case it's needed - just so that she still has it there. she may transition fine, but you don't want to pull all her security at once - maybe have the cot there, try her in the big girl bed, but don't fight putting her in the cot for a while if she needs it kwim?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Thanks girls...

BG that was my worry aswell, that it would be too much at once and would love to hear from anyone that HAS done the move and bed thing at the same time.
Even though she's so little we are going to make her part of everything with the house, we have told her about HER ROOM and shown it to her.

We are going to take her there while we paint it, am thinking about getting some wall stickers or something and she can help me with them (hers can be in an unseen corner ) and keeping her involved in the whole thing.

I can't wait to get her her bed and buy her some cute sheets and everything so she feels like a big girl, she loves our pillows aswell so am thinking will get a VERY thin pillow for her...

I guess i am just going to try and make the move and transition as FUN as possible for her...

Aslong as DD2 isn't in the cot yet then i will def have no prob setting it up, but IF she outgrows the bassinet in a couple of months i wont have a choice.

[BrightSparkles]

Thanks girls...

BG that was my worry aswell, that it would be too much at once and would love to hear from anyone that HAS done the move and bed thing at the same time.
Even though she's so little we are going to make her part of everything with the house, we have told her about HER ROOM and shown it to her.

We are going to take her there while we paint it, am thinking about getting some wall stickers or something and she can help me with them (hers can be in an unseen corner ) and keeping her involved in the whole thing.

I can't wait to get her her bed and buy her some cute sheets and everything so she feels like a big girl, she loves our pillows aswell so am thinking will get a VERY thin pillow for her...

I guess i am just going to try and make the move and transition as FUN as possible for her...

Aslong as DD2 isn't in the cot yet then i will def have no prob setting it up, but IF she outgrows the bassinet in a couple of months i wont have a choice.

I think you've got it pretty well planned. I think if shes going to go for it then I say do it! x

[skybie]

we moved DD1 into a big bed when we moved.
figured a new room and a new bed might make the transition easier. hid the toddler bed so she wouldnt remember that thats where she used to sleep.
We had no issues but she was almost 3.
Good luck hun

[danniellabella]

We moved DD into a big girl bed when we moved house. She was 17 months. We went straight to a single. We kept the mattress on the floor until she was 20 months and could climb in and out of the bed on her own.
The other advantage of having the bed on the floor to start with is it's not far to fall. We put a pillow on the floor next to the bed in case she did fall out coz the mattress we have is about 20cm high. Now that she's nearly 23 months she doesn't fall out of bed (but we still have a side rail just in case), she can climb in and out on her own and loves having a big bed.

When we moved her into the big bed, she was a bit unsettled for about 3 nights, and then after that she started sleeping through the night unless she wasn't well. She also stays quiet for longer in the mornings coz she can get up and play and will happily do that for a couple of hours before we even wake up. - great on weekends!

Edited to add: When you move, make her room the last room you pack up in the old house, and the first room you set up in the new house - this will help reduce her stress during the move and it will give her something to do while you're busy.