Until recently, my daughter was snugly settled in her crib. And yes, I see you in the back with your stylish outfit, wondering just how old she is. Waves hand dismissively. She’s… um… 3 and a half. Okay, almost 4! There, I said it.
I realize it might sound shocking to some, but we managed to keep her in the crib longer than many would have thought possible. Surprisingly, despite her adventurous spirit—flying off couches and climbing playground structures—she never once attempted to escape her crib. With no older sibling to show her the ropes, she simply didn’t consider that there was an alternative. So we decided to keep her there.
Our decision wasn’t just out of laziness; we were well aware of the challenges parents face when transitioning to a “big kid” bed. Many of my friends, frazzled from their own experiences, advised against rushing this milestone. “Don’t do it!” they warned. “It’s a nightmare! We’ve spent sleepless nights trying to keep Jimmy in his room. Just keep her in that ‘baby jail’ as long as you can!”
There was a unique sense of security knowing exactly where she was at night. Our routine was comforting: shower, brush teeth, bedtime story, and then she would be in her crib by 8 PM. In the morning, we’d see her on the monitor, happily playing with her stuffed animals until we were ready to start the day.
However, a weekend trip changed everything. The only sleeping arrangement available was a regular bed, and when we returned home, she confidently declared that she was ready for a big kid bed. We fell for it.
Initially, it seemed fine. She was excited and behaved well, but the sense of safety I once felt evaporated. Nightmares filled my mind: what if she wandered out into the night or snuck into her brother’s room? She had figured out how to navigate baby gates long before she grasped what a big bed meant.
Suddenly, I found it impossible to sleep deeply; I was stuck in a light doze, waiting for the sound of her getting out of bed. And the moment she realized she could escape? Total chaos.
Despite her still waking up a couple of times a night, she now became an early riser. Each morning around 6:30 AM, she would swing open our door, often bringing her younger sibling along for the wake-up call.
We tried everything—bribery, reasoning, even alarm clocks that turned colors. Yet, nothing worked. In our most desperate moments, we actually fantasized about putting her back in the crib, wishing we could turn back time. What a grave oversight!
Now, I share this with you as your well-meaning, sleep-deprived friend, clutching my coffee cup firmly. Unless your child is a daredevil determined to vault over the crib rails, do yourself a favor: keep them in the crib as long as possible. There will be plenty of other milestones to celebrate. I understand the excitement of watching them grow, but trust me—they’re not ready, and neither are you.
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In summary, keeping your child in a crib can provide a sense of security and stability that will be sorely missed once they transition to a big bed. So, hang in there as long as you can!