Big Girl Bed

Kamryn has always been a good sleeper.  We haven't ever been really great at having a bedtime routine, and yet she is really good about going to bed and waking up in the morning.  She will close her blinds, say prayers, give kisses, lay down, wave to us and then go to sleep.  Then in the morning when she wakes up, she sits in her crib and reads books or plays with toys that we have left in her crib until we come get her up. This sometimes is an hour or so--but she is happy to be in her crib.  Ryan and I have talked and talked about getting her into a toddler bed for a couple reasons--1. Help her feel "bigger" (Big Girl vs. Baby) 2.Give her more to do in the mornings when she is up and we aren't yet and 3. Preparatory for Potty Training! (yippee)!

SO...

This past weekend Ryan and I finally decided to switch Kamryn's crib into a toddler bed.  I say "finally" because we have been debating doing it for a while...and we finally just did it! No more discussion....  that's what we thought at least! :)

No...it really hasn't been that bad.  Kamryn helped set up the railing.  She jumped right on it and was very excited about it.

Because it was a weekend, however, we ended up spending time at both parents' houses till after bedtime a couple of nights...which means that Kamryn went to bed in the porta-crib at parents and then we took her home and put her in her bed.  (Without her noticing).  Sure enough, she went right to sleep.  In the  morning, however, she went straight to her door and opened it...then straight to OUR door and opened it!  GREAT!!  Not what we were wanting...but what can you do?!  Lock her in her room?  No...

But  we CAN get a baby gate!   We borrowed my parents' old baby gate that they still had in their attic and it now lives outside Kamryn's door when it is nap time and bedtime.

Naptimes have been the WORST! 
First naptime, she screamed for over an hour, had a poopy diaper that I had to go in and change, and then screamed some more...until Kyler was up and crying and hungry, and I finally said "Forget it!" and put her down for a nap in Kyler's crib in the next room.  She fell asleep within seconds!

Second Naptime (no actual bedtime yet) went better...but not great.  She screamed and cried for about an hour...and then she was quiet and calm. We went to check on her and found this:

She had dropped a blanket on the other side of the gate, then laid down and fell asleep at the gate. :)  So tired after all that crying!  (Unfortunately, because she was asleep there, she didn't stay asleep long--only about 45 minutes).  This is the only time she has fallen asleep anywhere besides her bed, though! :)

Kamryn's first actual bedtime in this bed didn't go THAT great...but it was okay because she had done naptimes already.  However, it consisted of her throwing her blankets out over the gate--and her binkies--and some books--and some diapers--and some toys... there was quite the pile when Ryan went out to check on her!  She had stopped crying for a bit, but then started up again and sounded really angry!  We weren't sure what was up, but decided to just let her cry it out.  Soon enough, the crying stopped.  Ryan went out to find the previously stated pile--and Kamryn was in her bed...laying there without a binkie or blanket because she had thrown them out of her room...and apparently had given up on us ever coming to rescue these items!  Funny girl.  Ryan took them back into her and put her back to bed.  She cried again and followed him to the door--but within 5 minutes was quiet and asleep in her bed!  Way to go, Kamryn!

The last couple of days, with bed and naps, she has cried less and less, and is more consistent at putting herself to bed.  We have even walked out there while she is at the gate, given her the binkies and or blankets that she has thrown out and simply told her "Go to bed" or "Go lay down".  She cries for about a minute more after we say that, and then she stops and she puts herself to bed.  What a big girl!  I knew she could do it!  And as for waking up, she is starting to treat the baby gate as the crib railing---she will go to the gate and sit in front of it when she wakes  up.  Sometimes she has a book there to read while she waits for us to come get her, but sometimes she just patiently waits.  Interesting how she sees the gate as something similar to the crib--even though she has a whole room full of toys and books to play with while she waits! :)


It has been interesting to see her learn what to throw out and what to keep in the past few days.  She now will throw all her blankets and all but one binkie out before she puts herself to bed.  Smart girl!  She knows she'll want a binkie to sleep with, but blankets apparently don't really matter! (too bad it isn't the other way around!) :)  It's so sad to see her asleep in her bed without blankets or things to snuggle with!  But I guess she can sleep the way she wants to sleep! :) 


This afternoon, she fell asleep again after throwing her blankets out the gate, but she had a book in her hand.  I don't think I've ever seen a child asleep in a position from reading--it was precious! (no picture...sorry!) :)


We started this new bed on Friday---and it is now Wednesday.  I'm positive she will be confident at this by the end of the week!  I knew you could do it, Kamryn!  Thanks for being such a big girl! :)